Categories
The Hill Country Podcast

The Hill Country Podcast – Lorena Guillen on the July 4th Flood: Part 1 – The Flood

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this one of the most unique areas of Texas. Today, I begin a two-part series with Lorena Guillen, owner of Howdy’s Restaurant and Blue Oak RV Park. The July 4th flood completely inundated her RV Park. In Part 1, Guillen discusses the events of the morning of July 4. In Part 2, she will discuss the events of that tragedy through today.

She begins with the beauty of July 3rd and goes to bed early on July 4. Guillen relates being awakened by flashing lights of a swift water rescue team, putting into the river. She recounts the devastating flood event where a second wave of water caused severe damage and displacement. She describes the rapid onset of the flood, the destruction of RVs, and the harrowing survival of her husband, who was swept 30-45 feet down a river but managed to climb to safety. She relates the surreal sensation of feeling electricity in the water and the loss of animals they were trying to rescue. The fire department eventually evacuated everyone from a nearby restaurant as the water levels continued to rise.

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

Categories
The Hill Country Podcast

The Hill Country Podcast – Kerr Together: Community Collaboration and Resilience in Kerrville

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique area of Texas. ⁠This week, Tom welcomes three pivotal figures from Kerr Together—Theresa Metcalf, Kelly Hagemeier, and Judy Eychner.

Our topic this week is Kerr Connect, which was created in the wake of the devastating July 4th flood in Kerr County. They explore the unique partnership between the city’s government, private businesses, and citizens, which exemplifies the community’s resilience and collaboration, especially during the economic recovery from the devastating July 4th flood. The discussion covers the formation of various working groups, including long-term recovery efforts, economic development, and river stewardship. The leaders share their experiences of community-driven initiatives, the importance of clear communication, and how everyday citizens stepped into leadership roles to aid in disaster recovery. For those interested in learning more or getting involved, they recommend visiting the Kerr Together website.

Key highlights:

  • Economic Recovery from the July 4th Flood
  • Community-Driven Efforts and Long-Term Recovery
  • Reimagining Kerrville’s Future
  • Organizing and Mobilizing Community Support
  • How to Get Involved with Kerr Together

 Resources:

Kerr Together

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

Categories
The Hill Country Podcast

The Hill Country Podcast – Navigating Disaster Recovery: Insights from Kerrville’s City Manager Dalton Rice

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this area of Texas so unique. This week, Tom welcomes back Dalton Rice, City Manager of Kerrville, to discuss the city’s ongoing recovery efforts following a recent disaster.

Dalton details the three key phases of recovery: search and rescue, debris removal, and long-term rebuilding. He shares insights into the challenges faced, ranging from missing persons to economic recovery, with a particular focus on small businesses and parks. Dalton highlights the contributions of various entities, including local organizations, state and federal agencies, and volunteers. He also speaks about the strategic operations within the Emergency Operations Center and how the city managed resources and coordination during and after the crisis. He emphasizes the unique collaborative spirit in Kerrville and the importance of public-private partnerships in disaster recovery. Finally, he discusses future challenges and the anticipation of the holiday season as a time for community resilience and reflection.

Key highlights:

  • Search, Recovery, and Debris Management
  • Economic Recovery Efforts
  • Rebuilding Parks and Recreation
  • Public-Private Partnerships
  • Disaster Preparedness and Response
  • Federal and State Coordination
  • Challenges Ahead

Resources:

City of Kerrville

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

Categories
The Hill Country Podcast

The Hill Country Podcast – Kerrville Strong: How the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce is Leading the Business Recovery After the Flood

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this one of the most unique areas of Texas. This week, Tom Fox welcomes Mindy Wendele, President and CEO of the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce, to discuss how our community came together in the aftermath of the recent flood. Mindy shares the story of the Chamber’s swift action, the creation of the Rebuilding and Recovery Fund, and the many ways neighbors have helped one another. You’ll hear about the grants awarded to local businesses, the efforts to combat fraud, and the ongoing journey to rebuild Kerrville and Kerr County. This episode is a celebration of our town’s resilience and the people who make it special.

Key highlights:

  • The Flood and Immediate Response
  • Helping Local Businesses
  • Keeping It Honest: Stopping Fraud
  • Working Together for the Long Haul
  • Supporting Each Other
  • Local Leadership Matters
  • How You Can Help or Get Help

Resources

Visit kerrvillechamber.biz for the Rebuilding and Recovery Fund.

Stop by: 1700 Sidney Baker Street, Kerrville, TX

Call: (830) 896-1155

Other Award-Winning Texas Hill Country Network Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Podcast Artwork

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

Categories
The Hill Country Podcast

The Hill Country Podcast – Red Cross and Rotary Club’s Response to July 4th Floods with Kristy Vandenberg

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this one of the most unique areas of Texas. This week, Tom welcomes back Kristy Vandenberg to discuss the aftermath of the July 4th floods.

Kristy shares her experience and involvement with the Red Cross and Rotary Club, highlighting their immediate response, shelter operations, volunteer efforts, and community support. She details the role of the Red Cross in providing lodging, feeding first responders, and assessing damage, as well as the Rotary Club’s resource mobilization and donation initiatives. Looking ahead, Kristy emphasizes the importance of strategic rebuilding and the community’s collaborative effort to support flood victims. Listeners are provided with information on how to donate and volunteer.

Key highlights:

  • Discussing the Aftermath of July 4th Floods
  • Role of the Red Cross in Disaster Relief
  • Shelters and Volunteer Efforts
  • Rotary Club’s Involvement and Support
  • Future Recovery and Rebuilding Plans

Resources:

Rotary Club of Kerrville

Hill Country Red Cross

Other Hill Country Network Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Artwork

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

Categories
The Hill Country Podcast

The Hill Country Podcast – Lessons from Kerrville and Kerr County’s July 4th Disaster

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. In this episode, Tom Fox is joined by Marc Duncan, a disaster recovery and prevention expert, and they take a deep dive into the details of what happened in Kerr County and Kerrville over the July 4th weekend. They discuss the similarities between frameworks used in the public sector and corporate risk management, exploring the complexities of coordinating multiple stakeholders during a disaster, the importance of training and awareness, and the crucial role of effective communication. They also discuss the integrated response of public and private organizations, as well as the ongoing efforts to manage both immediate and long-term recovery after a natural disaster. This episode offers valuable insights into the multifaceted field of emergency management, as well as the practical steps involved in responding to and recovering from major weather-related events.

Key highlights:

  • Understanding Risk Management
  • Challenges in Emergency Management
  • Training and Awareness
  • Handling Weather-Related Disasters
  • Post-Disaster Coordination and Recovery
  • Role of Private and Nonprofit Organizations

Resources:

Other Hill Country Network Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Artwork

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

Please consider donating to support the rebuilding efforts that will be necessary following this tragic event. You can donate to flood relief for victims of the Kerr County flooding by visiting the Hill Country Flood Relief here: https://bit.ly/4klTYpz.