Who It’s About

Published August 6, 2025

Recently, I traveled to San Saba, Sandy Creek (near Leander), and Kerr County. These areas were hit hard by the early July flooding. I was working on a special project as part of the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN.) During this time, I was reintroduced to some truths that I first learned close to twenty years ago when working as part of the Katrina Response Initiative and then later as we created IDRN with trained groups in 35 countries.

Those truths seem to be as consistent as humanity’s story is long. First, when bad things happen – truly bad things – it tends to clarify for each of us what really matters. Things that mattered way too much just days or hours earlier are completely irrelevant when simple survival unexpectedly becomes the goal. That is what happened for way too many Texans on July 4th of this year.

The devastation from the recent flood waters is profound. There have been lots of pictures, video, and stories that have come out since July 4, and the availability of media – almost everywhere – allows anyone interested to see more about what happened than most of history would have allowed.

As cliché as it sounds, pictures fail to capture the full reality. Between the small town of Hunt and Camp Mystic just up the river, I saw a metal kayak wrapped around a tall tree trunk, at least 30 feet in the air. Staring at that surreal sight wasn’t enough to comprehend the force it must have taken. This serves as a stark reminder that bad things happen—far too often. Sometimes, truly catastrophic events—extraordinary disasters—occur, and large swaths of humanity take notice. And they respond.

The way people respond is the focus of the rest of this commentary. This column, Beyond the County Line, reflects on events outside our immediate area, and fortunately, the recent flooding didn’t strike us as severely as it did other parts of Texas. In this case, the impact lies beyond the county line. Yet, people everywhere can find themselves in desperate situations. There’s no need to delve into further details of this specific event to convey my points.

My recent trips to these flooded zones and the subsequent conversations I had with victims, but especially responders, reminded me of a dynamic many don’t want to look squarely in the eye. It’s stuff that is not good, even when it’s thinly wrapped in virtuous language. But not all of the reminders were all bad.

First, these bad situations truly bring out the best in some people—actually, in quite a few people. It’s not uncommon to encounter individuals whose actions reflect pure motives, driven by genuine care, concern, and love. These people and their efforts are deeply meaningful, incredibly encouraging, and truly inspiring.

Second, in stark contrast to those compassionate, well-intentioned individuals, there’s a rising number of opportunists exploiting disaster situations. While I attended a Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) meeting one afternoon, reports of grifters and con artists preying on vulnerable communities were increasingly common. Those who do this kind of despicable exploitation of the vulnerable and hurting need a special place in hell. I’m not going to even try to list the kinds of bad things that can and will happen along these awful lines. And those bad people are not my focus here either.

The third and final group for the purposes of this exercise are those who do good things, but when push comes to shove, it’s really about them. This is way more common than most of us want to ponder. And the entire reason I’m bringing up this issue is because so many people do this and don’t realize it. If they did think about it and realize what is happening, they might decide not to. That’s my hope here. And while it’s not my intention to offend, let me put a really fine point on it.

Coming from a church culture that loves mission trips, and having decades of direct experience working with missionaries world-wide who often receive these teams, I can report that the way many engage during short-term mission trips ends up unknowingly making it about themselves more than the people they are supposedly there to serve and love. The ways this happens can be subtle, but often it is not that subtle to those on the receiving end of the deal.

Some reading this will know exactly what I’m talking about. Others will have never even considered this dynamic as a possibility. It’s this realm I’m trying to highlight, because it happens in many of the same ways in the midst of disaster response efforts.

Fictional scenarios can sometimes feel uncomfortably real, striking a chord with those involved in disaster response. Yet, these examples can spark valuable reflection. Consider volunteers like social media influencers chasing dramatic photos to impress their followers, teams promoting unneeded services, or groups claiming territory and dismissing other responders they deem unnecessary. These attitudes are among the more obvious pitfalls in disaster relief efforts.

Awareness of these issues is a start, but it’s no guarantee against falling into similar traps in unexpected ways. That’s why qualities like humility, grace, patience, and genuine compassion are invaluable when helping others. They serve as a reminder to stay focused on the needs of those affected. Something worth keeping in mind as you prepare to serve.

 

And beyond this, let’s see what’s next!

J Matt Wallace