Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Mobilize to Support Mental Health Needs of Texas Hill Country Flood Survivors

KERRVILLE, TEXAS — In the wake of the catastrophic July 4 flash floods that devastated Texas Hill Country—claiming the lives of at least 135 individuals statewide, including 107 in Kerr County alone—a dedicated coalition of psychiatric nurse practitioners has mobilized to provide mental health care for survivors, first responders, and grieving families. Early psychiatric care after a traumatic event is crucial for recovery and preventing long-term mental health challenges, based on an individual’s needs.

Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses Texas (PAPN TX), a statewide network of board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs), announced today that its members are volunteering their time and clinical expertise to support the mental health needs of flood survivors in Kerr County and surrounding regions.

“This is a community that has endured a trauma of unthinkable scale,” said Sherry Grogan, PMHNP, one of the volunteer organizers with PAPN TX. “Children, parents, and entire families have been swept into grief, shock, and survival mode. As mental health professionals, it is our duty to respond with compassion, presence, and clinical support.”

PAPN TX volunteers are offering psychiatric evaluations, crisis counseling, grief support, and medication management for those struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other trauma-related conditions stemming from the disaster. Insurance is accepted by many PMHNPs, and some pro bono service is offered as well. Services are being provided primarily via telehealth.

While hundreds of volunteers continue combing through debris along the riverbanks with helicopters, boats, and drones, mental health care has emerged as a critical need amid the ongoing search-and-recovery efforts. The Hill Country flooding was among the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history. Fueled by torrential rainfall, the Guadalupe River surged from 3 feet to over 30 feet in less than an hour, washing away homes, vehicles, and entire communities. Vacation cabins and summer youth camps that line the river—iconic to the region’s identity—suffered unimaginable losses. At Camp Mystic, a century-old girls’ summer camp near Hunt, at least 27 campers and counselors perished in the early morning hours when floodwaters struck without warning.

“The emotional toll is enormous—not only for those who lost loved ones, but for those who witnessed devastation, helped pull others from the water, or are still searching,” said Grogan. “We are here for all of them.”

To connect with a PAPN TX volunteer or refer someone in need of psychiatric support, please contact PAPN TX Helpline at (830) 282-1883 by voice or text, or contact us at Sherry.Grogan@PAPNTEXAS.Org

Media Contact:
Sherry Grogan, MSN, APRN, PMHNP
Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses Texas
Email: Sherry.Grogan@papntexas.org
Phone: (830) 282-1883

Mailing Address:
Psychiatric Advance Practice Nurses of Texas
5900 Balcones Drive, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78731

About PAPN TX:
Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses Texas is a statewide professional network of board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners committed to advancing mental health access and equity in Texas. Members provide care across settings—from rural communities to urban centers—and are trained in medication management, psychotherapy, and trauma-informed care.