Hunt community mobilizes for flood relief

In the wake of devastating July 4 flooding, the small community of Hunt has quickly transformed into a hub of relief and recovery for West Kerr County residents.

Though among the hardest-hit areas, Hunt has mobilized in the days since the disaster—organizing donations, supporting first responders and ensuring residents have access to essential supplies.

At the center of those efforts is Hunt School.

While the campus sustained only minimal damage, with floodwater reaching the front entrances and entering parts of the building, it was operational again by the evening of July 4. By 5 p.m., administrators had opened the school as a dry shelter for displaced residents.

Hunt School Principal Sarah Nichols said donations began arriving almost immediately, as volunteers stepped in to sort and organize supplies.

As utilities were gradually restored, the school’s role expanded. It now serves as a base for first responders, providing food, cots in classrooms, air conditioning, bathrooms, showers, Wi-Fi and charging stations. Volunteers have also taken on laundry duties for crews working long hours in the field.

“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.

Additional support came from H-E-B, which provided an air-conditioned dome on campus to give first responders more space to rest.

“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.”

COORDINATING DONATIONS AND SUPPLIES

As relief efforts grew, the community worked to streamline donation efforts.

Officials now recommend dropping off supplies at the Hunt Volunteer Fire Department, 151 FM 1340, where items are sorted and distributed.

“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 Hunt resident and nurse at Peterson Regional Medical Center, said she jogged her way to the Hunt Volunteer Fire Department on July 4 to offer help as the disaster unfolded.

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

Volunteers like Silber have been joined by many others stepping in to support their neighbors.

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

Supplies collected at the Hunt VFD are distributed to staging areas around Camp Mystic and shared with the Mountain Home Volunteer Fire Department, ensuring both responders and residents have access to resources.

 ACCESSING ESSENTIALS

For residents in need, Hunt Baptist Church has become another key distribution site.

“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 Wal-Mart. They can find what they need here.”

The church is stocked with items ranging from infant clothing to adult sizes, along with other essential supplies.

Volunteers are also offering delivery assistance for those unable to travel.

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