LCRA, Bandera Electric Co-op award $9,607 grant to Concan Volunteer Fire Department

New swift-water rescue boat will improve emergency response on the Frio River

Nov. 25, 2025

LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative representatives present a $9,607 grant to the Concan Volunteer Fire Department for a new swift-water rescue boat. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: McKayla Soza, EMS driver; Justin Wills, VFD fire chief and EMS director; John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Charity Huber, BEC marketing and communications director; and Reagan Wofford, EMS captain and EMT.
UVALDE COUNTY, Texas – The Concan Volunteer Fire Department soon will purchase its first swift-water rescue boat to enhance its emergency response capabilities on the Frio River, thanks to a $9,607 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative.

The community grant, along with $2,402 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to purchase a specialized rescue boat so it can safely navigate the Frio River, a popular site for tourists during the summer tubing season.

“We are extremely grateful for this grant because it means our team can respond more quickly and safely when someone is in trouble on the Frio River,” said Cody Shockley, president of the Concan Volunteer Fire Department.

During the July 2025 Hill County flooding, the Frio River rose more than 18 feet. During the extreme flooding, the Concan VFD had to rely on outside agencies to cross the river to reach people in need.

“Having our own swift-water rescue boat allows us to train regularly and self-deploy without delay in situations where every minute counts,” Shockley said. “We’re grateful to have the tools that help keep our neighbors and visitors safe.”

The improved emergency response capabilities provided by the boat will help protect public health and promote continued community development.

The VFD covers approximately 107 square miles, including the Concan community, and provides mutual aid to surrounding areas in Uvalde and Real counties.

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bandera Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the Community Grants program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.

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