Rural Texas areas struggle with flood disaster aid
Severe floods in May 2024 devastated unincorporated communities in Texas Hill Country, killing at least 27 people and destroying hundreds of homes. These rural areas face unique barriers to federal disaster aid due to the lack of local governments. Residents and officials highlight policy gaps that leave them vulnerable in the face of worsening extreme weather.
In early May 2024, flash flooding struck the Texas Hill Country, particularly along the Guadalupe River in Kerr, Kendall, and Bandera counties. The river rose nearly 29 feet in just a few hours over the Memorial Day weekend, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and infrastructure. At least 27 people died, with the majority of fatalities in Kerr County, including several children at a summer camp in Hunt, an unincorporated community.
Unincorporated areas like Hunt, Ingram, and Center Point bore the brunt of the destruction, with over 500 homes and structures damaged or destroyed. These communities, home to thousands of residents, lack formal local governments such as mayors or city councils, complicating recovery efforts. Federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) typically requires applications through counties or municipalities, leaving rural spots in a bureaucratic bind.
Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Emily Walker described the challenges: "In unincorporated areas, we don't have the same resources or structure to apply for certain grants and aid that cities do." The county applied for FEMA assistance on behalf of affected residents, securing individual aid for some, but broader community recovery funds have been slower to materialize. For instance, in Hunt, residents like those in the flood-ravaged RV park along the riverbank waited weeks for basic debris removal and temporary housing.
Background context reveals a pattern of vulnerability in these regions. Texas Hill Country's rugged terrain and proximity to rivers make it prone to flash floods, exacerbated by climate change-driven heavy rainfall. The 2024 event followed similar disasters in 2018 and 2021, yet policy remains unchanged, prioritizing incorporated areas. Critics, including local advocates, argue that state laws should allow direct aid to unincorporated zones to prevent inequity.
Implications extend beyond immediate recovery. Without swift aid, small businesses shutter, and populations may decline, straining the rural economy. Officials warn that as extreme weather intensifies, these gaps could lead to more lives lost and prolonged suffering in America's overlooked communities.