Center Point VFD turned their flooded station into a relief hub—now they’re battling scammers exploiting their name to steal donations.
CENTER POINT, Texas — They jumped into action to save others—then came home to find their own fire station swallowed by floodwaters.
The Center Point Volunteer Fire Department (CPVFD), made up of just 25 members, became a lifeline during the deadly Hill Country floods that devastated the region over the Fourth of July holiday.
But now, these volunteers are battling a new threat: scammers using their name to steal donations from well-meaning people across the country.
“It was literally a flash,” said Tye Turman, CPVFD president.
When a neighboring department called for help with a swift water rescue July 4, CPVFD sent a team of three. By the time they returned, their own station was under six and a half feet of water.
“We moved all of our vehicles up to higher ground. We threw as much gear as we possibly could into those vehicles and got them into a safe area,” Turman said.
Mud covered the floors. Gear was drenched. But within hours, volunteers hosed out the building and moved their trucks back inside.
Then came the pivot.
Their station transformed into a donation hub—providing food, tools and supplies to both first responders and flood survivors.
“If they need a chainsaw, we got it. If you need something to drink, we got it. You need gloves, safety glasses,” Turman said. “The citizens of this community who we didn’t know before—they’re family now.”
Rescue teams from across the country arrived to help, bringing dogs, horses and dive teams. Meanwhile, volunteers rolled up their sleeves—cleaning out homes, moving furniture and helping families rebuild from scratch.
“Everyone has a skill, a quality, something they’re really good at,” Turman said. “Those elements in a person really begin to shine during times like this.”
But as generosity poured in, so did deception.
Just one day after CPVFD created an official Venmo account, scammers launched three fake accounts—using the department’s logo to trick donors. The department posted a warning to Facebook and flagged the issue with Venmo, which quickly took action.
“By the next morning, people said, ‘Which one do we use?’ because there were already three fraudulent accounts,” Turman said.
On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into fraudulent charity scams tied to the floods—specifically naming the Center Point VFD as one of the targets.
“It is sick and disgusting that people would use the tragedy of the devastating floods to enrich themselves by deceiving well-meaning people trying to help,” Paxton said. “I will use the full weight of my office to investigate these claims and hold bad actors responsible.”
Turman says while it’s discouraging, they’re staying focused on what matters.
“We try not to focus on that. We want to focus on the task at hand—and that is recovery. Bring closure for families.”
GoFundMe confirmed with KENS sister station KVUE in Austin that it’s actively reviewing all fundraisers related to the floods to protect donors’ generosity.
Officials urge anyone who suspects fraud to contact the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-621-0508 or file a complaint online.
And if you’re looking to help CPVFD directly, you can find their verified donation links below and daily rescue and recovery updates on their official Facebook page.
“We’re still here,” Turman said. “If there’s anything people want to do to help, we want to be here to make sure those resources get out to our citizens.”
Center Point Volunteer Fire Department
How to Donate:
- Checks CPVFD (Attn: Susan Walker, Treasurer, P.O. Box 494 Center Point, TX 78010)
- Venmo: Center Point Volunteer Fire Department (User ID: CPVFDTX)
- In partnership with the United Cajun Navy, there is also a live GoFundMe to help CPVFD rebuild what was lost during the July 4th flood.
Center Point Community Fundraising
To stand with those affected by the flood, the Center Point Alliance for Progress has launched a relief fund to aid recovery and rebuilding efforts for Center Point residents.
- Bank: People’s State Bank (Account Name: Center Point Alliance for Progress, Memo: For CP Floods)
- Checks: Center Point Alliance for Progress (P.O. Box 491 Center Point, TX 78010)
- Venmo: Center Point Alliance for Progress (User ID: CPAFP)