TEXAS — A fire station in Center Point, Texas, was flooded with several feet of water on July 4, 2025, when historic flooding rocked the Texas Hill Country resulting in the deaths of at least 135 people. The generosity of others donating their time and resources got the station back on its feet.
“It was a life-changing event,” said Fire Chief Charles Holt with the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department.
It has been four months since historic flooding pushed through Kerr County.
“The last live rescue we had was actually right over there in that tree,” Holt said. “She was 25-30 feet up in that tree.”
Holt said that on the morning of the Fourth of July, they got paged for help at 3:37 a.m. — five people stuck on a roof in Hunt.
“By the time we knew it, the water was over the road,” Holt said. “And we left the parking lot, and the water was over the hood of my truck. I mean it almost got us.”
As members of the county special operations team did high-water rescues — the fire station back in Center Point was flooding.
“The entire building, there was 7 feet of water throughout the whole building,” Holt said. “The big bridge in town, it hit at 7:30. And by 8:10, it was over the top of it, which is 41.5 feet.”
Knowing what was coming their way, Holt said they were able to evacuate 375 residents. But the floodwaters damaged $150,000 of equipment inside the station.
“My 27 volunteers, we lost 24 sets of gear,” Holt said. “I was the only one who had bunker gear in my truck.”
That same day, neighbors pitched in to lend a helping hand to get the fire department up and running.
“By the time the water receded, there was people from the community here that was in here with squeegees and shovels. Pushing out all the mud and the muck and things that were in here while we were out rescuing people,” Holt said.
Thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, Center Point Fire was able to get new gear and equipment.
“We’re very blessed that the people in this great nation took care of us the way they did,” Holt said.
Two amphibious SHERP ATVs were also gifted to the department, so they’ll be ready for the next emergency.
“I hope it never happens again,” Holt said. “But if it does, we’re getting more training with these specialized things to get into places faster.”
He hopes to build a new station across the river where it doesn’t flood.
“To get us out of the water, so we can be more effective,” Holt said.
Through it all, Holt says he’s thankful for the support they’ve received in the Hill Country.
“I’m glad that the world got to see a small town like Center Point, Texas, and how we take care of everybody that lives here,” Holt said.
A 20-foot cross now sits outside the station, serving as a reminder of those long days in July, running on faith and adrenaline.
“The cross is for Camp Mystic, not only that, but for everybody that was lost in the flood,” Holt said.
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