From Drought to Flood: Central Texas Rebuilds Through Music and Community (upcoming Benefit schedule below)
From the Bull Nettle Bar to statewide stages, Texans are turning grief into action—raising funds, lifting spirits, and standing together for the families and farms devastated by the July floods.
📉 Drought to Rain: A Brief History
From 2020 through 2022, Erath, Hood, Hamilton, Bosque, Tarrant, Parker, and surrounding Cross Timbers counties suffered a prolonged drought. Rainfall deficits reached 20+ inches in some areas, stressing crops, pastures, and water sources.
Mid‑2023 into early 2025 brought relief, steady rains replenished groundwater and supported a rebound in wheat, cotton, and livestock forage. But the arrival of record rains in July 2025 turned that hope into a tragedy.
🌧️ The July 2025 Flood: Destruction Unleashed
On July 4, 2025, relentless storms unleashed catastrophic flash floods across the Hill Country and nearby counties. Rivers like the Guadalupe surged over 20 feet in hours. Counties throughout the Cross Timbers—including Erath, Hood, Hamilton, Tarrant, and Parker—received 2–5″ of rain in a few days, with isolated totals exceeding 6″.
Emergency services in Stephenville conducted water rescues, and local roads between Bosque and Hico flooded, prompting widespread shelter and evacuation efforts.
At least 130–137 lives were lost in the region, with dozens still missing as rescue operations continued. PPTX mourns with every family grieving this profound loss.
🚜 Agriculture & Landscape: A House of Cards
The wet winter and spring initially revived agricultural prospects. But July’s floods reversed the gains:
- Low-lying fields suffered erosion and extended flooding.
- Planting and harvest timelines were disrupted across multiple counties.
- Ranchers faced livestock losses and damaged grazing infrastructure.
Federal disaster declarations and USDA aid began rolling out for impacted growers and ranchers across Erath and neighboring counties.
💸 Financial Fallout & Aid Delivered
Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country:
- Raised over $30 million within days, now totaling $60 million+ in flood relief donations.
- Distributed $8 million+ in immediate relief grants—including $1.2M to Ingram ISD, school recovery funds, and small business support.
Corporate & Local Donors:
- H‑E‑B contributed $2 million, James Avery gave $500K, and local businesses and individuals raised millions more.
Stephenville & Other Local Aid:
- Regional churches, volunteer groups, and nonprofits like Operation BBQ Relief, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army coordinated aid and supply drives.
🎤 Community Solidarity: United in Healing
Bull Nettle Bar Benefit, Stephenville
In one of the most inspiring local responses, the Bull Nettle Bar hosted a stealth benefit concert, which was organized in just days. Over 20 Texas artists gave time and talent to perform free, and the event raised over $18,000 for flood victims. Live Local Artist Jerrel Sustaita was on-site painting a portrait of each performer, capturing the spirit of resilience.
Musicians who showed up and gave their time and talent included: Tell Runyan, Hannah Owens, Caleb Allemand, Gatlin Johnson, Ben Hussey, Hayden Huse, Landon Blake, Josh Kennedy, Cody Kersh, Shane Honeycutt, Courtney Patton, Matt Wayne, Clayton Landua, Race Ricketts, Nick Brumley, Keegan McInroe, Logan Ryan, Mason Marek, Tim Noland, Tyler Layne, and Michael May.
PPTX grieves with the victims of the flood and brims with pride in Stephenville’s spirit of giving.
Other Stephenville-Area Benefits
Local churches, community centers, and nonprofit organizations quickly mobilized in Stephenville and surrounding towns to host drives, supply distribution, and smaller music and charity events to support families in need.
📅 Upcoming Benefit Events
| Date | Event | Location | Beneficiary / Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2025 | A Night of Beauty for the Heart of Texas | Riverbend Centre, Austin | Supports the Austin Disaster Relief Network & Convoy of Hope Statesman |
| Aug 1–3, 2025 | CenTex Strong, DAIISTAR Show, After The Flood | Austin venues (Come and Take It Live, Mohawk, Kick Butt Coffee) | Proceeds to support emergency relief and recovery Statesman |
| Aug 10, 2025 | Jon Wolfe & Friends: Hill Country Flood Relief Benefit | Gruene Hall, New Braunfels | Funds support Kerr County Flood Relief Fund & Travis CARES |
| Aug 12, 2025 | Song in the Storm (Lyle Lovett & Michael Martin Murphy) | Paramount Theatre, Austin | Proceeds benefit Kerr County disaster recovery Statesman |
| Aug 17, 2025 | Band Together Texas benefits | Moody Center, Austin | Headliners include Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Parker McCollum; funds to Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Central TX Community Foundation Beaumont EnterpriseStatesman |
| Aug 28, 2025 | Applause for the Cause (Robert Earl Keen & Friends) | Whitewater Amphitheater, Canyon Lake / New Braunfels | Star-studded lineup, 100% of proceeds to Kerr County Flood Relief Fund via Hill Country foundation San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Chronicle |
| Sep 8, 2025 | Deep in the Heart Benefit Concert | ACL Live, Austin | Featuring Josh Abbott Band, Carly Pearce, Wade Bowen & more—supports flood recovery in Kerr County |
Here’s a calendar of other ongoing benefit events in the Stephenville area and Cross Timbers region:
| Date | Event Name | Location / Host | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | Kerr County Flood Relief Fund | Community Foundation of Hill Country | Ongoing donations & recovery support. |
| TBD | Cross‑Timbers Local Benefit | Various Stephenville venues | Community fundraising, awareness. |
| Oct 7, 2025 | Green Creek – North Bosque River Watershed Flood Study Public Input Session | Via Zoom, hosted by City of Stephenville (stephenvilletx.gov) | Discussion of flood infrastructure planning. |
💚 A Message of Hope from Preferred Properties of Texas
Across Erath, Hood, Hamilton, Bosque, Tarrant, Parker, and the broader Cross Timbers region, our landscapes and lives have been transformed by drought and deluge alike. Yet, in the face of loss, neighbors have stood together—raising funds, sharing meals, sheltering those displaced, and singing songs of solidarity.
PPTX stands with every family, every farmer, every neighbor. Together, we move forward—not alone, but interwoven by compassion and community.
References:
Leave a Reply