Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell and Gov. Greg Abbott held a joint press conference March 21 to discuss next steps following two confirmed tornados that touched down in the county.

The two leaders said representatives from the state, county and affected cities continue to sweep through the area to assess damage and begin administering aid. Williamson County also remains under a disaster declaration Abbott issued earlier this week for wildfires, and Gravell said he was preparing to sign an emergency declaration.

Additionally, Gravell said some portions of Williamson County—from Round Rock to the eastern portions of the county—could experience intentional power outages throughout the night to protect first responders and those working to repair downed power lines.

Gravell and Abbott cautioned residents to wait until Tuesday morning, March 22 to assess damage caused by the storm and warned residents to stay away from downed power lines, which could be deadly.

“There are a number of homes and a number of structures that have been damaged, and there are some that have been destroyed,” Gravell said. “It’s very difficult for us to quantify that until we can see it in the daylight.”

Gravell praised the response the city of Round Rock has initiated in the wake of the storm. One of the two confirmed tornadoes originated near the intersection of I-35 and SH 45 and moved through Round Rock, north of Kalahari Resorts and into Granger, Gravell said.

Gravell said the other hit northwest of Jarrell and caused damage to homes and outbuildings there. The National Weather Service will continue to review the storm and may provide information on other tornados, Gravell said.

In addition to two temporary shelters set up by the city of Round Rock, Williamson County also opened Sts. Cyril & Methodius Recreation Center at 500 W Davilla St., Granger, as a shelter.

Once residents are able to safely assess the property damage caused by the storm, Abbott said they can report it at https://damage.tdem.texas.gov. As of the evening of March 21, Abbott said no fatalities have been reported.


“The state is standing with the people of Williamson County shoulder to shoulder," Abbott said. “We know that you have faced a devastating storm ... with multiple tornadoes ripping through Williamson County alone. We know there are many people whose lives have been completely disrupted. People have lost their homes. Property damage is devastating. It’s a loss. But if you are alive, you can rebuild that property.”