FEMA is active in the Texas flood zone, but private relief groups lead the way

By Martin Kaste

Published July 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM EDT

After early criticism for being late on the scene, FEMA is now getting high marks from people affected by the July 4 flash flood, especially in the hard-hit community of Hunt, TX. But locals heap even more praise on the help from religious charities.

Martin Kaste

Martin Kaste is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers law enforcement and privacy. He has been focused on police and use of force since before the 2014 protests in Ferguson, and that coverage led to the creation of NPR's Criminal Justice Collaborative.

See stories by Martin Kaste

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