Kerrville Community Honors Flood Victims as Bus Drivers Help Reunite Campers with Families

In Kerrville, Texas, hundreds gathered Friday night to honor the lives lost in the devastating flood that swept through Central Texas on July 4. The community remembered more than 120 victims while also recognizing the heroic efforts of local school bus drivers who helped evacuate campers caught in the disaster.

Green ribbons now decorate homes, businesses, and school buses across Kerrville as a symbol of remembrance for those affected by the flood.

Among the victims were Reese Zunker, a respected high school soccer coach, and his wife Paula. Their two sons remain missing. “It’s not a call you would ever expect,” said Brent Ringo, superintendent of Kerrville ISD, which is mourning Zunker’s loss.

Ringo shared that on Friday morning, he received a call from Camp La Junta. Despite parts of the camp being destroyed — including cabins seen floating away — all 400 campers were reported safe. But they needed immediate help evacuating.

“Within minutes,” Ringo said, “more than a dozen bus drivers showed up.” Some drivers even packed into Ringo’s own pickup truck to help reunite campers with their parents.

One of those drivers was Monica Umphress. She recalled driving campers to safety while they sang Christian songs to comfort themselves. “Even in this disaster, God is still present,” Umphress said.

In total, 16 buses transported nearly 900 people from three camps along the Guadalupe River to reunification centers.

Search teams from across the country continue to comb the riverbanks as the operation transitions into a recovery phase.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.