KERRVILLE, Texas – The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has launched the Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Fund to support communities across its 10-county service area affected by the July 2026 flooding, as Gov. Greg Abbott requested a presidential disaster declaration and visited Uvalde County to survey damage.
New fund expands on last year’s relief effort
Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, said the new fund differs from the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund established after last year’s flooding, which focused exclusively on Kerr County and Comfort.
“The flooding is no longer isolated to one area,” Dickson said. “Communities across the entire Hill Country region have been impacted.”
The Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Fund will serve all 10 counties in the foundation’s service area: Bandera, Blanco, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kimble, Kerr, Mason, Real, and Uvalde counties. Dickson said no grants have been made from the new fund yet, as the foundation is still assessing the full extent of damage across the region.
“We don’t yet know everything these communities will need,” Dickson said. “Right now, our priority is understanding the most urgent needs on the ground.”
The foundation is working with nonprofit organizations, local officials, and community partners to identify those needs. A needs assessment linked on the foundation’s social media channels is available for affected households to complete. Dickson said responses received in the first 24 hours indicate housing assistance is the top need.
‘Muck and gut’ among overlooked needs
Dickson said that beyond housing, one of the most urgent and underrecognized needs following flooding is what recovery workers call “muck and gut” — the removal of muddy debris from flooded properties.
“It’s messy business, it’s urgent business, and it needs to be taken care of soon because it creates mold and other damaging elements in structures and homes and businesses,” Dickson said.
He said volunteer groups with specialty training, as well as community volunteers, are currently performing that work across the Hill Country.
Dickson said a $50 donation can have a tangible impact, citing the foundation’s track record from last year’s Kerr County recovery.
“Fifty dollars can feed a family, it can support putting up a new fence, or muck and gut a house,” Dickson said. “Every dollar counts in recovery.”
The foundation reported more than 100,000 unique donations during last year’s Kerr County flood relief effort. Dickson said funds previously donated for Kerr County recovery remain committed to that purpose.
“Those dollars remain committed to the purposes for which they were donated,” he said. “The mass majority are planned for ongoing recovery efforts in Kerr County.”
Abbott requests federal disaster declaration for 28 counties
Abbott visited the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde on Friday, where he received a briefing on flood conditions, response operations, and recovery efforts. He also met with first responders and emergency personnel.
“The Uvalde community was hit very hard, but its residents are strong and resilient,” Abbott said. “I am requesting a major disaster declaration for 28 counties to provide federal relief and help in the rebuilding process of this region. More counties can be added as needed.”
The declaration request will be sent to the White House for President Trump to approve. If approved, it would allow Texas to use federal funding to support recovery and rescue operations.
As of Friday, more than 2,700 personnel and 1,500 vehicles, aircraft, and other assets have been deployed across the state. Texas has rescued more than 270 people since response efforts began.
Abbott identified Zavala, Dimmit, Real, and Crockett counties as areas of particular concern, saying emergency officials remain focused on those communities because of the continued threat posed by the Nueces River. He warned that severe weather and additional flooding may continue to impact the state.
“Although the rain may subside, rivers will continue to rise,” Abbott said. “So, take matters into your own hands to be as safe as possible.”
Abbott was joined by Rep. Don McLaughlin, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Uvalde County Commissioner Roy Kothmann, and other state, local, and federal emergency management officials.
Texans can report flood damage and find resources at Disaster.Texas.gov. Those wishing to donate to flood recovery can visit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country at communityfoundation.net. The state’s Rebuild Texas nonprofit fund is also accepting donations at rebuildtx.org.
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