The city of Liberty Hill issued a disaster declaration due to damage caused by the flooding.
Posted July 5, 5:30 p.m.
Liberty Hill and Leander have established flood relief shelters in response to the severe flooding impacting the area.
The Red Cross has established a shelter at Cross Tracks Church at 101 Church Street in Liberty Hill, according to a news release from Williamson County. A shelter has also been set up at North Elementary School, 1840 Pleasant Hill Road in Leander.
The details
Williamson County Judge Steven Snell declared a countywide state of emergency on July 5. According to a news release, swift water rescue teams recovered 25 people, and Hope House in Liberty Hill has been evacuated.
Connie Odom, Williamson County Community and Media Relations Director, said that 27 roads have been closed, which can be viewed at atxfloods.com. Floodwaters destroyed a bridge at Rural Route 1869 near County Road 282, and more than a dozen roads have been closed due to flooding. The Rio Ancho neighborhood has been evacuated.
“We have had several rescues going on since last night, mostly from residences. Our Emergency Operations Center opened at 5 a.m. We have recommended evacuations of several areas, mostly mobile home parks, along the South Fork of the San Gabriel River. Due to the possibility of waters continuing to rise, we do not recommend people who evacuated return until daylight tomorrow,” Odom said in an email to Community Impact.
What else?
Governor Greg Abbott issued an expanded emergency declaration to include Bexar, Burnett, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson Counties. Abbott said during a July 5 press conference that he has contacted the federal government for disaster relief, and Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem confirmed that President Donald Trump is expected to approve the request.
