Exclusive: Operation Blessing, Camp Mystic moms help with recovery efforts in Kerr County

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(The Center Square) – Operation Blessing’s Global Disaster Response Team, working with mothers and daughters who previously attended Camp Mystic, were involved in a massive cleanup effort over the weekend helping families whose homes flooded.

One year after the July 4 flood disaster ripped through the Hill Country killing 119 in Kerr County alone, including 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors, camp survivors and their mothers signed up to volunteer to help families whose homes were destroyed by flood waters again this year. 

Earlier this month, the Hill Country and south Texas were inundated with more than 30 inches of rain, more than what besieged the region last year, The Center Square reported. A major disaster declaration is in effect in dozens of counties.

Hoping to “use their pain for purpose” after losing friends last year, Camp Mystic moms and daughters helped clean out homes “to help out others given what they've already gone through,” Operation Blessing spokesperson Haley Hensen told The Center Square.

On Saturday, more than 50 former Camp Mystic campers and their mothers participated. By Sunday and Monday, more than 200 participated.  

“We want to help people meet them where they are,” Hensen said. The day began with prayer, followed by cleaning out homes full of mud, providing food and other needs. 

On Saturday, The Center Square exclusively rode along with Operation Blessing Global Disaster Response team members and Camp Mystic moms and daughters who cleaned out a home in Ingram. The home, built roughly 25 yards from a creek that feeds into the Guadalupe River, was flooded just below the roof. The family was safely evacuated. 

Operation Blessing, a global humanitarian organization, was founded in 1978 by evangelist Pat Robertson. Working with volunteers and thanks to the generosity of donors, the organization has helped millions of people in more than 120 countries. In the past year alone, it’s responded to 33 disasters worldwide.

In Texas, the organization is helping Hill Country flood disaster survivors. 

“We want to be the hands and feet,” Hensen said, referring to the Christian principle of actively serving others through action. “We want to go out and tangibly help people, but really we want to be there for them emotionally as well.”

Operation Blessing prepares logistics throughout the year to respond as soon as a disaster strikes, within the first 48 hours. It’s distributing emergency meal kits that can feed a family of four up to three days as well as hygiene kits and water. 

Its mobile kitchen is providing meals located in the parking lot of Southern Oaks Church in Kerrville. The church is coordinating flood relief efforts to help families in Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and Center Point. The mobile kitchen is not turning anyone away. As The Center Square met with chefs and volunteers, people asked for food and water and received both throughout the day.  

Operation Blessing also received for the first time a mobile laundry truck donated by the Home Depot Foundation, full of washers and dryers. It’s now providing free laundry services outside of Home Depot in Kerrville as of Monday.

Families who need help cleaning out their homes can fill out a work order form and Operation Blessing responds with volunteers – all free of charge. Their efforts are made possible by donations. 

“If someone’s home was destroyed, they can sign up through a work order for us to muck and gut out their homes with the use of volunteers,” Hensen said. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of what we do. We could not do what we do without the gracious hearts of those people, of people that want to give back to these communities impacted.”

Among those volunteers this weekend were mothers and their daughters who previously attended Camp Mystic. They couldn’t attend this year because the camp is closed due to a state legislative demand.

After holding hearings and commissioning an investigation, the legislature published a report identifying examples of negligence and liabilities allegedly committed by camp owners. They are currently being investigated by the Texas Rangers for criminal negligence. One of them testified that he was moving canoes instead of evacuating eight-year-olds at 1 in the morning as flood waters rose. He testified at a trial in one of the lawsuits filed by parents who lost daughters. The owners have since filed for bankruptcy.

To continue to meet needs of the community, Operation Blessing welcomes volunteers. “Whether it's through mucking and gutting, helping one of our chefs in the kitchen with the hot meals, there's always an opportunity to get out and help. Oftentimes, people say they leave with more than they give in the end because it just fills their heart up,” Hensen said.  

After the deadly July 4 flood last year, Operation Blessing distributed more than 2,600 hot meals, 27,000 bottles of water and electrolyte drinks, nearly 2,000 hygiene kits, more than 2,100 disaster relief kits and more than 1,000 family meal kits. More than 600 volunteers helped clear debris from damaged homes. It also equipped volunteer firefighters with critical first responder supplies, assisted families with funeral expenses, and helped local business owners replace tools and equipment – all made possible by donations.

Multiple organizations are also providing ongoing recovery services in the Hill Country. Texans who sustained damage are encouraged to report it through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool.