E14 - When the River Rose: Behavioral Health Response and Recovery After the Hill Country Floods

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM MDT

Location: Bluebird 2G

Unrestricted Education Sponsor

On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding struck the Texas Hill Country. In the early morning hours, intense thunderstorms in Kerr County caused the Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in less than 45 minutes. The disaster claimed at least 135 lives and left entire communities devastated. The impact extended far beyond the riverbanks, creating profound and lasting behavioral health needs for survivors, families, and first responders.

During this session, leaders from Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers, the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) serving the region, will share firsthand accounts of the unfolding crisis and the response that followed. Panelists will discuss how their teams mobilized in real time to support affected communities, as well as the ongoing recovery efforts still underway.

Participants will also hear from neighboring LMHAs that rapidly coordinated to assess needs and deploy personnel and resources to the region. The panel will highlight key lessons learned, including the importance of integrated emergency management systems, cross-center collaboration, and strong partnerships with local and state government during large-scale disasters.

Learning Objectives:

Panel will share firsthand accounts of the crisis and response that followed the flood.
Panelists will share process on how teams mobilized in response to the flood to support communities impacted.
Local Mental Health Authorities in Texas on the panel will provide firsthand experience in supporting the Hill Country LMHA
Panel will share what was done to prepare for the response to the impacted communities.
Lessons learned from the response to the HIll Country Flood.

Disclosure(s):

Veronica Sanchez, LPC: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Lee Johnson

Texas Council of Community Centers

Disclosure information not submitted.
Landon Sturdivant, LBSW

Deputy Chief Executive Director
Hill Country MHDD Centers
Kerrville, Texas

Disclosure information not submitted.
Andrew Estrada

Vice President, Crisis Response Services
Center for Health Care Services

Disclosure information not submitted.
Veronica Sanchez, LPC

CEO
Camino Real Community Services
Lytle, Texas

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Jeff Richardson

CEO
Integral Care

Disclosure information not submitted.
MN

Mike Naples

CEO
Bluebonnet Trails

Disclosure information not submitted.
MR

Monika Rosales-Flores

Tropical Texas

Disclosure information not submitted.