On the morning of July 4, 2025, Kevin Kearney woke in the dark to a sound no one wants to hear—the force of floodwater crashing against his home in the Hunt-Ingram area. When he opened the front door around 3:15 a.m., water was already at the threshold of his elevated modular home. Within moments, the house began to shift and tilt. Then two large windows shattered as water rushed inside.
Faced with an impossible decision, Kevin grabbed a backpack, tossed in his phone, flashlight, and a change of clothes, and acted fast. In the dark, he caught a glimpse of his pickup truck as it floated past his front door, he leapt into the truck bed. Carried by the floodwaters for what he estimates was about a half mile, he drifted through the darkness until the truck became wedged in the limbs of a cluster of trees. There, crouched in the truck bed for hours, he watched the water rise and prayed nothing would strike or overturn him. By daybreak, he could finally see the devastation around him—but he was alive.
When the water receded enough for him to climb down, Kevin made his way toward the Hunt Store, where he was eventually reunited with family and helped to safety. In the difficult months that followed, he stayed with his daughter Jordan, son-in-law Bailey, and their family while beginning the long road to recovery.
With support from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, local partners, and case manager, Sharon, Kevin was able to purchase the very first home he has ever owned. With assistance from Leslie Robertson and The Money Store, he closed on the home he now proudly calls his own. He also received help through the Unmet Needs Fund to purchase a lawn mower—because, as Kevin shared, he wanted to care for his new home and be a good steward of the blessings he had been given.
Today, surrounded by family, friends, and supporters, Kevin stood in that home with gratitude and quiet pride. His story is one of courage, resilience, and determination. In true Texas fashion, he weathered the storm, kept moving forward, and built something new from what was nearly lost.
Leave a Reply