Like many Texans, I was glued to my phone and laptop over this Fourth of July weekend as floodwater overtook Kerr County. I was fervently hoping that more people would be pulled alive from the river and re-united with their families. At the same time–aware of the deadly power of flash flooding–I knew that rescues were becoming increasingly unlikely with each passing hour.
Now the death toll approaches 90, and nearly a third of the reported victims are children. I didn’t know any of the dead or missing personally, but my social media feeds are full of desperate, mournful posts from friends of friends. It’s a horrifying, heartbreaking moment for Texas.
This wine blog is meant to be lighthearted fun. Between climate change and rising fascism and numerous wars, the world looks pretty awful right now. It’s a relief to have wine as a hobby–a juicy, trivial topic with which to avert one’s eyes. I make a purposeful effort to avoid “bummer” issues like tariffs or the health risks of alcohol. Instead, I write about silly sh*t, like whether you should go to jail for putting jalapeños in your Sauvignon Blanc.
But this week, I just can’t. I was down in the Hill Country the week before the disaster. I went to a handful of wineries and took a bunch of pretty pictures. Watching aerial news footage, I can see that many of the roads and the towns there are littered with debris and receding floodwater.
As a writer, I still believe in escapism. (And scope.) I’m confident that the region will recover from this tragedy. But I just can’t bring myself to post about winery visits while people are still being pulled from the river muck. I’m putting a pause on Texas winery coverage, at least until flood victims have been recovered and their identities confirmed.
One thing that has been inspiring is to see how many Hill Country businesses–including the numerous local wineries–have stepped up to raise funds and organize volunteers to aid the flood victims. Heath Family Brands, William Chris Vineyards, and Augusta Vin are just a few companies that have pledged their financial support to the relief efforts. The wine business is an important part of the community in Central Texas, and it’s heartening to see them chip in so generously. (At least one Hill Country wine producer has confirmed that they lost vineyards in the flood–and while losing a vineyard is nothing on the scale of losing a child, it still really sucks.)
Texas has a lot that needs fixin’. We are divided politically, and we are failing monstrously in our response to recent weather threats. But we are good people, and when our neighbors need help, we come together.
We are praying for the Texas Hill Country as it grapples with this devastating flood. Should you feel called to donate your time or resources, CBS News Texas has a vetted list of local and national charities that are assisting families in the affected areas.
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