On Monday night, people from the community, across the state and even around the country, came to the memorial in Kerrville to honor the lives lost a month ago.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Hill Country was changed forever one month ago when devastating floodwaters rushed in.
In Kerr County, 108 people were killed, including 37 children. The search continues for two people who remain missing.
Many have chosen to visit memorials to honor the lives lost. In Kerrville, a chain-link fence filled with flowers, artwork and photographs of the victims grows larger by the day.
Kevin Lafond has been in Kerrville since the day after the floods. He visits the memorial almost every evening after volunteering. Lafond is with the United Cajun Navy, a disaster response group based in Louisiana.
“I spend my time talking to people, hearing their stories, hearing what they had to suffer through,” Lafond said.
Several memorial visitors were from out of town. That includes Lyle Milstead and his wife, who were traveling from California back home to Houston.
He said it was important they stopped and reflected—especially knowing that several families lost loved ones, including a camper at Camp Mystic.
“You just never know why. You got to have faith that there’s a bigger power behind all of us and just know that you are going to see them again one day,” Milstead said.
Stacy Barch, who now lives out of state, said she grew up in Texas and often visited Kerrville. She brought her son to the memorial, where he created an art piece to hang on the fence.
“It’s hard to comprehend,” Barch said. “Everything I’ve seen on social media and heard on the news—it’s hard to grasp what it really adds up to.”
These visitors want the people of Kerr County to know they are not forgotten and that the support will continue.
When asked to describe the community, Lafond said, “Oh gosh, huge heart, massive huge heart. I don’t know where the heart of Texas is but it’s definitely, right now, down here in Kerr County.”