When a “one-in-100-years rainfall event” struck Kerr County, Texas, on July 4, 2025, rivers like the Guadalupe swelled by over 20 feet in less than two hours, triggering a State of Emergency across 15 counties. Heart to Heart International responded immediately.
But our commitment didn’t end when the floodwaters receded. Over the past 12 months, we have worked alongside local clinics to build long-term, sustainable healthcare resilience.
One year later, here is an overview of how your support continues to make a difference for communities throughout Texas.
Immediate Flood Response
In the days following the disaster, HHI deployed aid to families and first responders. Distributed through local fire departments, schools, and community hubs, this initial relief included:
- Hygiene Kits: Providing essential personal care items to displaced families
- Critical Medical Supplies: Deployed gauze, bandages, sutures, wound care items, and sanitizing wipes to clinics and emergency workers.
- Rehydration Solutions: Distributed rehydration and electrolyte solutions to combat heat and exhaustion.
Upgrading Rural Clinical Infrastructure with Laboratory Technology
When the floodwaters receded, the challenges of rural healthcare remained. Families in these areas frequently faced geographic and financial barriers to care. To build long-term health equity, HHI installed a point-of-care laboratory at the low-cost health clinic, Arthur Nagel Community Clinic, in Bandera, Texas.
This diagnostic equipment allows patients to receive critical lab results during their appointment, enabling providers to diagnose and start treatment instantly. The impact was felt almost immediately. During a routine intake, the clinic’s lab flagged a 57-year-old man with critically low, life-threatening red blood cell counts. Because the results were available instantly on site, staff was able to immediately coordinate with a specialist and send the patient straight to the hospital for life-saving intervention.
“This is a powerful reminder that access to modern diagnostic equipment in rural healthcare settings truly saves lives,” said Arthur Nagel Community Clinic Executive Director Sandra Imery. “We are deeply grateful for the support that allows us to strengthen healthcare access and improve patient outcomes across our rural communities.”
Equipping the Frontline with Emergency Supplies
Recognizing that clinic staff are the backbone of a community’s emergency response, we distributed specialized Healthcare Worker Emergency Response Kits. These are designed to give frontline professionals the tools they need to stay safe and keep clinic doors open during future disasters.
- 450+ specialized kits have been delivered to healthcare workers in Texas.
- 16 different clinics and organizations across Texas have received this equipment to reinforce their workforce.
“Health clinic workers are often the first and last lines of defense for underserved communities during disasters,” JP Fisher, HHI’s Director of Disaster Response said. “These kits ensure that clinic staff can continue delivering care when it’s needed most—without compromising their own safety.”
Sponsoring Statewide Training and Leadership Summits
To scale this readiness across the entire state, HHI sponsored and led a three-part series of Regional Leadership Summits alongside the Texas Association of Charitable Clinics (TXACC):
- 80 Member Clinics Supported: Providing emergency disaster preparedness curriculum to a massive network of free and charitable clinics.
- 45-Foot Mobile Medical Unit: Brought our advanced mobile clinic to Texas, giving workers hands-on training with self-contained treatment rooms, pharmacies, and counseling zones.
As Paula Walker, Executive Director of TXACC, beautifully summarized: “The connection we made through Heart to Heart is where we began this journey. This partnership began in Kerrville, Texas, after the flooding. Heart to Heart has been to every one of our 3 summits, teaching us about how to get ready for the next disaster. We’re so grateful for your presence. You haven’t left us yet.”
Whether it is delivering a hygiene kit immediately after a flood or installing life-saving laboratory gear months down the road, HHI remains fully committed to Texas. We are helping communities rebuild and stand stronger against the next storm.
