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Most of last year’s newly planted river trees survived Thursday’s flood
Kerr County River Foundation says volunteers return to work staking survivors; group seeking donations to replace lost water tanks
The Lead’s stories
Flood damage: A checklist on what to do
You don’t have to do everything today. Reporting damage doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t obligate you to anything — it just gets you in line for help. Do these roughly in order, as you’re able.
What to know about mold and cleanup safety after the flood
CDC, EPA guidance: wear an N-95 at minimum, and some people shouldn’t be in mold-damaged spaces at all
FEMA authorizes federal disaster assistance for Kerr County, 27 other Texas counties
President’s emergency declaration approved Saturday; federal government will cover 75% of emergency protective measures
Signs of progress across Kerr County as recovery settles into a rhythm
Three days after Thursday’s flood, Kerr County’s recovery is shifting from emergency response into the slower, grinding work of cleanup — and Sunday brought visible signs of progress alongside a wave of community support for the small businesses still fighting to reopen.
High heat, elevated heat index expected as Kerr County dries out
For Kerr County specifically, that means clearing skies and rising humidity. Lows will stay in the low to mid 70s overnight with high humidity, and Sunday’s highs should reach the upper 80s in the southern Edwards Plateau and low to mid 90s elsewhere.
A guide to flood recovery funding for Kerr County small businesses
LiftFund launches grants up to $10,000; Chamber Foundation reopens grant program; federal aid remains pending
Abbott formally requests presidential disaster declaration for 28 counties, including Kerr County
Request now with the White House; more than 2,700 personnel and 270 rescues statewide since flooding began
UGRA: New flood warning system performed as designed during Thursday’s flooding
Authority credits sirens, RiverHub, and a year of emergency planning; says more gauges, sirens and predictive modeling are next
5 things to know about Kerr County’s flood recovery, two days later
Kerr County is two days removed from a flash flood emergency that killed one person, damaged dozens of businesses and homes, and tested a flood warning system built in the aftermath of last year’s catastrophe. Here’s what matters most right now.
Kerrville Area Chamber Foundation reopens business recovery grant program for flood-affected businesses
Grants, not loans, available now regardless of Chamber membership
Officials: two days’ warning, faster response prevented larger tragedy in Kerr County flooding
County judge details 3:30 a.m. Thursday disaster declaration; sheriff explains press conference delay; commissioner says flood warning system “worked perfectly”
Hill Country Youth Ranch seeks volunteers, funding after flood compounds unfinished 2025 repairs
All children and staff safe; organization estimates $180,000 in road and grounds repairs needed before campus reopens for school Aug. 10
Day 2 Notebook: Kerr County’s recovery continues, Sidney Baker Bridge reopens
The Sidney Baker Street bridge reopened at 2:15 p.m. Friday, according to Kerrville Police, after the barge that had been wedged beneath it since Thursday morning was cleared. The bridge, which connects downtown Kerrville, had been the city’s single biggest transportation bottleneck since the flood began.
Runaway barge from Nimitz Lake recovery operation snagged power lines, later wedged under Sidney Baker bridge
Cable break knocked out power to more than 900 customers Thursday; water treatment plant remains without direct power
Community Foundation launches regional flood fund, says housing and “muck and gut” work are greatest immediate needs
Foundation says new fund won’t touch remaining 2025 Kerr County donations; no grants issued yet as needs assessment gets underway
Symphony of the Hills Fourth of July Performance
The Year: The Flood’s Impact on Kerr County
The Lead’s Special Report
The monster in the canyon: What the storm actually was — and what was never asked
Nine months after the flood, federal meteorologists tell the full story. In 15 hours of legislative testimony this week, none of it came up.
At 12:56 a.m. on July 4, 2025, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Austin sent a message through its professional communications platform: “Some cell mergers about to take place in central Kerr County. This will be an area to watch for potential flash flooding.”
Eighteen minutes later, a flash flood warning went out to cell phones across the Hunt area — the ninth such warning issued for the Guadalupe River corridor since 2020. The previous eight had all expired without a mass casualty event.
By 4:03 a.m., NWS had upgraded that warning to a Flash Flood Emergency — the most urgent alert the agency can issue. Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas was home sick that night. Whether anyone else in Kerr County’s emergency structure was actively monitoring professional NWS channels during those critical hours remains unknown. Read more: https://kerrcountylead.com/the-monster-in-the-canyon-what-the-storm-actually-was-and-what-was-never-asked/
The Lead’s Special Sections
Arts and Culture
Flooding again damages Riverside Nature Center grounds, outbuildings
Initial assessments indicate damages not as significant as those following the July 4, 2025 flood.
Nearly 100 ways to get out this week in Kerr County
The Lead counted roughly 94 listed happenings across the seven days, and that’s before factoring in the events that pop up last-minute on Facebook.
