Kerrville, Texas – Volunteers Rally for Flood Recovery
In Kerrville, hundreds of dedicated volunteers are working to support over 2,000 rescuers and flood victims following the devastating Independence Day flooding. One notable group, BBQ Relief Operation, managed to serve over 4,000 meals in a single day.
As recovery efforts enter their seventh day after one of Texas’ most tragic floods, the challenge of sustaining exhausted search and rescue teams, as well as assisting flood survivors, is significant. A visit to the BBQ team revealed insights from area coordinator Steve Anderson.
Anderson noted that the BBQ relief team provided 4,400 meals just on Thursday. Anticipating an ongoing need, they will be receiving additional meat smokers to accommodate meal preparations in Kerrville’s suburbs. Following President Trump’s visit to the heavily affected area, an official at a Friday press conference disclosed that over 12,000 rescue and relief workers have volunteered in Kerrville since the flooding occurred.
Next week, Anderson plans to evaluate how long their team will remain in the area, continuing their efforts as needed. He highlighted the substantial support from various sponsors, including major national insurance companies, large retail chains, residential facilities, and significant propane suppliers.
For information regarding volunteering or tax-deductible donations to the BBQ relief operation, resources are available on their website, which also lists sponsors and previous missions. Anderson believes they are providing thousands of meals daily, supported by generous nonprofit sponsors.
This initiative began in response to the 2011 tornado relief efforts in Joplin, Missouri, where competitive pitmasters from nine states came together to feed displaced individuals and first responders, delivering over 120,000 meals in just 13 days.
To date, BBQ relief operations have distributed over 11 million meals throughout the U.S. and have also been active internationally after natural disasters, including responses to the Malibu wildfires and hurricane relief efforts in Florida, serving nearly 800,000 people in 22 days post-Hurricane Milton.
The BBQ Relief Operation is among several volunteer organizations in Kerrville, providing hot meals to both rescue workers and flood survivors. Other groups, such as the American Red Cross and Mercy Chefs, have set up outdoor kitchen camps with volunteers eager to help. Local restaurants are also contributing significantly to these relief efforts.
As of Friday afternoon, the total death toll from the flooding across several Texas counties has risen to 129, with over 160 individuals still unaccounted for. This sobering statistic highlights that the recovery mission is far from over.
