Jack and Jennifer Hudson clung to their porch to survive the flood. Now they are trying to rebuild.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — On July 4th, Jennifer Hudson was awoken by a loud boom outside. That sound may have saved her life.
“By the grace of God I woke up and it was right around 5 a.m. and there was a huge loud thunder boom that blew the transformers,” Hudson said.
Hudson wandered into the bathroom and realized she was standing in water. At first, she thought her husband, Jack, had left the faucet running all night.
But Jack had not left the facet running. Instead, it was much worse. Instead, the Guadalupe River was about to run straight through their home.
As Jack and Jennifer woke up, they saw water pouring into their bedroom from around their air conditioner. Then the water started coming through the back door.
Jack initially insisted they stay in the home. Then the river broke the door open.
“All of the sudden the back door broke, a refrigerator went through a window, and the current of the river was in the house.” Jennifer said.
The couple frantically tried to get through another door, but the river held it shut. Jennifer yelled to try opening the window.
Fearing they would drown, the couple pulled their two dogs out of the window and onto the already flooded porch. There was nowhere to go. Surrounded by rushing water, and still in the dark, they clung to the metal porch supports and hoped they would survive.
“We stood here hanging on for dear life. I had the little 20-pound dog. He had the 120-pound dog.” Jennifer said. “(The river) stayed at that height for around 30 minutes.”
Both the couple and their dogs survived. Most of their belongings did not.
The river ran through their home and damaged everything they owned. It also destroyed their business’s workshops. The couple owns Quality Patio Furniture where Jack crafts products by hand.
Two months later, the family still can’t quantify how much they lost.
“I just… we lost everything. How do you put a number on it?” Jennifer said. “Everything from his shop and business and vehicle. Stuff from our whole entire life. How do you put a price on that?”
Fortunately, the family was able to get help. They were able to get funding from FEMA to start rebuilding the home. They were also able to get some business funding from the West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce.
The organization has a “West Kerr Chamber Flood relief task force” that is working to help businesses in the area. Treasurer Kathy Simmons told KENS 5 they have been working for more than a month to help local businesses avoid closing down.
“Many of our individuals are sole proprietors. They are a lawn guy, a maid service, a little mom and pop store,” Simmons said. “We are able to give them funds to continue to keep the lights on, pay a mortgage, or whatever they need to do.”
The West Kerr Chamber of Commerce has a field office at 3285 Junction Highway in Ingram, Texas. Simmons said businesses should come to that location looking for help. They are still trying to put information online.
The Hudson family told KENS 5 local churches and community members have also come to their aid. Jack said people in the community have already lent him a hand with tools and machinery to get back on track.
But while that help is greatly appreciated, they have a long way to go. They have yet to get power fully restored to the shop. They don’t have a working bathroom or shower. The family is currently staying with friends as they work to sort it all out.
Still, the Hudson family is also determined to be grateful for what they still have as they work to repair their home.
“Our focus is having an attitude of gratitude. We lost everything but we are grateful that we survived. We are grateful we saved our pets.” Jennifer said. “Hopefully soon we get Jack’s shop up and running and back to business.”