The holiday weekend turned into a nightmare for Texas families.
What was supposed to be a time of celebration became one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s recent history.
And Franklin Graham was caught off-guard by what he found when he arrived in Texas.
Historic flash flooding devastates Central Texas communities
The Fourth of July weekend should have been filled with barbecues, fireworks, and family gatherings across Texas.
Instead, it became a weekend of unspeakable tragedy.
Heavy rains that pounded the region early Friday morning turned the Guadalupe River into a monster that rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes.¹
The raging waters swept through Kerr County communities like Kerrville and Camp Mystic, while also hammering areas around San Angelo.¹
More than 80 people are confirmed dead, with dozens still unaccounted for.¹
Search and rescue teams continue working around the clock, but hopes are fading for finding more survivors.
The speed of the water’s rise caught residents completely unprepared, giving them virtually no time to get to safety.
Camp Mystic, where kids were supposed to be having the time of their lives, became ground zero for heartbreak.
Franklin Graham rushes disaster relief teams to Texas
Franklin Graham, who leads Samaritan’s Purse, has seen disasters around the world.
But something about this Texas tragedy shook him to his core.
His organization immediately sent emergency response teams from their Texas facility in Coppell, loaded with equipment and supplies.¹
Graham himself couldn’t ignore the human suffering unfolding in the Lone Star State.
"During a holiday weekend that was supposed to be filled with celebration, Texas families are now facing unimaginable loss after these devastating floods," Graham said. "Our hearts break for them."¹
The veteran relief worker has responded to earthquakes, hurricanes, and wars across the globe.
Yet the image of Texas families desperately waiting for word about their missing loved ones clearly moved him in a profound way.
On Sunday, Graham joined Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on a phone call from Alaska to pray with families gathered at a local church.¹
These weren’t just any church members.
They were parents, grandparents, and siblings clinging to hope while fearing the worst about their missing children and relatives.
"Please join me in continuing to pray for all those who are grieving and for our teams on the ground who are responding in Jesus’ Name," Graham said.¹
Emergency response teams coordinate massive relief effort
Edward Graham, Franklin’s son and the chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse, is personally overseeing the relief operation in Texas this week.¹
The organization is working hand-in-hand with chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to bring both physical help and spiritual comfort to devastated families.¹
Jason Kimak, who directs North American operations for Samaritan’s Purse, is also coordinating the response efforts.¹
Their teams are evaluating the worst-hit areas and getting ready to help families begin picking up the pieces once it’s safe to work.¹
This isn’t just about hauling away debris or fixing roofs.
It’s about ministering to people whose entire world has been turned upside down.
Some families lost everything they owned in a matter of minutes.
Others lost something far more precious – their loved ones.
The relief workers understand they’re not just dealing with property damage.
They’re dealing with shattered hearts and broken spirits.
A tragedy that hits close to home
Franklin Graham has built his reputation responding to crises in war-torn countries and disaster zones around the world.
His organization operates in more than 100 countries, helping victims of war, disease, natural disasters, poverty, and persecution.¹
But there’s something different about watching American families suffer in your own backyard.
The flash flooding struck without warning during what should have been a joyful holiday weekend.
Families who were planning picnics and fireworks shows instead found themselves fighting for their lives.
The Guadalupe River’s sudden 26-foot rise in less than an hour shows just how quickly nature can turn deadly.
Camp Mystic, where children were enjoying summer activities, became a scene of chaos and terror.
Parents who dropped their kids off for what should have been a fun-filled week are now living every parent’s worst nightmare.
Some are still waiting by their phones, hoping for news that their child has been found alive.
Others have received the call no parent should ever get.
Franklin Graham’s reaction to this disaster reveals something important about the man behind the relief organization.
Even after decades of responding to tragedies worldwide, he can still be moved by human suffering.
The phone call with grieving families gathered in that Texas church clearly affected him deeply.
Here was a man who has comforted earthquake victims in Haiti, hurricane survivors in North Carolina, and war refugees in Ukraine.
Yet he found himself caught off-guard by the raw pain of Texas families searching for their missing loved ones.
That’s the mark of someone who hasn’t become callous to human suffering despite years of witnessing it.
Real leadership in action
While politicians debate and government agencies shuffle paperwork, Franklin Graham and his team are on the ground making a difference.
Samaritan’s Purse operates out of Boone, North Carolina, but their heart is with hurting people wherever they are.¹
They specialize in working in places where few others are willing to go or able to help.¹
In Texas, they’re bringing both practical assistance and spiritual hope to families who desperately need both.
Edward Graham’s personal involvement shows this isn’t just another corporate response.
This is a family organization that treats disaster victims like family.
The partnership with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association chaplains demonstrates they understand people need more than just physical help.
They need someone to pray with them, cry with them, and remind them they’re not alone.
That’s the kind of leadership America needs more of – people who don’t just write checks or issue statements, but who show up and get their hands dirty.
Franklin Graham may have been caught off-guard by what he found in Texas, but he wasn’t caught unprepared.
His organization’s rapid response shows what true compassion looks like in action.
While others talk about caring, Samaritan’s Purse actually does something about it.
¹ Samaritan’s Purse press release, July 7, 2025
