KERRVILLE, Texas – More than eight weeks after floodwaters swept through parts of the Hill Country, some Kerr County businesses are still trying to recover without state or federal assistance.
For many owners, reopening has meant relying on savings, grants and community support to keep employees working.
Texas Power and Controls, a generator company on Goat Creek Road near Interstate 10, was among the businesses hit hard when nearby creek water rose rapidly and became a raging river.
Kathryn Stafford, the company’s office manager, said the damage has been difficult to watch, especially for her boss, who is determined to keep the business going.
“I’ve been with the company for almost two years now, and it’s just heartbreaking to see how hard this hit him,” Stafford said.
Eight people depend on the company’s survival. To avoid taking chances with another flood, the business moved out of its damaged location and shifted operations.
“We moved a lot of stuff out of here, whatever we could save,” Stafford said. “We used my home for about a month to put the office, to set us up to try to get us back going so that way we could get our guys back out as soon as possible.”
Texas Power and Controls is one of dozens of local businesses damaged in the July flooding. The Kerrville Chamber of Commerce said 119 Kerr businesses were damaged, including 102 within city limits. Of those, 25 were destroyed or had major damage.
For many business owners, recovery has been slowed by the lack of state and federal money. Stafford said Texas Power and Controls was able to secure a grant, but before that, the company was struggling.
“There has been nothing,” Stafford said. “We were barely thinking that we would be able to make payroll.”
Texas Power and Controls received a grant through LiftFund, a nonprofit distributing $5 million to businesses affected by the flooding. The Kerrville Chamber of Commerce has also provided money to 32 of the 70 businesses that applied for assistance.
“All of us are in it together, so we’re going to keep pushing forward,” Stafford said.
Some businesses have used savings to reopen while waiting for possible state or federal help. Others remain closed and may not be able to reopen.
One way the community can help is by supporting affected businesses through purchases or by becoming clients as recovery continues.
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