In the wake of the catastrophic flooding that ravaged Central Texas in early July 2025, one name has emerged as an unexpected beacon of hope amidst the devastation: Greg Gutfeld, the sharp-witted television host known for his biting commentary on The Greg Gutfeld Show and The Five. Dubbed the “Flood Fairy” by grateful Houstonians, Gutfeld has traded his studio microphone for a paddle, navigating a small boat through the submerged streets of Houston to deliver aid and rescue stranded residents. His selfless actions have transformed him from a polarizing media figure into a local hero, proving that compassion can bridge even the deepest divides.

A City Under Water

On July 4, 2025, Central Texas was blindsided by a torrential downpour that unleashed unprecedented flooding along the Guadalupe River and its tributaries. Kerr County and the greater Houston area bore the brunt of the disaster, with the National Weather Service reporting that the river surged by 20 to 26 feet in just 90 minutes. The floods claimed at least 104 lives, including 27 children and staff from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp in Kerr County. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and entire communities were cut off from essential services as roads and bridges were washed away.

Houston, a city no stranger to flooding after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, faced a crisis of staggering proportions. Neighborhoods like Kingwood and Humble were inundated, with water reaching rooftops and forcing residents to seek refuge in attics or on makeshift rafts. Emergency services were stretched thin, and while the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas National Guard, and local first responders mounted heroic efforts—rescuing over 850 people, including 165 from Camp Mystic—many isolated pockets of the city remained unreachable.

It was into this chaos that Greg Gutfeld, a man better known for his sardonic humor than for hands-on heroism, stepped up in a way few could have predicted.

From Studio to Skiff: Gutfeld’s Mission

On July 5, as news of the disaster dominated headlines, Gutfeld was in Houston preparing for a live taping of his show at the Smart Financial Center in Sugar Land. But as reports of the flooding’s severity poured in, he canceled the event, citing a need to “do something that matters.” According to eyewitnesses, Gutfeld was seen at a local sporting goods store that morning, purchasing a small inflatable boat and a pair of oars. By noon, he was loading the boat with cases of bottled water and bags of bread—basic supplies he’d bought in bulk from a nearby grocery store.

“I’m not a first responder, and I’m not trying to play one on TV,” Gutfeld told a local reporter as he prepared to launch his boat into the murky waters off FM 1960 in Humble. “But I’ve got two hands, a boat, and a loud mouth. If I can get a few people to safety or bring them a bottle of water, that’s a better use of my time than sitting in a green room.”

Armed with little more than determination and a dry sense of humor, Gutfeld paddled into the hardest-hit areas of North Houston, where entire subdivisions had been transformed into a labyrinth of flooded streets and debris. Residents described him as a surreal sight: a bespectacled television personality in a soaked T-shirt, steering his tiny boat between submerged cars and fallen trees, calling out to stranded families with offers of water, food, or a ride to dry land.

Acts of Compassion in a Sea of Despair

One of the first people Gutfeld encountered was Maria Alvarez, a single mother of three whose home in the Northwood Pines neighborhood had been flooded up to the second floor. Trapped on her roof with her children for nearly 24 hours, Alvarez had lost hope of rescue until she heard Gutfeld’s voice shouting, “Hey, anybody up there need a sandwich or a bad joke?”

“He was like something out of a movie,” Alvarez recounted, tears welling in her eyes. “He tied his boat to our chimney, climbed up, and handed us water and bread. Then he got us all into his boat, one by one, and took us to a shelter at Humble High School. He didn’t have to do that, but he did.”

Over the next three days, Gutfeld made dozens of trips into flooded neighborhoods, ferrying supplies and evacuating residents. He worked tirelessly, often paddling for hours in the rain to reach isolated homes. Locals began calling him the “Flood Fairy” after he was spotted tying bottles of water to mailboxes and fence posts for those who couldn’t be reached immediately, leaving notes that read, “Hang in there—help’s coming.”

One particularly harrowing rescue involved the Thompson family, who were stranded in their attic in Kingwood after their home was swept off its foundation. Gutfeld, guided by a neighbor’s tip, navigated through a tangle of power lines and debris to reach them. Using a rope he’d brought along, he secured his boat and helped the family—parents James and Lisa, their two teenage daughters, and their elderly dog—climb aboard.

“Greg was cracking jokes the whole time, trying to keep us calm,” James Thompson said. “He said something about how he’d trade his Emmy for a dry pair of socks. But you could see in his eyes he was dead serious about getting us out.”

A Community Rallies Around a New Hero

Gutfeld’s efforts did not go unnoticed. Social media platforms, particularly X, lit up with stories of his rescues, with users sharing photos and videos of the TV host hauling supplies or helping elderly residents into his boat. A hashtag, #FloodFairy, began trending locally, and a GoFundMe page was launched to support his efforts, raising over $50,000 in 48 hours to purchase more boats and supplies for other volunteers.

Local businesses also stepped up. A Houston-based bakery donated hundreds of loaves of bread, and a bottled water distributor provided thousands of gallons for Gutfeld’s missions. Even his colleagues at Fox News, including co-host Tom Shillue, joined him on July 7, forming an impromptu flotilla of small boats to expand the rescue efforts.

“Greg’s always been a guy who says what he thinks, but this is him doing what he believes,” Shillue said. “He’s not here for the cameras. He’s here because people need help.”

Challenges and Criticism

Despite his heroics, Gutfeld’s actions were not without controversy. Some local officials cautioned that untrained civilians like Gutfeld risked complicating organized rescue efforts, citing instances where well-meaning volunteers had inadvertently blocked access for professional responders. Kerr County officials issued a statement urging the public to avoid conducting independent searches, emphasizing the dangers of navigating floodwaters filled with hidden hazards like downed power lines and floating debris.

Gutfeld acknowledged the concerns but defended his actions. “I’m not trying to play Superman,” he said in a brief interview with KHOU 11. “I’m staying out of the professionals’ way, going to places they haven’t reached yet. If I can help one family, it’s worth the risk.”

Others criticized Gutfeld’s high-profile involvement as a publicity stunt, pointing to his history of provocative commentary. But those who witnessed his work firsthand dismissed such claims. “He wasn’t posing for selfies or calling in a camera crew,” said Maria Alvarez. “He was soaked, exhausted, and covered in mud, just like the rest of us. That’s not a stunt—that’s heart.”

A Lasting Impact

By July 8, 2025, as the floodwaters began to recede and professional rescue operations gained ground, Gutfeld quietly stepped back, handing off his boat to a local volunteer group. He declined most interview requests, saying only, “The real heroes are the Coast Guard, the National Guard, and the people who’ve lost everything but are still helping their neighbors. I’m just a guy with a boat.”

Yet his impact on Houston’s flood-ravaged communities is undeniable. Estimates suggest Gutfeld directly assisted over 100 people, providing supplies to dozens of households and evacuating at least 30 families to safety. His actions inspired countless others to volunteer, contributing to a groundswell of community support that has bolstered official relief efforts.

The “Flood Fairy” moniker may fade, but for the people of Houston, Greg Gutfeld’s transformation from TV provocateur to grassroots rescuer will be remembered as a testament to the power of individual action in the face of overwhelming tragedy. As Maria Alvarez put it, “He showed up when we needed him most. That’s not just a fairy tale—that’s what heroes do.”