When devastating floods swept through the Texas Hill Country on July 4, the Dripping Springs community did what it does best: showed up. Some who answered the call were seasoned first responders; others were serving in this way for the first time. Young and old, volunteers from all walks of life offered their time and skills however they could. Whether hauling supplies, organizing donations, or simply listening to survivors’ stories, each effort made a difference.
In acts of service, gratitude flows both ways, blessing those in need and those who give. Following are a few examples of how the Drip community rose to the occasion.
Dusty Drake
When the floods hit the Hill Country, Dusty Drake didn’t hesitate to step in. As the owner of a tree service company, he knew his crew’s skills and equipment could make a real difference.
Drake and his team assisted with recovery efforts, dangerous limb and tree removal, and large clearing projects. Yet beyond the physical work, it was the people who left the deepest impression. “When we arrived in the flood-impacted areas, the residents welcomed us with incredible kindness and gratitude,” Drake recalls. “Their willingness to join in, support us, and work alongside us was just as inspiring as our desire to serve them.”
Even in hardship, residents looked for ways to care for the volunteers, offering supplies, fuel, food, and even medical support like IV hydration. “It became a beautiful circle of compassion: We came to help them, and they in turn helped us,” Drake shares.
Drake was amazed by the outpouring of support, as people from all walks of life showed up, ready to serve. Chainsaw companies arrived to sharpen and repair saws so crews could keep working, and one volunteer even drove from Pennsylvania to help. “It was a powerful reminder of how generosity and resilience multiply when people come together,” he recalls.
For Drake, the experience underscored the impact of joining forces in times of crisis. “This was a tremendous tragedy in terms of lives lost and damage done, but what I witnessed afterward was communities rising up to take care of one another,” he says. “And that spirit of kindness and shared purpose is something we can carry with us every day.”
Stéphanie Read
In the days after the July Fourth floods, Stéphanie Read teamed up with the the Fireside Chat Support Network (FCFN), a local nonprofit group of veterans and first responders, to help coordinate relief efforts. Recognizing the need for structure, she stepped in as volunteer flood relief coordinator—connecting with fire stations and churches across the Hill Country, organizing donations, and creating systems for volunteers to contribute meaningfully.
Collaborating with FCSN, Read established a full-scale donation center where community members dropped off supplies daily. She recruited volunteers to sort, staged donations for each affected town, and scheduled drivers to haul truckloads of goods where they were needed most. Each delivery was tailored to the specific requests of communities, from basic necessities to hard-to-find items like wheelchairs and walkers. She quickly saw how much could be accomplished when neighbors worked together, noting that with community involvement, “anything is possible.”
Her efforts also extended to fundraising. The FCSN team organized a benefit concert, and Read spearheaded a large silent auction, securing hundreds of donations from local businesses and raising thousands of dollars to directly support a local musician impacted by the flood. “The outpouring of generosity and kindness from our local community and beyond was incredible,” she says.
Reflecting on the experience, Read shares, “Love life and live it to the fullest! Be grateful for each and every day. Hold those you love close and tell them how much they mean to you.”
Robert “Chappy” Chaplin
In the aftermath of the Hill Country floods, Robert “Chappy” Chaplin and his wife, Elizabeth, put their military experience to work, committing to help get critical supplies where they were needed most. “My focus was to deliver supplies and equipment to any agency in need,” he explains. With their large truck and 16-foot trailer, the couple made several trips each week, hauling pallets of drinks and food, wheelchairs, strollers, clothing, fuel, and tools and dropping off essentials to multiple locations.
The FCFN became a hub for encouragement and planning. Together, members continued their Monday evening meetings to discuss how to expand support and keep hope alive for their neighbors. “The entire group was swollen with pride and gratitude to provide what we could as a service, and we were energized to do more,” he shares.
Chaplin says the most meaningful part of the work was seeing the thankfulness of those he helped. “You receive a sense of euphoria aiding those in need,” he says. “Those happy faces show a sense of relief from the immediate tragedy. People in need are elated that someone ‘out there’ cares about them.”
Bob Wilson
Bob Wilson’s old skid steer, affectionately named “Big Mike,” is typically used for clearing cedar and doing roadwork on his own property. But when the floods hit, Big Mike had a higher calling, as Wilson and his son began hauling him out to the Leander and Sandy Creek areas nearly every weekend to help with cleanup.
They primarily worked on private property where homeowners had no way to tackle the massive piles of debris. Volunteers with chainsaws would cut up and gather debris, and then Big Mike would grab and move it. Wilson and Big Mike also helped around bridges and public spaces.
