Our Response to the Flooding in Central Texas

Baylor University's Approach to Disaster Relief

As Baylor University faculty, staff, and students, we are not equipped to be first responders. However, there are steps we can take to support our neighbors in times of disaster. Our approach is to Pray, Stay, Raise, and Go. Learn more here.

1. We pray for those impacted.
2. We stay put and let those who are trained and qualified to first respond.
3. We raise awareness and funds that support those on the front lines.
4. We go when it is safe and stable for our volunteers to helpfully serve.

What We're Doing & How You Can Help

Donations for Flood Relief

Donate here to help provide those affected by the floods with the supplies they need. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Baylor Family, we’ve fully funded all 200 flood buckets for families impacted by recent flooding in Central Texas. Your support has already made a tangible difference! But the work isn’t over. Additional gifts will now help cover transportation and meals for upcoming service trips to Kerrville, where Baylor students, staff, and alumni will continue serving the community through hands-on relief and recovery efforts.

San Angelo Service Trip

A BearAid Disaster Relief team of students and staff are going to San Angelo, Texas from September 19–20 to partner with the rebuilding efforts of Texans On Mission. The team will continue to assist with the community's rebuilding process. Future service trips are in the works, and this page will continue to be updated with more details. Apply to join the team here.

Kerr County Service Trip

A BearAid Disaster Relief team of students and staff spent two days in Kerr County, Texas from Nivember 14–15 to partner with the rebuilding efforts of Texans On Mission. Communities impacted by the flooding are still in the rebuilding process. The BearAid team assisted with installing drywall, clearing debris, painting, cleaning, and more.

San Angelo Service Day

A team of students, faculty, staff, and alumni traveled to San Angelo, Texas on August 8 to assist Texans On Mission with the rebuilding process. Numerous families in the sustained damage to their property and possessions, and the team's primary purpose was to help restore and rebuild what was lost. BearAid and the Department of Missions, Service & Public Life are making plans for future service trips. This page will be updated with more details as they come. 

Disaster Relief Kit Packing

BearAid disaster relief and the Department of Missions, Service & Public Life have packed 200 disaster relief kits with the help of students, faculty and staff. The first round of kit packing, with the help of orientation students, took place at the Bobo Spiritual Life Center at 2pm on Wednesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 10. The second round of kit packing, open to all students, faculty, and staff, was at the Bobo Spiritual Life Center at 2pm on Tuesday, July 15.

A small team of students, faculty, and staff delivered the relief kits to Kerr County on Friday, July 18. The team also assessed the situation in the area and began making plans to bring larger groups.

Spiritual Life Prayer Service

The Office of Spiritual Life hosted a prayer service for our neighbors affected by the recent floods in central Texas. The entire Baylor Family came together on Thursday, July 17 from 12 - 1 PM in Elliston Chapel. As a community, we went the Lord in prayer with our grief, petitions, and desire for comfort.

Keep scrolling to see other steps you can take.

BearAid Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid

Response following a disaster typically unfolds in four critical stages: rescue, relief, recovery, and rebuild. Baylor University is best positioned to help in the relief and recovery stages. BearAid, Baylor's disaster relief team of students, faculty, and staff, is currently assessing the situation. Remaining disaster relief kits packed last spring by Baylor students, faculty, and staff are being sent to affected areas, with more to be assembled soon. We'll share updates as they come.

To get involved in the various stages of BearAid response program, join our group on Connect. To stay updated on upcoming opportunities to volunteer, follow Baylor Missions, Service & Public Life on social media. 

Donate & Support

If you would like to provide immediate financial assistance to relief efforts in areas impacted by the floods in central Texas, you may want to consider one of the listed organizations/campaigns below. While many of these organizations are focused on immediate relief efforts by providing shelter and supplies, some specialize in providing medical care and aid for those impacted. 

Monetary donations should only be made to fully vetted sites and organizations. Charity Navigator provides information on organizations, as well as ratings for more than 9,000 charities. Charity Navigator has also provided their own list of charities addressing the floods.

Note: While Baylor University is supportive of the relief efforts currently being conducted by these organizations, Baylor University is not affiliated with them. 

Online Financial Donation Sites/Campaigns

Our team is monitoring the responses of other organizations and will update this list as more options become available.

• Texans on Mission
  • (Formerly known as Texas Baptist Men)
  • To donate
• Matthew 25: Ministries
  • 4 star rating (Charity Navigator)
  • To donate
• Convoy of Hope
  • 4 star rating (Charity Navigator)
  • To donate
• Catholic Charities
  • To donate
• Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
  • created the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund
  • 4 Star rating (Charity Navigator)
  • To donate
• World Central Kitchen
  • 4 Star rating (Charity Navigator)
  • To donate

Other ways to help

• GIVE - Giving money is one of the best ways you can immediately respond. Support relief agencies that are responding directly to help individuals and communities affected.
• LEARN - Follow news coverage and take time to learn what the needs are. Follow social media and stay tuned to reports from the scene. Responders will be quick to share what is needed (and what is not). Don't show up to volunteer uninvited, as your presence may interfere with recovery efforts and distract responders. Once you learn what the needs are, there are several ways you can help (e.g., donate blood, hold a collection drive for requested items, etc.)
• PREPARE - Do you have a desire to be more hands-on? Consider training to become a disaster response volunteer. Invest in learning valuable skills, knowledge, and protocol so that agencies can deploy you to help when disaster strikes.
• PRAY - Lift up the individuals, families, and communities affected in prayer. Pray for God's comfort and mercy, His healing and protection, His relief and restoration. Recovery is often a long-term process and continues long after the media leaves.

Additional Resources

Do your research to determine if organizations are legitimate. Charity Navigator lists reputable organizations. Great Nonprofits and Give Well have reviews of nonprofit groups and can help you see how much of your money goes directly to relief.