River Trail Cottages, a staple in the community for decades, now has several units filled with mud and debris following the destructive July 4th flooding.
KERRVILLE, Texas — A Kerrville business located along the Guadalupe River is cleaning up and assessing the damage after floodwaters ripped through the property on the Fourth of July, leaving behind a trail of destruction and uncertainty.
River Trail Cottages, a longtime riverside rental business, saw several of its units damaged in the flooding. The business is now in recovery mode, with debris scattered and the floors of the units caked in mud.
Alek Cedillo, manager of River Trail Cottages, said the flooding reached unexpected heights.
“The water was up to here, and if you look down there, I mean, it’s just, most of the cottages, this is what we’re dealing with,” Cedillo said, pointing toward the mud on the ground.
He added that the entire property, which sits right next to the Guadalupe River, was submerged.
“Our entire park was under water,” Cedillo said.
Several cottages sustained heavy damage. Cedillo admitted the scale of the flooding was unimaginable.
“People sometimes worry, ‘Well you’re next to a river. Will it ever get that high?’ And I would always tell them, ‘No. It would take a flood that you could just not imagine.’ It’s amazing that I ate my words,” he said.
About 12 people were staying at the property on the morning of the flooding. According to Cedillo, rising waters pushed vehicles from the street onto the property, including one RV that was slammed into a cottage.
Despite the destruction, Cedillo said all of his guests were accounted for.
“Everyone made it out safely,” Cedillo said.
Cleanup is now underway, but Cedillo said the cost will be steep.
“It’s going to go into the thousands as far as we’re concerned here,” he said. “We’re going to take a big hit.”
The long-term outlook remains unclear.
“Hopefully, we can get some government assistance, and maybe some state assistance,” Cedillo said.
FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration, in coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, are opening a Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville on Thursday, July 10, to help homeowners, renters and business owners impacted by the flooding.
Here are the details about the Disaster Recovery Center:
- Location: First Baptist Church (625 Washington St., Kerrville, TX 78028)
- Opening date: July 10
- Operating times: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily