Flooding ravages Texas as rescue teams hit a wall here’s how Chicagoans can help

** Not Red. Not Blue. Just Human.

Disasters don’t care about political parties. And recovery shouldn't either. In the face of devastation, the US must rally around Texas, offering relief, support, and compassion, not blame. This is a time to demonstrate that Americans help Americans, regardless of their zip code or voting record. We must remember that rebuilding lives and homes is more important than winning arguments.

With that said, the 2025 Texas floods have unleashed a humanitarian crisis across the Lone Star State. With entire communities underwater, emergency rescue teams stretched to their limits, and families stranded on rooftops, this flood disaster is already being called one of the worst in Texas history.

Unrelenting rainfall has pummeled regions like Harris County, Central Texas, and parts of East Texas, triggering flash floods that swept away cars, destroyed infrastructure, and displaced thousands. As of today, over 1,200 high-water rescues have been reported, with Texas flood rescue teams struggling to keep up with demand and facing limited access to flooded rural areas.

First responders are navigating washed-out roads, impassable highways, and communication blackouts. Helicopters and airboats are the only means of reaching some stranded Texas flood victims, especially in towns lacking basic emergency infrastructure. In rural communities like Liberty and Wharton, rescuers are working without rest, braving rising waters and debris to reach residents who never received or never heard evacuation warnings.

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Emergency officials say the lack of cell service and power outages have crippled coordination efforts. Local volunteer fire departments, many of which operate with outdated equipment, are stepping in to fill the gaps. “We're exhausted, and it's not slowing down,” said one exhausted responder near Brazoria County in an interview with News Nation.

At Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, what was meant to be a week of fun and friendship turned into a scene of chaos as flash floods overwhelmed the Guadalupe River. Several young campers were swept away in the rising waters, and while search efforts continue, stories of both heartbreak and heroism are emerging. According to the Washington Post, in one harrowing rescue, two eight-year-old girls were found clinging to a tree, surrounded by rushing floodwaters, before being pulled to safety by first responders. Their survival is a rare moment of relief amid an otherwise tragic scene. Across the Hill Country, summer camps are now reckoning with loss, trauma, and the long road to healing after the floodwaters recede.

Despite warnings issued days in advance, many residents didn’t evacuate, citing lack of transportation, disability, past false alarms, or simply having nowhere to go. While some blame poor planning, others say it highlights a systemic failure in communicating risk to vulnerable populations in Texas flood zones.

How Chicagoans can help flood victims

Chicagoans looking to support Texas flood victims can take action through several trusted channels. Monetary donations remain the most effective form of aid, as they directly contribute to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which provides emergency grants to affected families and first responders. TEXSAR (Texas Search and Rescue) and the American Red Cross Central and South Texas Chapter are also accepting funds to support ongoing rescue and shelter operations.

Other groups accepting donations include: 

Midwest Food Bank 

United Cajun Navy

San Angelo Area Foundation

Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce

Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Community

For a regularly updated list of verified relief partners, visit CBS News Texas: How to Help or the Texas Tribune’s Flood Relief Guide.  

Many local churches are accepting donations of non-perishable items, hygiene kits, bottled water, baby formula, pet food, and first aid and emergency supplies.