Communities Hit by Floods Struggling to Rebuild

Months after this summer’s flash floods in the Hill Country and Central Texas, home and business owners are struggling to rebuild, with some opting to relocate.

According to property data firm Cotality, over 38,600 homes were in the flood zone of the affected counties, and the storm caused $1.1 billion in damage to residences. In Kerr County, where more than 2,000 structures were damaged, only 2% of homeowners had flood insurance policies.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program could pay up to $135 million in claims, and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has raised $100 million for flood victims. About $42 million has yet to be distributed. Many victims have encountered challenges securing FEMA aid.

Over 100 volunteers showed up for a work day in Travis County’s Sandy Creek community this month to continue cleanup efforts. Some residents have asked Gov. Greg Abbott to create a $500 million fund to provide assistance to flood victims.

Business owners like Steve Edelstein, whose Ingram Dam Shopping Center was destroyed, are without a source of income while they rebuild. “I had to deal with the reality of the flood, and now I have to deal with the reality of the finances,” he said.

Religious Liberty Commission Coming to Texas

In May, President Trump announced the creation of the Religious Liberty Commission, with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as its chair. The 17-member commission has held each of its three previous hearings at the Museum of the Bible in the nation’s capital, but its fourth is scheduled for next month in Dallas.

In addition to Patrick, several members of the unpaid commission have ties to Texas, including Dr. Phil McGraw, Kelly Shackelford of the Plano-based First Liberty Institute, and Ryan Anderson, a professor at the University of Dallas and the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

“If there’s any place that would probably be associated with independence and freedom and the ability to believe what you believe, I think Texas is at the top of that list,” Shackelford said. 

The commission has discussed perceived attacks on religious liberty, particularly in education, and will issue a report with recommendations to the White House next summer. 

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Red Bull Flugtag Dallas – September 13, 2025

Are you putting up Christmas lights this year?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Did you do any holiday shopping yesterday?

1. Yes: 59%
2. No: 41%

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What Texas border town has shared its name with Jeep as a trim designation since the 1980s?

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