FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations Respond to South Texas and Hill Country Flooding

Serve Source is supporting coordination and shared visibility as partners provide meals, shelter, supplies, distribution services, and other assistance across affected communities.

AUSTIN, Texas — July 17, 2026 — Widespread flooding across South Texas and the Western Hill Country has resulted in at least 2 deaths, more than 570 rescues, extensive transportation disruptions, and damage to homes, businesses, roads, bridges, RV parks, and other infrastructure. As emergency operations transition from widespread rescue toward sheltering, damage assessment, debris removal, and initial cleanup, Serve Source is supporting coordination and shared situational awareness among churches, faith-based disaster response organizations, nonprofits, and community partners.

Repeated slow-moving storms produced more than 2 feet of rain in portions of Uvalde County, with isolated rainfall totals approaching approximately 28 inches in parts of Uvalde and neighboring Kerr County. Floodwater entered homes, overwhelmed streets and low-water crossings, damaged pavement and bridges, and temporarily cut off most major routes into Uvalde. Significant impacts have also been reported in Kerrville, Ingram, Center Point, Comfort, Hondo, D’Hanis, Boerne, Ozona, Bandera County, and communities along the Pedernales, Guadalupe, Leona, and Nueces river systems.

Downstream flooding remains a concern even where rainfall has ended. The Nueces River below Uvalde reached approximately 28 feet, compared with an 11-foot flood stage, creating risks for low-lying homes, rural roads, bridges, livestock, fencing, and ranch equipment. Residents in the Mexico Chico neighborhood of Crystal City were ordered to evacuate as floodwater moved south, while additional river impacts have threatened portions of Zavala and Dimmit counties.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration covering 59 Texas counties and requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for 28 counties on July 17. The state declaration and federal request are separate actions, and additional counties may be added as local and state assessments continue. A verified regional count of damaged homes has not yet been released, but survivors are already reporting damage via the state's iSTAT form https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/.

Serve Source is helping make response activity visible so churches, nonprofits, and aligned partners can better understand where services are being provided, where needs are emerging, and how response efforts are developing across impacted communities. The organization is communicating with local church leaders, ministries, nonprofit organizations, and disaster response teams as communities move from rescue operations into feeding, sheltering, supply distribution, cleanup, and longer-term recovery.

Partner Response Activity

Mercy Chefs is expanding its response from its established Kerr County operations and providing hot, chef-prepared meals to flood-affected families, volunteers, and first responders. The organization is also deploying additional resources to support neighboring counties and communities as needs are identified. https://give.mercychefs.com/campaign/822148/donate?c_src=EM-5-46218&c_src2=Text-B1-10#form

Convoy of Hope is delivering food, water, and essential cleanup supplies in Boerne, Castroville, and Uvalde while staging additional resources in San Antonio for distribution as priority needs are identified. https://convoyofhope.org/disaster-relief/texas-flash-flooding-emergency-prompts-immediate-response/

Operation Blessing has identified a Kerrville response beginning July 18 involving resources, logistics, and assessment activity. Additional response details and support information are available through the organization. https://ob.org/disaster-response

Blind Faith Foundation is operating a resource warehouse and emergency goods distribution location in Ingram for families affected by the flooding. Current warehouse hours are listed as 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. https://blindfaithfoundation.org/love-others-warehouse

Cross Kingdom is serving as an active church response location in Kerrville and is partnering with Blind Faith Foundation to provide resources for people affected by the flooding. https://crosskingdom.org/

City West Church in Ingram is serving the community as an emergency shelter and donations management and distribution location for displaced residents. Shelter availability and operating conditions may change as residents return home and community needs shift. https://citywest.org/

Austin Disaster Relief Network is providing emergency goods and current volunteer information is available through the organization’s response page. https://adrn.org/volunteer-opportunities/

Serve Source helps trusted partners share response activity, monitoring status, deployment information, needs, and service locations so the broader network can respond with greater clarity, coordination, and geographic coverage. This shared visibility helps reduce duplication, improve awareness, and make it easier for churches, nonprofits, and community partners to identify gaps and opportunities to serve.

Residents should continue following local evacuation instructions, respecting road barricades, and monitoring official county and city alerts. Homeowners, renters, and business owners are encouraged to report flood damage through the State of Texas Individual Assistance–State of Texas Assessment Tool, or iSTAT, when it is safe to do so. Submitting an iSTAT report helps emergency officials understand the scope of damage but is not an application for financial assistance.

Individuals and groups should not self-deploy into flooded or restricted areas. Volunteers should connect with an established responding organization before traveling to ensure their service does not burden local emergency operations or duplicate existing efforts.

To view current response partners, service locations, and response details for South Texas and Hill Country Flooding July 2026, visit https://app.servesource.org/DisasterDetail?id=6a579ab2a774062e5e9c0229.

Church leaders and response organizations serving affected communities may connect with Serve Source by emailing info@servesource.org.

About Serve Source

Serve Source is a backbone organization that strengthens and equips churches, faith-based organizations, and aligned partners through relationships, shared infrastructure, and coordinated action so communities in crisis receive clearer, stronger, and more connected support. Through shared situational awareness, trusted relationships, and practical response infrastructure, Serve Source increases visibility for credible response efforts, helps reduce duplication, and supports more connected action during disasters and community needs. Serve Source is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas.