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Flood survivors press Kerr County for coordinated recovery as Community Foundation reports $82 million in grants
Summary
At the June 22 Kerr County Commissioners Court, flood survivors urged the county to create a centralized recovery resource and extend short-term rental and utility assistance while the Community Foundation reported $82 million in grants paid and 641 cases managed. Commissioners and the foundation discussed roles, gaps and next steps.
Juliet Wheldon, speaking during public input, told the court her home at 2110 Waterfront Drive in Kerrville was destroyed during the July 4 flood and described a night trapped with her husband and pets while water “kept rising.” Wheldon said survivors still face paperwork, housing instability and uncertainty and asked the county to establish a single, trusted recovery resource that would provide eligibility information, points of contact and outreach in English and Spanish. She requested an answer from the county by Monday, June 29 and urged the court to press Congress for Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funding.
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country gave a one‑year status report at the same meeting. Austin Dixon, the foundation’s representative, said the foundation has paid out roughly $82,000,000 in grants to date and is managing 641 active cases through rebuildkerr.org, a public intake and dashboard. Dixon said 138 households (310 individuals) in Kerr County currently live in temporary housing with rent and utilities paid by the foundation; he noted 138 households had fully closed their cases and that grants have funded housing repairs, down‑payment assistance, business recovery programs and mental‑health services.
“Recovery is about rebuilding lives,” Dixon said, emphasizing a data‑driven approach and local capacity: “We have hired local case managers and built multiple pathways so survivors can make a decision that’s right for them.” He told the court the foundation raised about $150,000,000 overall and has directed roughly $82,000,000 back into grants and programs, with significant investments in housing, business recovery and environmental projects.
Commissioners asked how the Community Foundation’s work relates to the county‑designated Long Term Recovery Group. Dixon described the foundation as a private philanthropic partner rather than the county’s official long‑term recovery coordinator. “We are a funder and a partner,” he said, adding that the foundation takes grant recommendations from advisory councils and the Long Term Recovery Group and that philanthropy is intended to supplement, not supplant, government responsibilities. Dixon urged the county to advocate forcefully for state and federal recovery funds, including CDBG‑DR allocations, noting that private donations cannot lawfully be used for certain public infrastructure projects.
The court heard related public comments from other residents and precinct chairs who had participated in the hand‑count process and who urged better outreach so survivors receive case management. Multiple speakers praised rebuildkerr.org as the central access point for services and encouraged any families who had not yet registered to do so.
What’s next: the Community Foundation encouraged residents to register at rebuildkerr.org to request case management. Survivors who asked the court for prompt action were told county staff and the foundation will continue coordination; the court did not vote on new county policy at the June 22 session.
