Hunt community mobilizes for flood relief

Hunt, the small unincorporated community in West Kerr County that was hit the hardest by floodwaters the morning of July 4, has mobilized in the midst of the aftermath to provide flood relief to residents.

The Hunt School suffered minimal water damage, as runoff from the flood reached the front entrances of the school and made its way into the building, Hunt School Principal Sarah Nichols said.

However, by 5 p.m., it was set up by school administrators as a dry shelter for residents affected by the flood.

Donations came pouring in over the next few days, and volunteers worked to organize supplies. The school was able to provide the community with food and other necessities, as well as cleaning supplies.

As electricity and water was restored after the flood, the school became a hub for first responders where they have been provided with food, cots set up in empty classrooms, air conditioning, bathrooms, showers, Wi-Fi and charging stations as the search and rescue efforts continue. Volunteers have also been providing first responders with laundry services.

“We were hearing about first responders having to drive back to Kerrville and places like San Antonio and Dripping Springs and wasting valuable time in their vehicles to get back into Hunt,” Nichols said.

H-E-B has provided a pop-up air conditioned dome for first responders to sleep in on the Hunt School property, giving them more room to rest and regroup.

“H-E-B has helped us out tremendously,” Nichols said. “We can tell them what we need, and they can have it here for us in two hours from their supply headquarters.”

Donation intake in Hunt has now been streamlined. It is recommended that all donations coming into the area be dropped off at the Hunt Volunteer Fire Department, 151 FM 1340.

“We’ve been telling people that this is the local Hunt H-E-B,” said volunteer Shannon Silber as she walked among the organized donated items. “And down back we have the local Home Depot.”

Silber, a resident of Hunt and nurse at Peterson Hospital, jogged her way to the Hunt VFD on the morning of July 4 in order to lend a hand in providing relief to the community.

“I told them to put me to work, that I would do whatever they needed me to do,” she said.

“We just love our community and wanted to help out in any way we could,” said Debbie Griffin, another volunteer.

As the Hunt VFD becomes inundated with supplies, items are taken to the staging areas around Camp Mystic for those working there and are also shared with the Mountain Home Volunteer Fire Department, where flood victims in the area can access them.

West Kerr County residents can also pick up supplies at the Hunt Baptist Church, 112 Church Drive SW.

“We’re just trying to distribute all of these generous donations out to the community,” Layne Collis said. “We’d like to tell residents that they don’t have to go to Walmart. They can find what they need here.”

Residents who are especially in need of clothes can find everything from infant size to adult male clothing at the church.

Church volunteers can also bring items to West Kerr County residents if needed. Collis recommends calling the church at 830-238-4863 to get a supply delivery organized.

This article was originally published in the July 10, 2025 edition of the Kerrville Daily Times.