Wilson says the flood response showed just how powerful teamwork can be. “The whole cleanup effort is a great testament to the people in central Texas,” he reflects. “Without the efforts of so many others volunteering, I could not have been as effectively involved.”
Wilson recalls that many people seemed overwhelmed at first, yet those same people would continue to show up at the next location, week after week. “It was amazing to see their hope restored and realize the strength in working together,” he says.
For Wilson, the experience proved that community is much more than an area or neighborhood: “Working side by side with people, getting dirty and sweaty in situations like this, helps you connect and makes you appreciate the people around us.”
Scott Elkins
Amid the chaos of the floods, Scott Elkins, a lieutenant with the Westlake Fire Department, joined fellow Dripping Springs local Micah Fain and two other personnel to support the hardest-hit areas. Their engine company covered the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department overnight for 14 consecutive days, relieving the day crew so volunteers could focus on more urgent needs. In addition to responding to 911 calls, Elkins and his team led training sessions and restocked supplies, ensuring the station ran smoothly during the crisis.
“What was inspiring was the overall amount of support and number of volunteers that responded to the area,” Elkins says. Local community members provided meals and supplies, and search and rescue crews arrived from all over the state and the country. Donations poured in at such a scale that some were even turned away. One local Comfort resident, Jeannine Carl, noticed the station lacked a reliable way to cook meals and began bringing home-cooked dinners every Friday and Saturday to feed the crews.
The response, Elkins observes, proved the power of people working side by side to lift each other up. “During this time of recovery, remember that hope can be found in the strength of the community,” he says. “Together, we can rebuild, heal, and find new ways to support one another.”
Terrence Ogden
For Terrence Ogden, an eighth-generation Texan with deep ties to Kerrville, the floods struck close to home. “When I saw what had happened, I knew I had to do anything I could,” he recalls. “We wrapped up our annual Fourth of July party early and I headed out. No plan, just the knowledge that there was work to be done.”
He came across a family whose property had been devastated. He listened to their needs, then gathered a crew and put out a call on social media. The response was overwhelming, and volunteers returned with him several times in the weeks that followed. “It was hard and dirty work, but fulfilling to be able to be part of closure for so many,” he says.
The experience left Ogden grateful in more ways than one. He was struck by the willingness of strangers to show up, get dirty, and become friends as they banded together to help. He also felt gratitude from the family, who welcomed the crews and trusted them with their land during such a vulnerable time. “It reminded me that gratitude is built not just in what we receive, but in the chance to give.”
His takeaway is simple: “When life gets tough, don’t wait for a perfect plan—just show up. There will always be work to do and people who need a hand. This whole experience was a powerful reminder of what really matters—your family, your friends, and your community.”
John “Judge” Burns
Since the floods hit in July, John “Judge” Burns has spent nearly every weekend organizing and leading volunteers from FCSN and other groups in flood relief efforts, primarily focusing on the grueling task of clearing debris from affected properties. Working under scorching temperatures and high humidity, Burns says, “The work was very challenging, but mentally and spiritually rewarding.”
The experience has underscored the fragility of life and the importance of community support. Burns recalls helping a pair of property owners in their 90s, along with many other residents who lacked the means to recover on their own. “To be able to help them in their time of great need gave me and our volunteers a great sense of satisfaction,” he shares.
Burns believes that helping others is simply the right thing to do. “I would encourage everyone to help their fellow man in times of great hardship,” he says. Giving to others is both a service and a blessing: “I’m thankful I was able to help as much as I did.”
Carrin Lewis
When Carrin Lewis learned of the devastating floods, she cut her out-of-state family vacation short to return to the Texas Hill Country. A newcomer to disaster response, Lewis initially worried, “Am I worthy of such a job? Will I be in the way?” She quickly learned that showing up and taking initiative was essential. “If you see something that needs to be done, be your own boss and start,” she says.
Her first assignment brought her to an RV park where residents had suffered tragic losses. As she cleared debris, they shared their stories, teaching Lewis a second vital lesson: the importance of listening. “Disaster response is about so much more than cleaning up the mess left behind,” she reflects. “It’s offering human connection to the victims, listening when things are difficult, and knowing when to embrace someone with a hug or offer prayer.”
Over the following days in Kerrville and beyond, Lewis witnessed volunteers from around Texas and across the country—some arriving with tractors and tools, others with just gloves and boots—join the effort. Even amid exhaustion, she was struck by the generosity, humility, and determination of everyone involved. “We were just a bunch of God’s brothers and sisters out there loving and helping each other during a dark and heart-wrenching time,” she says. The experience left her thankful and inspired, knowing that even in tragedy, a community united in compassion can rebuild, support one another, and find light.
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