Daniel Olivas finds faith in community support after losing his Kerrville home to Guadalupe River flooding.
KERRVILLE, Texas — When catastrophic flooding from the Guadalupe River tore through Kerrville, Daniel Olivas lost his home—but found a deeper sense of faith in the people around him.
The UTEP graduate from El Paso Daniel says the love he’s received from volunteers and neighbors is what’s helping him get through the devastation.
“To sacrifice the time, your effort, your talent to a stranger. That’s awesome,” he said, tearing up. “It just makes me want to cry.”
Daniel’s home sat near Nimitz Lake, one of the areas hardest hit by the floodwaters. He walked through the wreckage of what was once a peaceful property, pointing out where a gazebo and cottage used to stand. Now, it’s all debris.
“There was a gazebo right there… and then a cottage right there,” he recalled. “With the water, it is a suitcase… In fact, the cow showed up right there.”
Despite the overwhelming loss, Daniel remains remarkably positive. One moment that stuck with him: a woman pulling up in a dump trailer, with a young girl in tow.
“She had clothes to help out,” he said. “We just feel the love from the community.”
Daniel says he’s never felt alone through the process. Volunteers have continuously stopped by, offering cleaning supplies, water and moral support. For him, the flood put everything into perspective.
“A lot of people don’t get to go home. They lost a loved one. And that’s the hardest part,” he said. “All this is replaceable… but the lives are not.”
Through it all, Daniel’s message is simple: home isn’t just about walls or furniture—it’s about people.
“Family. Faith. Community. That’s home,” he said. “What makes a home is what you build with others.”