From Scissors to Survival: Texas Salon Owner Battles Deadly Flood Fallout

A dream shattered in stormy silence—just two weeks after its grand opening, Vintage Hair Co. in Ingram, Texas, lay ruined under waves of merciless floodwater. The July 4 deluge swept through Kerr County, claiming at least 95 lives and leaving over 170 missing in its unforgiving path. Yet, amid the wreckage, salon owner AJ Nelson turned from entrepreneur to first responder, joining hands in rescue missions. As Texas reels from one of its deadliest disasters, voices rise for improved flood warning systems—and the urgency for lasting protection grows louder.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

– AJ Nelson’s salon destroyed just 2 weeks after grand opening
– July 4 flooding kills at least 95, with 170+ missing in Kerr County
– 15 inches of rain makes this one of Texas’s deadliest natural disasters
– Nelson, a former firefighter, joins rescue efforts
– Texas lawmakers to debate flood warning systems in special session

In what was supposed to be a season of new beginnings, a devastating flood turned celebration into heartbreak for AJ Nelson. Her newly opened hair salon, Vintage Hair Co., had barely welcomed its first clients before nature brought it to its knees. Located in the small city of Ingram in Kerr County, Texas, Nelson’s business was among the many properties ravaged by the unprecedented July 4 flooding that now ranks as one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s recent history.

The scale of the tragedy is difficult to absorb. At least 95 people lost their lives, and more than 170 remain unaccounted for, with heavy rainfall—up to 15 inches in some areas—turning calm streets into rivers. Particularly heartbreaking is the fact that 36 of the victims were children, adding a layer of sorrow to the community’s struggle to recover.

Just days earlier, Nelson had been surrounded by balloons and congratulations. Her salon had opened its doors on June 21, the fulfillment of a long-held dream. But by the time the first week of July arrived, those same doors were sealed shut by thick layers of flood mud and debris.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
– Newly opened salon destroyed in July 4 flood disaster
– Over 95 dead and 170+ missing across Kerr County
– 15 inches of rain in some parts — 36 children among the deceased
– Owner AJ Nelson joins emergency response efforts
– Texas considers new flood alert systems in legislative session

Speaking to ABC News, Nelson described the surreal nature of the disaster and its immediate emotional impact.

“The community itself is still in shock. I know I am,”
Nelson said.
“This is overwhelming. Nothing like this have I ever seen living here.”

But despite her own loss, Nelson did not retreat. Drawing on her past experience as a member of the Ingram Volunteer Fire Department, she pivoted from small business owner to emergency responder without hesitation. As others struggled to understand what had happened, she reached for action.

“When I woke up Friday morning and couldn’t get to my business,”
she explained,
“my reaction was to call and say, ‘What do you need me to do?’”

In the middle of personal ruin, Nelson’s response was driven not by self-preservation but by duty. Helping others, she says, became a form of healing for herself.

“Staying busy has helped me get through this,”
she added.

While rescue operations continue and the mud is slowly cleared, attention is beginning to shift toward what comes next. For Nelson, that means facing difficult decisions about rebuilding. Her landlord, already engaged in restoration efforts, has begun stripping the building to its studs, applying bleach to disinfect the water-damaged interior. Still, the future is clouded by uncertainty.

“I fully intend on staying with my landlord,”
Nelson said.
“But there are some concerns about whether insurance will cover us again, and whether this could ever happen again in my lifetime.”

The conversation isn’t limited to individual recovery. Across Texas, officials are debating how to improve flood preparedness and response. The Texas Legislature is preparing for a special session, during which Governor Greg Abbott has included flood-related measures among his priority items. The question of how to better alert communities to rising waters is now front and center.

When asked about the need for a regional flood warning system, Nelson’s thoughts remained practical and forward-looking.

“I think a flood warning system would be a good choice,”
she said.
“Moving forward, there will be measures, one way or another, to protect our community.”

The city of Ingram, nestled in the heart of Kerr County, now faces the dual challenge of mourning and rebuilding. For residents like Nelson, the road ahead will not be easy. But her story serves as a symbol of the resilience communities like hers are capable of — rising, even as the waters fall.

As emergency crews continue their search and recovery efforts, the focus is also on legislative urgency and long-term solutions. The lives lost, including those of children, have transformed this event into more than just a weather-related tragedy. It is now a test of response, resilience, and readiness — and the question remains whether Texas will meet the moment.

As Kerr County continues to mourn its losses and wade through the wreckage, stories like AJ Nelson’s shine through the debris—quiet reminders of resilience, duty, and human grit. What began as a celebration of new beginnings was abruptly rewritten by a merciless flood, yet Nelson’s swift pivot from entrepreneur to emergency responder mirrors the spirit of a community refusing to surrender. As Texas lawmakers weigh future safeguards, the voices of those like Nelson echo a simple plea: protection, preparation, and the hope that no dream drowns unnoticed again.