How to Talk to Your Children About the Kerrville Flooding

In the wake of the devastating flooding in Kerrville, many families

across Texas are feeling a mixture of heartbreak, confusion, and

concern. As adults, we are doing our best to process the tragedy but

for our children, the event can feel especially confusing and scary.

There’s no perfect way to talk about tragedies like this. But one

thing we do know: kids are less afraid of the truth than they are of

not knowing what’s going on. When they sense something big has

happened, and we don't talk about it, their imaginations can fill in

the blanks in ways that are far scarier than reality.

If your child asks what’s going on, keep your explanation simple,

honest, and age appropriate. You might say:

“Something unusual happened and the rain came down faster than anyone

thought it would. Then, the adults tried to help, but some kids could

not stay alive in the water. This almost never ever happens. There are

still lots of rescuers looking for people.”

or

“There is no easy way to explain what has happened, but I am going to

do my best. This happened very suddenly, and it was scary and

unexpected. We are safe, we are all okay and will continue to be okay.

It is normal to feel scared right now.”

Children may have seen or heard about the tragedy through the news,

social media, or friends. Use language like “what we know” when

sharing updates and clarify what’s fact versus rumor. If they’re

asking questions, it means they’re ready to hear real but

appropriately filtered information. It's better that they hear it from

you, a trusted adult, than from other kids or the internet.

Name Your Own Emotions

It’s okay and even beneficial for children to see you express your

emotions. If you're tearful or upset, you can say:

“Yes, you’re seeing Mommy cry. I am sad because of the flood. We

are safe, and I am sad. Both are true.”

This teaches children that it’s okay to feel many things at once:

sadness, safety, fear, love. It also shows them how to be open and

brave with their own feelings.

How Much Information is Too Much?

While it’s important to be honest, it’s also important to limit

overexposure. That means:

• Turning off the TV or news notifications around young children.

• Avoiding rehashing the event around them repeatedly.

• Giving them answers to questions but not overwhelming them with

details they didn’t ask for.

Other helpful tips when talking to your child:

•  Validate emotions. “It’s okay to be sad,” or “It’s okay

to be confused.”

•  Avoid false reassurances. Say “This almost never happens”

instead of “This will never happen again.”

Let their questions guide the conversation. If they stop asking,

that’s okay, you’ve opened the door. Keep checking in gently.

Your children don’t need you to have all the answers. They need to

know they’re safe, that their feelings are okay, and that you’re

there to hold them, listen to them, and help them make sense of a world

that sometimes doesn’t make sense.

It’s okay to say, “I don’t

know why this happened,” or “I feel sad too.”

You are not alone.

in this.