BTU Linemen Answer the Call in Response to Historic Flooding

A BTU truck and crew assists with disaster recovery in the Texas Hill Country

July 4, 2025, a day that should have been filled with celebration, time with family, and rest, will forever be etched into the minds of Texans for far more infamous reasons. What began as a holiday weekend retreat, yearly trip to camp, or a normal Thursday night forever changed the lives of thousands.

In the wake of devastating flash flooding in the Texas Hill Country that left over 130 dead and thousands more without essential services, many around the state and nation were looking for ways to help. For six of our BTU linemen, the mission was clear: use the skills built from their everyday job to get power restored and rescue operations moving in the hardest-hit areas.

Group photo of BTU linemen that responded to floods in the Texas Hill Country

Pictured above: the six BTU linemen who responded to the flash flood emergency in Kerr County on July 5. From left to right: Fernando Vega, Braden Hobson, Brandon Welch, Ritchie Ledesma, Eric Stephens, and Ruben Patino

The crew arrived in Kerrville on the afternoon of July 5 and immediately got to work in areas where search and rescue operations were underway.

“As soon as we started to enter where the flood came through, the amount of damage was like nothing I had seen before in my life,” BTU Lineman Brandon Welch said. “The first job we did was a three-phase broken pole that needed to be replaced, and no sooner than setting up the trucks we learned that there was a fatality that occurred in that residence.”

Linemen are no strangers to responding to dangerous situations, such as typical outages caused by thunderstorms, but experiencing the disaster firsthand was still jarring. It was lineman Ruben Patino’s first time responding in disaster assistance, and he was devastated seeing the damage for himself. 

“As a lineman, you don’t know what to expect,” Patino said. “You have to be mentally prepared for any situation you encounter while driving to your job site and while you are working. You have to identify the hazards in your area and also watch your and your coworkers’ backs.”

In spite of those hazards, and other dangers that presented themselves throughout the four days of work on the ground, the team knew their skills were providing desperately-needed help.

“In tough situations, I’m reminded why I do this work in the first place,” lineman Braden Hobson said. “It’s not just about restoring power; it’s about restoring hope. Being able to use my skills to help people when they need it most is incredibly rewarding, and I’m motivated by the chance to make a real difference.”

“[Being] a lineman is not just about building or repairing power lines,” Patino added. “A lineman is there to help people out when something devastating happens and in times of need.” 

As a public utility, it is our duty to come to the aid of our neighbors, especially our fellow public utilities like the Kerrville Public Utility Board, in times of crisis. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Texas Hill Country, and everyone affected by the disastrous flooding as they continue to recover, rebuild, and remember loved ones that were lost. If you would like to donate to on-going relief efforts, visit communityfoundation.net to contribute to the Hill Country Community Foundation.