Hey friend ☕,
I just couldn’t keep this to myself today. You might have seen a snippet in your feed, a hashtag on X,but Texas is in the midst of a heartbreaking nightmare.
Historic flash floods swept through the Texas Hill Country from July 4–7, dumping over 5–20 inches of rain in just hours. The Guadalupe River surged up to 26 feet in 45 minutes, submerging homes, ripping away cabins, and catching people off guard as they slept :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Here’s what’s truly shattered me:
- At least 104 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children , many from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp, where cabins were swallowed by water :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
- Rescue teams pulled over 850 survivors from the floodwaters, using boats and helicopters while the Coast Guard and National Guard joined the mission :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Camp Mystic alone lost 27 campers and counselors, missing many more, after the river jumped its banks with terrifying speed :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
- The disaster struck on a holiday weekend, giving little warning,even the mayor lamented, “We didn’t even have a warning” :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
💔 Moments that stopped me in my tracks
I imagine the surreal scene: rooftop rescues, cabins floating downriver, a soaked teddy bear drifting on a curb… And that image of a dad carrying his little girl above waist-deep water,coffee in hand, I just paused and felt the weight.
Then there’s the story of 7‑year‑old Brock climbing rafters to stay above water, clutching onto hope in the darkness :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
Or the eerie quiet of Hunt’s iconic 80‑year‑old Hunt Store,once a buzzing community hub,now shut after flood damage :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
👐 Hope isn’t lost,people are rising
- Over 1,750 state personnel, 975 vehicles, and 400 federal agents are on the ground, continuing rescue and recovery efforts :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
- The NBA, NBPA and teams (Mavericks, Rockets, Spurs) donated over $2 million – lit a small flame in dark days :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
- Relief agencies like Direct Relief and American Red Cross are providing meds, clean-up kits, shelters, mental‑health support, and reunification centers :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
- Even Amazon swung into action, coordinating donations and emergency goods with on‑site partners :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
🌧 Why it happened,and why it hit so hard
Central Texas sits in what weather experts call “Flash Flood Alley”. Combine the hilly terrain, clay‑rich soil, and a stalled storm system (fed by remnants of Tropical Storm Barry) , and boom: a recipe for swift, deadly flooding :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
On July 4, 6–10 inches of rain fell in mere hours,more than many places get in a month. There were early Flash Flood Emergencies issued, but the storm’s fury arrived so fast it overwhelmed the warnings :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
☕ My coffee‑table takeaway today
It's easy to scroll past tragedy, numbed by swirling headlines. But today,today I slowed down. I held my breath for those missing campers, wept for counselors like Chloe (a 19‑year‑old counselor who loved those girls dearly) :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
So here's my simple ask: when the day ends and you slip under your cozy blanket, whisper a prayer for Kerr County. If you can, chip in to relief efforts,even $5 helps. Every kind thought and act is a lifeline right now.
Life’s coffee notes just got darker,let’s be the sugar that reminds us all we care.
Thanks for sitting here with me. ❤️
Warmly,
Michael