Kerrville Honours Sewa International for Flood Relief and Recovery Efforts
Indian American groups lauded for leadership and unity during Texas flood recovery
- City of Kerrville honours Sewa International for July 4 flood relief efforts
- IACF contributes $50,000 towards long-term recovery
- Volunteers praised for rapid response and coordination on the ground
- Indian American organisations united to support affected families
GG News Bureau
Kerrville, Texas, 17th Dec: The City of Kerrville, along with the Kerr Economic Development Corporation and the Kerr Together Long-Term Recovery Group, on December 9 honoured Sewa International and several Indian American organisations for their exceptional service during the devastating July 4 flash floods that struck the city.
Recalling the relief efforts, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herrington described Sewa International’s work as more than an emergency response. “This wasn’t just emergency response—it was a ministry. Helping others is how we serve God, and Sewa International embodied that spirit every single day. Their volunteers brought hope, structure and humanity when our community needed it most,” he said.
Sewa’s partner organisation, the Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF), also made a notable contribution of $50,000 towards flood recovery. Representatives from IACF Houston reiterated their commitment to the local community, saying, “We live here, we give here.”
City officials highlighted the visible presence of Sewa volunteers, recalling the “sea of yellow T-shirts” at the emergency operations site at Tivy Antler Stadium. Volunteers managed traffic, coordinated logistics and organised hundreds of community members at a time when city resources were stretched thin. “Sewa stepped in and brought order, compassion and unwavering commitment. That made all the difference,” a city representative said.
Senior officials, including Economic Development Manager Kelly Hagemeyer, Kerr EDC Deputy Director Theresa Metcalf, Kerr Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Todd Bock and City Manager Dalton Rice, expressed gratitude for Sewa International’s early and sustained involvement. Drawing on experience from hurricane relief efforts in Houston, Sewa volunteers mobilised swiftly and joined emergency teams within hours of the disaster.
Under the guidance of Prashant Sona of the Indian Consulate in Houston and the leadership of IACF representatives Ramesh Cherivirala and Pankaj Rana, multiple organisations came together for the relief effort. These included Arya Samaj, Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston, Indian Doctors’ Association, Indo American Conservatives of Texas and the Indian Doctors’ Charitable Clinic.
IACF President Pankaj Rana underlined the importance of collaboration. “The strength of our response came from unity. Partnering with Sewa International allowed us to break silos, combine resources and make a meaningful impact quickly,” he said.
City leaders also acknowledged the dedication of volunteers who travelled from Houston and San Antonio to assist flood-hit families. Individuals such as Nikhil Jain, Vinayak Astekar, Sunil Kolluru, Trinabh Shukla, Jitendra Chaudhary and Swapnil Padate were recognised for their financial and on-ground contributions.
Officials credited Sewa International USA with being among the first organisations to arrive and among the last to leave. “Sewa’s dedication didn’t end with the initial emergency. They have continued to support long-term recovery and remain a pillar of strength for families rebuilding their lives,” a city official said.
Sewa International is a 501(c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable organisation working in disaster recovery, education and development, with 43 chapters across the United States, serving communities without discrimination.
