How to help: Organizations aiding flood relief, recovery in Central Texas

TEXAS (KAMR/KCIT) – As communities in Central Texas reckon with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding during the recent holiday weekend, for which the death toll has continued to rise amid rescue and recovery efforts, people and organizations around the United States are looking for ways to help.

As noted in previous reports, the flash floods were among the nation’s worst in decades

and slammed into camps and homes along the Guadalupe River before sunrise on Friday, pulling people out of their cabins, tents, and trailers and dragging them for miles past floating tree trunks and cars. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.

The number of deaths reached at least 104 on Monday as a massive search continued for missing people. Officials say searchers in hard-hit Kerr County have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children. 

Local, state and community organizations and nonprofits are collecting donations to aid the recovery efforts for those impacted in Central Texas, including:

• The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country – Kerrville Flood Relief Fund
• San Antonio Area Foundation – Kerrville Flood Relief Fund
• World Central Kitchen
  • Providing meals to people impacted by the flooding.
• Austin Pets Alive!
  • A nonprofit that has taken in more than 150 pets from areas affected by the flooding.
• Texans on a Mission
  • Seeking volunteers for clean-up assistance in flooded areas.
• TEXSAR
  • A nonprofit deploying volunteer “ground pounders,” swiftwater teams, boats, drones, K9 units and other resources for disaster response, rescue and recovery operations.
• The Salvation Army
  • Deployed the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team to respond with a mobile kitchen to flooded areas.
• American Red Cross
  • Supporting American Red Cross emergency shelters in Central Texas and providing food, relief supplies and resources such as financial and family assistance.
• GoFundMe fundraising pages
  • A landing page has been launched on the GoFundMe website focused on verified fundraisers and nonprofits in response to the Central Texas floods.
• Toot’n Totum Change for the Better campaign
  • Toot’n Totum’s “Change for the Better” campaign will match the first $7,500 in donations to be directed to organizations providing immediate aid, shelter and recovery assistance in Kerr County.

Both the San Antonio Area Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country funds have been endorsed by the United Way of Central Texas, which said every dollar donated to either fund will directly support emergency housing, food, clothing and other recovery efforts.