What Happens to a Home After Floodwaters Recede? Inside AH&H’s Texas Recovery Effort

When heavy flooding hit Central Texas in July 2025, rising rivers left homes soaked with water and mud. Once the floodwater goes away, moisture stays trapped inside walls, floors, and insulation. Getting the water out is only the first step. Across Central Texas, AH&H’s teams are on the ground helping families clean up and prepare their homes to be safely rebuilt.

First, finding the damage:

Before work begins, teams assess the home to understand how far the water traveled and what materials were affected. Then comes what disaster recovery teams call “muck and gut.”

Then, mud, debris and water damaged belongings are removed from the property. Damaged drywall, insulation, flooring and other materials that cannot safely remain in place may also need to come out.

It can make a home look worse before it looks better. Walls are opened and rooms can be stripped back to their basic structure. But removing wet and contaminated material is essential before rebuilding can begin.

Second, making sure the home is dry:

Moisture left behind after flooding can create the conditions for mold to grow. So after damaged materials are removed, teams can begin mold sanitation and drying, using equipment such as dehumidifiers and fans to reduce remaining moisture.

All Hands & Hearts has also provided 26 dehumidifiers and 18 fans to KERR Together DRC to support recovery work across the affected area. Only after these steps are completed can a home move toward repair.

It is a process that takes time, and every house is different. For families across Central Texas, that work continues long after the water disappears.

Staying until the job is done:

A family can only start rebuilding their home once it is fully cleared out, cleaned, and completely dry. All Hands & Hearts is staying in Central Texas to help families through every step of long-term disaster recovery.