Austin Ranch Gets Help from 20 Volunteers After Flood

When floodwaters tore through Safe in Austin Rescue Ranch on Friday night, the damage was five times worse than the floods that hit last July. But by Sunday morning, something beautiful was happening in the muddy aftermath.

Twenty volunteers arrived at the Leander ranch ready to work. They cleaned up debris, checked on the pigs, and prepared spaces for the summer camps where kids learn ranch chores and work with animals.

"Today we are looking at what all the rain has done and how much it's moved and cleaning up all of the areas," said volunteer Cari Edelson. The good news: all the animals were safe and accounted for, despite much of the property being underwater.

This was the second straight day the ranch asked for help. And the second straight day people showed up.

Edelson has seen this community spirit before at Safe in Austin, a sanctuary for special-needs animals. She says it's what makes this place different.

The Ripple Effect

The volunteers weren't just saving a ranch. They were protecting a place where kids discover purpose during summer camps and where people find sanctuary alongside the animals.

"The community here is amazing, and I think that anyone looking for a community or looking for a purpose, this is a great place to start," Edelson said. She noted that volunteers get their own needs fulfilled while helping, creating connections with both the animals and each other.

The ranch continues accepting donations to support cleanup efforts. But the real story isn't just about what the floods took away—it's about what the community brought back together.

When disaster strikes, sometimes the greatest damage isn't to buildings or land but to hope, and sometimes the greatest repair comes from neighbors who simply show up.