On Thursday, Aug. 13, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country CEO, Austin Dickson, joined Beth Palmer, outreach director of Light on the Hill, at the Light on the Hill campus to see how the Community Foundation’s funds for emergency relief were being utilized.
At the site were six case managers and dozens of Kerrville residents there to receive financial assistance in the wake of the July 16 flood.
“We have 29 case managers working throughout the Hill Country,” Palmer said. “Six are here today helping with the emergency financial assistance that’s given out here every Thursday.”
Flood victims waited on the porch in front of Light on the Hill’s office for their name to be called. Once called, they went inside a private office, talked about their financial needs, and received either a check or a prepaid debit card.
Most of the residents receiving help first visited rebuildkerr.com and filled out a needs assessment form. One of Light on the Hill’s case managers then contacted them to set an appointment time so they could receive funding.
“We have 217 scheduled appointments for today,” Palmer said. “But we’ve also had a lot of walk-ins today.”
Those who visit Light on the Hill without first filling out the needs assessment can meet with a case worker in person to discuss their needs.
“It’s going to be unique,” Palmer said. “Your needs are going to be different from what your neighbor needs. So, we tailor it in that way.”
Emergency financial assistance funding for victims of the July 16 flood was made available to Light on the Hill via a grant from the Community Foundation.
“We’ve given a $1.2 million grant to Light on the Hill,” Dickson said. “It’s one of four grants for financial assistance we’ve given out so far.”
Both Light on the Hill and the Community Foundation have been present in Kerrville for both the July 4, 2025, flood and the July 16 flood. Both say there is a large difference in the scope and needs between the two.
“In 2025, we saw devastating loss of life,” Dickson said. “…this time, we’re seeing much more property damage. It’s increased by a factor of four.”
Palmer concurred with the statement and pointed out that, because of the creeks and tributaries flooding, there was more damage to the city of Kerrville itself than in 2025.
“I’ve lived here over 40 years,” Palmer said. “And I’ve never seen the creeks get as high as they did that night. So even though 2025 and 2026 were both floods, they’re very different. There’s different help needed and different people needing help.”
One of the residents who came to Light on the Hill to receive financial funds was in a different position in 2025.
Megan Nichols works for Light on the Hill as a case manager. But today, she was among those seeking assistance.
“Our house got about an inch of water,” she said. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it caused a ton of nonsense.”
Nichols began working as a part-time case manager after the 2025 flooding.
“I knew I wanted to get out and help,” she said. “I always want to help. I’m a doer.”
This year, however, she said having to fill out a needs assessment and ask for financial assistance is “humbling. It definitely gives me a different perspective.”
Nichols, like other case managers with Light on the Hill, is a Kerr County resident and is paid a salary with funding from organizations from the Community Foundation. That’s something both Palmer and Dickson said was important to the recovery.
“It’s really important because it offers an opportunity for local people to be of service over a sustained period of time with pay,” Dickson said.
While many case managers in other disasters come in from outside of the community, Dickson said the situation in Kerr County is unique in his experience.
“We’ve had so many people here raise their hands and say, ‘Yes, I’d like to help my neighbors for a year or two,'” he said. “And these are friendly faces who you’ll see at H-E-B or walking in your neighborhood. So we’re all in it together, it feels.”
To receive emergency financial assistance, visit rebuildkerr.com and fill out a needs assessment. Those needing assistance filling out the assessment can visit Kerr Together on 98 Coronado Dr. or the Light on the Hill office at 610 Methodist Encampment Rd.
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