Flooding Kills Two in Texas Hill Country, Destroys Homes Rebuilt After Last Year’s Floods

Floodwaters from last week’s rains killed two people in southern Texas and destroyed homes and businesses that had been rebuilt after deadly flooding a year earlier, Cnn reported. Parts of southern Texas received about a year’s worth of rain. Authorities described a large and deadly flood wave that moved down the Guadalupe River.

The river crested at nearly 38 feet in Center Point on Thursday morning, and a gauge in Comfort rose 25 feet in one hour. John Mark Steward died when floodwaters swept his home away in Kerrville. His wife, Jennie Steward, said first responders searched for hours before his body was found one day after their third wedding anniversary.

Steward described him as a stepfather and recent grandfather whose death left their garden and memories gone. One person was killed and dozens of homes were destroyed in Uvalde. Christie Burgess spent nearly 10 hours in floodwaters after her vehicle was swept away while driving home from work in Hunt; her house was left almost on its side.

L.A. Cude’s Center Point home took 30 inches of water this year after 20 inches last year. The house he finished rebuilding three weeks earlier was destroyed again, along with the RV he had used during prior repairs.

Chong Chin’s Greengrocers gourmet grocery store was flooded. Chin, who immigrated from Malaysia in 1981, had no flood insurance and planned to clean up alone. John Melendrez, whom Chin had once given a free sandwich when he could not pay, cut drywall and started a GoFundMe that drew more than 30 volunteers within hours.

Cord Shiflet drove 200 miles round trip daily from Austin and raised more than $50,000 through Facebook. Shim’s Be Blessed Catering & Food Trailer gave away over 1,000 sandwiches. Jennie Steward said friends, her church and the community remained the one steady support after material losses.