LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — More donations were handed to victims of the Independence Day floods across Central Texas, thanks to funds raised by Vaqueros del Mar, a nonprofit organization.
Gov. Greg Abbott joined other state leaders in Leander late Wednesday morning to help disperse some of the funds from $6 million raised from the nonprofit organization and George Strait’s concert and benefit dinner, dubbed “Strait to the Heart,” in late July.
The event happened at 11 a.m. at North Way Bible Church in Leander. He was joined with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd.
Abbott said dispersing the funds was made possible due to the Vaqueros del Mar organization raising them from Strait’s concert. In late August, funds were distributed to 60 families in the Kerr County area with checks of $25,000 each.
The original plan was to disperse those funds to families in Kerr County. However, due to the amount of funds collected, the nonprofit organization decided to expand its aid to other Texans affected by the floods.
“Because so much money was raised through donation, we’re going to be able to help almost everybody who lost a home rebuild that home,” Abbott said.
Abbott said there is local and state assistance available, and there are several different types of declared disasters. He mentioned there being public and individual assistance for those in need while they recover from flood damages.
He mentioned how there are volunteers who respond to helping with the clean-up process of homes for those affected by the floods.
“Hopefully you’ve had somebody assist you in that process. If not, we need to know. That way you get help in the cleaning process,” Abbott said.
Kidd also spoke during the presentation and said while TDEM may not be seen, the agency is “working in the background around the clock” to help those in need recover.
“Personally, I have never experienced what you have gone through. But I have been doing this job about 30 years, and I have seen the faces and the devastation that happens when homes and families and lives are impacted like yours have been,” Kidd said.
Abbott said he wanted to coordinate responses to work with those affected in the rebuilding process along the way.
“We know you’ve been challenged in extraordinary ways. We want to be able to be part of the process, not just now, but in an ongoing way to help you respond to those challenges,” he said.
After the event, KXAN spoke with 76 year-old Joe Haas, a resident of Leander whose house sustained catastrophic damage during the floods.
Haas, who had been renovating the property since moving there in late 2017, recalled the devastation that the flood brought to his home following a period of personal hardship and tragedy.
“I was diagnosed with a bad aortic valve. So on the 28th of May, they replaced it with a TAVR procedure, so I didn’t have to have the open heart [surgery]. Two days later, I get a call. My brother’s in the hospital. He passed away. Then on the fifth [of July], this wall of water at three o’clock in the morning just completely devastates my world.” he recalled.
At the event Wednesday, Haas said he was pleasantly surprised at the size of the $25,000 donation he received.
“FEMA didn’t give me that much, trust me. I was hoping for $3,000-$5,000, but this is quite the surprise… Now I can replace some of the furniture I lost, too.”
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