What’s coming up at Arcadia Live for the rest of July
Arcadia Live has a full slate on tap for the back half of July, mixing free family matinees, trivia and bingo nights, and two screenings tied to the one-year mark of last year’s flood.
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: The 2026 Down Home Parade in Center Point
The Center Point community gathered in force on Saturday for the annual Down Home Parade
Photo gallery: The Lead’s Fourth on the River photos since 2022
Since 2022, The Kerr County Lead has covered Fourth on the River from the crowd at Louise Hays Park — the bands, the fireworks, the kids splashing in the Guadalupe, the whole town turning out for the Hill Country’s biggest Independence Day party.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Bluebell Bike Parade
Riders of all ages decorated their bikes before setting off on the charming neighborhood parade route, adding a lighthearted, family-friendly moment to the holiday.
Photo gallery: Symphony of the Hills’ “Stars, Stripes and Spirit” concert
Conductor Dr. Eugene Dowdy said the free concert was meant to honor both the tragedy and the community’s resilience, and before the performance, the public viewed nine original paintings from artist Robert R. “Bobby” Cahill’s “Freedom” series, tracing the history of the American flag since 1776.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Fourth on the River
The free, all-ages celebration featured a full day of live music — including Los Juanos, Jamie Lin Wilson, Junior Brown and William Beckmann, several of whom were booked for last year’s canceled show.
Sports
Meet the Edwards siblings, Kerr County’s homeschool track and field powerhouse
Now it’s on to Iowa, where three Edwards kids will take the runway at Drake University with a Junior Olympics medal, and a little Hill Country pride, on the line.
Enchanted Rock opens rugged new Backcountry Area to hikers July 7
The roughly 640-acre expansion, tucked behind the park’s iconic granite dome, has been years in the making as part of the state’s Centennial Parks initiative. Monday’s opening marks the first phase of public access — and it’s not for the casual visitor.
Pat Holmes, AFL All-Star who later called Kerrville home, dies at 85
Durable as well as decorated, he started every game of his first five seasons and never missed a game in seven years with the Oilers, appearing in all 98 and starting 96.
Obituaries
Bonnie Rockey: March 27, 1940-July 13, 2026
Bonnie performed in the Symphony of the Hills Orchestra in Kerrville until last year. Her love of music and the French horn were transferred to her many and successful students both locally and nationwide.
Paula Hernandez Garcia: March 5, 1930-July 14, 2026
Paula was a longtime member of Notre Dame Catholic Church. She was a housewife, seamstress, and babysitter. She enjoyed gifting her homemade quilts, crafts and diamond art to family and friends.
Samuel Randolph Haley: July 12, 1940-July 10, 2026
Randy loved nature’s reality and infinite variety. Focusing on basic scientific principles, he encouraged students to understand rather than try to memorize. Most of his students sought pre-professional careers in health sciences.
Gerald “Jerry” F. Jedow: 1941-July 12, 2026
In 1965, Jerry married the love of his life, Maryann Beno, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Together they shared more than 61 years of marriage and companionship, building a life centered on family, love, and lasting memories traveling all over.
Joseph W. Allen: July 31, 1929-July 9, 2026
Throughout his life, Joe was deeply involved in his community. He served as a Boy Scout troop leader, served on the Ingram City Council, and hauled equipment for the Ingram Tom Moore High School Band.
Community voices
Wayne Uecker: So, God made a small-town Texas business owner
In this Paul Harvey-inspired piece, Kerrville resident Wayne Uecker praises the small business owners of Kerr County.
Editorial: A year later, the hardest comment to hear
So when “nobody told us” gets said out loud, a year on, it lands as a heavy sigh for everyone who has spent that year telling. The nonprofits that stood up relief funds within the week. The case managers. The volunteers.
Commentary: How a trip to Ingram helped bond, unite the San Antonio Spurs to greatness
That trip was initiated by Spurs ownership and management, but it was executed by head coach Mitch Johnson, who made trips to Kerr County in the days immediately after the flood. Johnson saw the devastation firsthand through his volunteer efforts; he connected with the community, especially Ingram Tom Moore football coach and athletic director Tate DeMasco.
They came for Brenda Hughes. Here’s what they used — and what the truth is.
This has been an extraordinary campaign. Not because of anything Hughes has done, but because of what has been done to her.
Recent photos by The Kerr County Lead.
The Mission of The Kerr County Lead
Covering community news in the heart of the Hill Country.
Founded in 2021, The Kerr County Lead aims to provide high-quality journalism for Kerrville, Texas and the surrounding communities of the splendid Texas Hill Country. In the coming years, Texas faces exponential growth and the challenges of managing land, resources and water. At the same time, the Hill Country offers a robust quality of life and culture. With this mission, The Lead focuses its work on the stories that matter most to the readers in Kerr County.
