Fredericksburg is typically a tourist hot spot but it has turned into a place where many first responders and volunteers are staying amid the ongoing search efforts.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — Kerr County officials say the recovery mission on the Guadalupe River could take up to six months.
Many of the first responders and volunteers are from out of town, but one group is making sure they all have a free place to stay—many of them near Fredericksburg.
The Full Moon Inn Bed and Breakfast, typically a getaway for tourists, has become a hub for donations, hot meals, and free lodging for first responders and flood victims. Owner Jenny McCombs is leading the charge.
“We don’t need first responders or rescue workers sleeping in their trucks or having to sleep on the floor somewhere,” McCombs said.
She immediately posted on her business’s Facebook page, offering to house around 20 volunteers or victims at no cost. A group of rescue workers quickly accepted the offer.
“The least we can do is put them up in an air-conditioned bedroom with a hot shower,” she said.
But McCombs knew there were many more in need—including volunteer Pete Chambers.
“I didn’t know anyone in Ingram, so I just slept in my truck. After about 36 hours, I finally went and took a nap,” Chambers said.
Determined to help more people, McCombs reached out to other business owners across the Hill Country.
“We’ve been able to place 425 first responders and rescue workers in free housing all over the Hill Country,” she said.
While she’s trying to give each guest space to decompress, some have opened up about what they’ve experienced.
“Those types of images will never leave people’s minds. We’re asking everyone to really pray for the rescue workers,” McCombs said.
She plans to keep helping for as long as needed. She’s also working on finding RVs for families who lost their homes in the devastating flood.
“The only thing more powerful than water is God,” she said.
Every day, McCombs posts a list of needed items on the Full Moon Inn’s Facebook page. If you or someone you know needs a place to stay, call 830-997-2205.