Scott Detrow speaks with James Hartley de Kera about the way people gathered in religious services on Sunday to reflect after the sudden deadly floods that killed more than 120 people in the center of Texas.
Scott Detrow, host:
It was another difficult day in Texas. Strong rains and a lightning flood warning interrupted research efforts around the Guadalupe river. One hundred and sixty people remain disappeared after a devastating flood of July 4 which killed more than 120 others in the county of Kerr. Today, people take stock of what happened and how to move forward. James Hartley, from the member station, Kera, covers this and now joins Kerrville. Hey, James.
James Hartley, Byline: Hey. How are you all?
Detow: Let’s start with the situation on the field today. What is the last? What are the conditions?
Hartley: Yes, you know, as you said, it was raining a lot and here today. Research and rescue efforts were suspended due to this Flash warning. The crews were concerned with more water that pushed the Guadalupe and the risks that could create for researchers who choose the heaps of massive tangled debris along the kilometers of the river. So, the rain is busy a little at the moment, but it is a difficult reminder of what this area has endured during the last week.
Detow: It’s Sunday. Many people have gone to the church today. You have visited some churches yourself and you talked to people. What did they tell you?
Hartley: You know, many people find comfort in their faith right now, even if it is difficult to understand what happened and why, from a religious point of view. For some churches, it is their first service since the flood nine days ago. One of them was the Methodist Church of Barnett Chapel. Maurice Washington, he is the pastor there. He says that the religious community here has really met.
Maurice Washington: We will have to be there for others for a long time. We will have to be creative in our approach to help people travel this. We will have to be able to listen to the pain of others, even when this same level of pain is not ours.
Hartley: He also told me that it was not something they can do for a few weeks. He says it will be a continuous process for a long time.
Detrow: There has been a lot of concentration on systems that may not have turned well, in particular warnings before flooding. Did you talk about it to someone?
Hartley: Of course. You know, there was news on this alert system which was not activated as quickly as it could have been. It has also been reported that the local government has decided not to spend money to buy a new one or improve the flood alert system. So all these things were in the lead and frustrating for people like Daryl Coleman (PH). I spoke to him before the service of this Metal Church.
Daryl Coleman: I have been here for 38 years. I saw a lot of floods. All I can ask for is that the government has stopped playing with it. Let’s do something.
Hartley: He was in church with his wife, Robin (PH), who told me that, for the moment, they had to focus on the search for bodies and that it would be a long and painful process of reconstruction.
Detrow: It was such a devastation. What have you seen on how people help each other?
Hartley: You know, there are a lot of needs that may not be as obvious as others. I saw bathroom trailers outside a Walmart for people who no longer have their own bathroom. There is a laundry truck that has been installed outside the VFW room, and the hotels put food and water for displaced people. I spoke with Jennifer Stewart (PH). She is a massage therapist in Dallas. She led five hours to Kerrville to offer free massages to research and rescue teams during their breaks. She said that listening to their stories was really difficult.
Jennifer Stewart: I just imagine, like, crying) and today hearing stories of bodies and animals and property of people whom they will never see again. And it’s just heartbreaking. It is.
Hartley: She said that she hoped that massages will help them relax and can even give them a chance to feel spiritually nourished through this relaxation. But as you can hear, the emotions of so many people are raw and palpable.
Detow: Absolutely. It is James Hartley of the Kera member station, Reporting of Kerrville, Texas. Thank you so much.
Hartley: Yes, you are welcome.
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