Together for Texas: When hope arrived to the devastated Hill Country

KERRVILLE, Texas (KWTX) - The devastating July 4th flood took more than 100 lives in the Hill Country and washed away a summer destination for Texas families.

In the days following the tragedy, many people stepped up to donate to the “Together for Texas” campaign.

Gray Media partnered with Graham Media and the Salvation Army to raise more than $1 million for flood relief. Nearly two months later, every person’s generosity is making a difference.

One couple, Jack and Jennifer Hudson, received money to buy tools, a laptop, and a printer to start rebuilding their business called “Quality Patio Furniture” and their home between Hunt and Ingram.

“Putting it back together, it’s important that we can do that and build it back stronger and better with a strong foundation,” Jack Hudson said.

The couple escaped flood waters through a window in their home and swam out with their two dogs. They clung to the side of their house that was built in the 1930s until the flood water receded almost an hour later. It was also their 31st wedding anniversary.

“I looked over at Jack and said happy anniversary,” Jennifer Hudson said. “Not the way we’d planned to spend it of course.”

The couple did not have flood insurance and they haven’t needed it for decades. Their neighbors lost family members, pets and property.

Now, the rain triggers fear for many of the families in Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville.

“It makes me think about losing my cat and everything I had, you know, back then, you know, like my apartment and my old car and everything,” survivor, Whitt Williams said.

Williams is an employee at the Salvation Army in Kerrville. With the many donations, he was able to get back on his feet with an RV and a new vehicle after the flood.

The flood swept his cat, Harley, out of his arms. Williams now feeds strays at his new place, and he’s thankful to have a place to rest at night.

“Everybody just came together, you know? And so because of that, I have a RV in my name. I’ve never been a homeowner, but that’s pretty cool ya know,” Williams said.

The Hudson family hopes to be open for business soon, thanks in part to donations.

“They have helped us out with money for tools, and that’s going to get me back to making a living,” Jack Hudson said. “And that’s an amazing thing with a lot of my machinery damaged in the flood.”

“Our Choice is to be focused on gratitude,” Jennifer Hudson said. “Because when you’re in gratitude, you’re in the flow of blessing and those blessings have come to us from every direction.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said. “We are one of your recipients, and it makes a difference.”

“The devastation is just so great,” Major Phil Swyers with the Salvation Army expressed as he looked out over Camp Mystic. “You just can’t imagine not only the loss of a child, but, you know, you’re just as a parent...you’re not supposed to bury your kids.”

Major Swyers and his colleague, Sergio Marquez-Lopez, say they are grateful for every donation as they shift their services to meet the needs of the Kerr County community at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.

“We also have representatives that are Salvation Army representatives that are helping them,” Marquez-Lopez said. “Financial needs that they might need immediately, you know, and that’s kind of where it shifted to now at this point. First, it was first responders, taking care of their meals, water, beverages, all those things. Now we’re doing kind of the immediate assistance, and then we’re going to shift over and do the long-term recovery, where we come to the table as a funder. How do we take care of these people that need help with rebuilding or taking care of their home or their vehicles.”

“It’s just amazing the way people have responded,” Major Swyers said. “And you know, certainly from the viewers that you have that have made our response possible.”

If you would like to make a donation to the “Together for Texas” campaign to continue helping the Hill Country, visit:

Donate to The Salvation Army TX Disaster Services - Texas Floods 2025 - Gray Media and Graham Media

Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.