As Comfort resident Robert Castro stood on the porch of The Tinsmith’s Wife Shop out of the driving rain on July 4, thoughts of the devastating 1987 and 1978 floods came rushing back.
“In 1978, on the football field there? There were people skiing between the goal posts,” Castro said, pointing to the old Comfort Middle School field down Seventh Street, off Main Street.
“But the river, it’ll come up, it’ll go down. It's just something we have to live with,” he said.
Comfort received more than its fair share of rain and flooding this past week, but residents are grateful that it was not as devastating as those 1978 or 1987 floods.
Still, the city did not go untouched last week. Homes along Cypress Creek — particularly in the areas where it meets the Guadalupe River — were wiped out.
The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department, along with volunteers in the community, rose to the challenge of responding to those in need.
“We have our pantry, meals, pet food, toiletries,” said Dinah Johnson, executive director of Comfort Golden Age Center. “We’re basically here for the need, specifically for our senior community.”
Although natural disasters typically cause an influx of need within donation centers, Johnson said they had not seen a significant rise in demand.
“You will find in Comfort, we take care of our own,” Johnson said. “We have learned to do a lot of things ourselves.”
Indeed, homeowner Paula Arizola worked with her family to clean the remaining debris the flood left behind. Despite the home being on stilts, the flood still left its mark.
“This time, the Guadalupe River was flowing the opposite way,” Arizola said. “So we got some damage but thankfully not like in the past.”
Miraculously, a military monument Arizola made for her veteran disabled father remained intact, despite water reaching it.
“It’s a kneeling soldier with rocks around it,” Arizola said. “Everything else moved except that monument, and I didn’t even glue those rocks together.”
For those who lost everything and don’t know where to begin, local organizations remain ready to help. The Pavilion, manned by Margaret Stone and April McDonald, is stocked with all kinds of necessary food and equipment.
“We have an incredible set up here,” Stone said. “We are meeting the needs. From first responders to brush crews to pet crews, we’re ready.”
Kerrville Pets Alive brought volunteer teams to help find missing pets. One volunteer came all the way from Kansas to assist.
“We want to give closure to the families who have missing pets,” volunteer Rachel Fisher said.
Local businesses have also stepped up to assist misplaced families.
“’Devastated’ does not begin to cover how we and so much of the Hill Country feel,” Frank Dusserre, co-founder of French Cowboys, said. “At French Cowboys, both of our Comfort-based properties, Camp Comfort and The Meyer Hotel, remain open and are ready to support.”
He said they are prioritizing accommodation for displaced families and first rescuers who have been working tirelessly since the Guadalupe first breached its banks. Guests will receive ongoing updates via our social media channels.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, we will continue to work with local communities and organizations to help in relief efforts however we are able,” Dusserre said.
* Everyone wishing to contribute can donate to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund via the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
* Anyone in need of immediate assistance can contact the French Cowboys’ team at [email protected] or call 877-836-1725.
“We stand with our neighbors and remain committed to helping Comfort and Kerr County rebuild,” Dusserre said. “This will be a long process, and we are here for the long haul.”
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