Baylor Family comes together to help after Hill Country flooding

The Hill Country is a special place to Texans, including many in the Baylor Family. As news spread of the catastrophic July 4 weekend floods in and around Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country, the impact was felt far and wide. The flash floods claimed the lives of over 100 people, and many remain missing.

Throughout the Baylor Family, the desire to respond in a meaningful way was evident. In addition to the many Baylor alumni who reside in the Hill Country or have vacationed in the area, the region’s many camps have welcomed generations of Bears who retain those memories of friendship, recreation and spiritual development nurtured there. Quickly, the Baylor Family’s prayers were joined by actions to support our neighbors to the south:

• Initial Response: Baylor student life representatives quickly reached out to all current students from the affected areas, sharing available resources and letting them know many at BU were praying for them. For the larger need, Baylor’s institutional approach to disaster relief encourages the Baylor Family to pray for those impacted, stay put and allow qualified responders to do their job, raise awareness and funds to support those on the front lines, and go when it is safe and stable for volunteers to serve. The University shared that approach with the Baylor Family after the flood, along with a list of trusted partners interested individuals could directly support in the ongoing efforts for rescue and recovery.
• Relief Kits: Just a few days after the flood hits, students, faculty and staff were packing hundreds of relief kits to be distributed to impacted families. As many stores in the area quickly ran out of supplies, the kits provided needed materials to families trying to clean their homes after the water receded.
• Prayer Service: Last Thursday, the campus community came together for a Prayer Service at Elliston Chapel to cover the continuing efforts and individuals affected in prayer.

Members of the Baylor Family and student groups also found ways to serve as they were connected to needs in the area. Just a couple of the stories we’ve heard:

• Tau Kappa Epsilon: Members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity served in Kerrville in the days after the flooding by assisting recovery teams, organizing supplies, and simply visiting with families in the area.
• Hometown Service: Baylor Law alumnus Matt Maupin (JD ’22) and his wife, Katie, were visiting their hometown of Kerrville when the floods hit. Their vacation turned to action after the flooding, as they spent the week aiding recovery crews removing debris from downed power lines, clearing roadways, and searching for missing neighbors.

Ongoing efforts for cleanup and recovery ensure that more will be done. Baylor Missions, Service & Public Life is already working to find additional ways that, at the right time, the Baylor community can come alongside partners in the area to meet needs in the weeks and months ahead.

Sic ’em, Baylor Family!