by Texans have taken pride in and perhaps found some solace in their identity as Texans—strong, silent, stoic, and resilient—in the face of an unimaginable tragedy like the July 4 flooding.
It is featured on the Texas Proud T-shirts at the H.E.B., a chain of grocery stores that was established in Kerrville, the flood’s epicenter, more than a century ago. At the entrance of Hunt, where the Guadalupe River slashes through with terrifying ferocity, it is there in a muddy state flag, saved from the ground and affixed to a flowering tree.
The Lone Star Flag outnumbers the Stars and Stripes for miles along the river’s shore.
When asked last Tuesday about the inadequacies of state and municipal officials in providing stronger flood warnings, Governor Greg Abbott remarked, “Let me explain one thing about Texas.” Then he looked to the state’s fixation on football for a comparison. He claimed that every football squad makes errors. Winners don’t point fingers in their speech. They discuss ways to solve problems. Texas is all about finding answers.
He claimed that those who didn’t did so were losers.
In addition to being comforting to some in the floodplain of the Texas Hill Country, the image of Texans who would rather act quickly to aid the victims than place the responsibility on the government has been helpful to elected officials, including President Trump, Mr. Abbott, and Kerr County commissioners.
However, it has become evident in the days following Mr. Abbott’s remarks that Texans were both questioning their government and hurrying to lend a hand.
They were providing food and fuel contributions, welcoming the displaced into their homes, and searching through the rubble of the river for the deceased.
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