Over 12,000 volunteers have already assisted in Kerr County, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — Check-in for volunteers at Tivy Antler Stadium in Kerrville began at 8 a.m., but 30 minutes before that, a line of cars had already piled up full of people ready to help.
Team Rubicon is a nationwide veteran-led organization that showed up the day the Guadalupe River ravaged Kerr County just nine days ago.
On Saturday, they were assisting the Texas Division of Emergency Management, checking in volunteers and getting them to sign waivers before they jetted out for the day.
“Team Rubicon has grey shirt volunteers all across the nation, including thousands right here in Texas. Our particular mission here is to help with volunteer management and also to do bucket guts and debris management,” said Jen Nieder, Texas Operations Associate with Team Rubicon. “Following the news and getting the calls from all over the place, talking about it and just the devastation, and I’ve been on so many operations for flash floods and hurricanes. And so I just knew that we needed to get there.”
Other organizations from Texas were also present, including Sewa International, an Indian-based organization out of Houston and United Rescue Alliance out of Abilene.
“We may not be able to help recover somebody from that grief, but at least, superficially, wherever the physical need is, there, Seva International can help,” said Vinayak Astekar with Sewa International.
Jon Cryor made the 20-hour drive from Augusta, Georgia to help however he could. He has an eight-year old, so the tragedy in Kerr County he stated hit close to home.
“We got hit pretty bad last year with Hurricane Helene and just reading about what happened,” Cryor said. “Just reading about what happened, just kind of felt like [I had to] come on and do something. Whatever they need, I told them I’ll clean toilets if I need to.”
Those that want to volunteer must register with Texas Community Recovery. Those volunteering on the weekends must check in at Tivy Antler Stadium from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those assisting with search and rescue must come dressed appropriately with boots, long sleeves, several pairs of gloves, face masks, hat/head cover, eyewear/goggles, canteens/water, bug spray, appropriate tools and must have proper ID.
Over 12,300 volunteers have assisted Kerr County, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management.