When floodwaters surged through Kerrville, Texas, in July, 66-year-old Rosalinda Torres said she escaped with only her dog and her purse. She is still trying to restore her Lawson Street home and says the FEMA assistance she had been expecting will not arrive after the agency denied Texas' request for individual assistance.
Here's what to know
Torres told News Channel 4 San Antonio that she had been waiting for FEMA assistance.
Survivors in Kerr, Uvalde, and other counties lost access to a major source of household aid when the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected the state's request for individual assistance in a Sept. 28 letter. That program helped residents afford home repairs, temporary housing, and essential belongings.
FEMA determined that damage to individuals and households was not severe enough under the disaster declaration to qualify for that assistance. The agency also turned down hazard mitigation aid for projects intended to reduce damage in future disasters, the outlet reported.
Disaster recovery advocates criticized the decision. Allison Brim-Estelle, field director for the National Disaster Survivors Association's Rebuild, said, "People need help."
More background
Torres said she woke neighbors around 3:30 a.m. July 16 after checking the rising water with a flashlight. "I got my dog, got my purse, and took off with them to a higher ground," Torres told News Channel 4.
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Without federal household aid, Torres said much of the rebuilding has depended on family help and charitable support. Her son, who is a plumber, and her grandchildren have handled much of the repair work, she said, and relief groups and strangers who sent gift cards have also helped.
FEMA's letter also rejected Texas' request to add eight counties — Atascosa, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Comal, Medina, Terrell, and Wilson — to the public assistance program, per News Channel 4.
That program covers public recovery costs such as repairs to roads and government buildings; it had already been approved in 23 counties.
What's being done?
Gov. Greg Abbott's office said it and the Texas Division of Emergency Management were examining FEMA's decision and the options for appeal. Whether an appeal succeeds could determine if households can receive federal help for repairs, temporary lodging, or replacement of necessities.
Brim-Estelle said survivors of the 2025 and 2026 floods were meeting to discuss how to support one another and push for additional recovery resources.
She told News Channel 4 that Abbott should clarify whether the state intends to appeal FEMA's ruling or provide state resources to survivors in limbo.
"I'm very angry because I worked all my life," Torres said. "We all worked all our lives, you know?"
Where can I learn more?
Texas flood survivors are facing uncertainty as they try to rebuild without federal help.
• In Texas Hill Country, survivors could file late FEMA appeals for rebuilding aid.
• In Uvalde County, most requested federal aid was stalled six weeks later.
• Across Texas, families pressed Washington for aid as mold spread and businesses closed.
• Texas flood survivors who fled with nothing can get free legal help replacing lost IDs.
• In Henderson County, residents were urged to log flood damage as officials weighed aid.
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