Local tow truck drivers are playing a critical role in flood recovery efforts, aiding emergency crews and delivering vital supplies without charging for service.
KERRVILLE, Texas — They’re not wearing badges or turnout gear, but they’re answering the same urgent calls. As the Hill Country continues recovering from devastating floods, local tow truck drivers have become an essential force—clearing the way for emergency crews, recovering submerged vehicles and delivering life-saving supplies.
Many are doing it all without charging a dime.
“We work right beside police, volunteer fire. We’re in it with them,” said Casey Sparks with JD’s Wrecker Service.
‘Call After Call’
It all began early on the Fourth of July. Sparks, who lives along the Guadalupe River, got a call from a friend whose mother in Hunt was stranded in rising waters.
“He said, ‘Can you go check on her?’ I went down a quarter mile from my house… and I was greeted with rushing floodwaters,” Sparks recalled.
From that moment, it was non-stop.
“Call after call,” he said. “We started moving cars out of the way for first responders.”
Some recoveries have been especially difficult. In multiple cases, cadaver dogs alerted on submerged vehicles—though no bodies were found.
“Which is a plus in my book,” Sparks said quietly.
JD’s Wrecker had just added a new off-road recovery unit to its fleet—a powerful tool equipped with a long winch cable. It allows them to reach vehicles that even excavators and emergency crews can’t access.
“We had just purchased it a few weeks ago, and as soon as it hit the ground, we started pulling vehicles,” Sparks said.
Between recoveries, Sparks and his team have also been delivering barrels of fuel and supplies to fire departments in Ingram, Hunt, and Mountain Home. Local auto shops, including the local NAPA Auto Parts, are donating fuel and equipment to support chainsaw crews and first responders.
“It’s been non-stop for us,” Sparks said. “But that’s part of it. Our community needs us.”
Integrity Towing: ‘Non-Stop’ Since the First Call
At Integrity Towing, operations have also been round-the-clock. The company’s first flood-related call came at 5:30 a.m. on July 4, for an RV that needed help. By the time they arrived, every RV in the area had been swept away.
With just three drivers and three trucks, Integrity Towing has fielded countless calls every day since.
“They’re finding vehicles buried under mud and debris. As the water receded, they were up in trees,” said Meagan Booth with Integrity Towing. “We help pull vehicles out so search teams can safely inspect them.”
And the emotional toll is heavy.
“Our role is to get vehicles to a safe place to be searched,” Booth said. “That’s not to say our towing guys haven’t seen things that will stick with them forever.”
Despite the trauma and exhaustion, crews have kept working—often without any sleep—driven by a deep love for their neighbors.
“Everybody was ready to help. At no cost,” she said. “They are exhausted. But it’s the love of this community that keeps them going.”
First Responders in All but Name
Booth and Sparks both say the public often forgets that towing crews are part of the emergency response chain. They are clearing paths for police, assisting rescue efforts, and delivering emergency aid.
“They’ve got triple the work right now,” Booth said. “If you see one of our towing companies around here, just send them some love.”
Tow truck drivers are now encouraging one another to seek help when the work slows—knowing the mental strain may linger long after the floodwaters are gone.
“We’re there to clean up and take care of everything behind the scenes,” Sparks said. “We’re doing anything we can—just cleaning up and trying to make ends meet.”