Floodwaters left widespread damage to homes across Northwest Travis County. (Sam Schaffer/Community Impact)
After deadly flooding left uprooted trees, wrecked homes and washed up debris across parts of Northwest Travis County over the Fourth of July weekend, County Commissioners approved an extension to the local disaster declaration July 8.
“This is going to be a long recovery,” Commissioner Ann Howard said.
The update
Travis County Judge Andy Brown emphasized the critical role of emergency responders in saving lives during the floods and announced that additional search and rescue teams were deployed the morning of July 8.
As of Tuesday morning, seven fatalities have been confirmed in Travis County, and 10 people remain missing, a news release states.
What residents should know
Flood victims in need of immediate supplies, can stop by three local locations to pick up recovery kits from H-E-B pop-up distribution centers:
Leander: Round Mountain Baptist Church
14500 Round Mountain Road., Leander
8 a.m.-5 p.m., July 8 - until further notice
Liberty Hill Middle School
13125 SH 29, Liberty Hill
10 a.m.-5 p.m., July 8 - until further notice
Burnet Train Depot Parking Lot
401 E Jackson St., Burnet
8 a.m.-5 p.m., July 8 - until further notice
At all three sites, volunteers are distributing water, snacks, first aid kits, cleaning supplies, gift cards and more to flood-impacted communities, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. H-E-B is also providing meals to rescue workers and first responders.
AT&T will be establishing a Wi-Fi hotspot at the Round Mountain Baptist Church distribution center, as reception in the area can be “spotty.” UFCU is also onsite to help impacted residents locate important documents that may have been displaced or lost in the flooding event. Local mental health care provider Integral Care is available for those in need of support.
The American Red Cross is also assisting residents in the area by providing shelter, food and essential supplies, as well as emotional support and help with recovery planning. Those interested can call 1-800-733-2767.
Moving forward
As floodwaters recede, Brown noted that work will begin shifting to long-term recovery.
County executives from the Office of Emergency Management and other involved department heads highlighted several resources available for residents impacted.
Commissioners approved an immediate transfer of $4 million from the emergency reserve to provide liquid funding for immediate needs in the area.
Until further notice, fees at the FM 1431 Citizens Collection Center will be waived, where impacted residents can drop off household trash.
This collection center is located at 2625 Woodall Drive, Leander. The current hours are Thursday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-3:50 p.m.
Additionally, the county will be partnering with a third party contractor to assist in debris removal.
Travis County will be contracting with a third party to large scale debris removal after severe flooding over the Fourth of July weekend. (Sam Schaffer/Community Impact)
Residents in affected unincorporated areas are asked to separate debris into categories like large appliances, construction debris and vegetative debris and place them curbside without blocking any roadway, right-of-way or access to property.
More information on preparing for curbside debris pickup will be available after a contract with a vendor is finalized, according to the county’s news release.
A burn ban is also in effect from July 8–Aug. 5 for Northwest Travis County, including areas along Big Sandy Creek, Cow Creek, and other flood-impacted low-lying zones.
Travis County Fire Marshal Gary Howell recommended the ban to reduce fire risks from flood debris and support ongoing search and rescue operations.
This ban on outdoor burning does not affect prescribed burns conducted under the supervision of a prescription burn manager. It also does not affect outdoor welding, cutting or grinding operations, and outdoor hot works operations conducted under county safety guidelines.
Items worth mentioning
Officials encourage locals to document damages to homes and property as state and federal dollars may be available under local and state disaster declarations.
Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources crews have been on the ground since the weekend, inspecting county-maintained roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to assess damage and ensure public safety.
As of Tuesday, the status of county maintained roads is as follows:
Round Mountain Pass (Highwater) - Closed
Big Sandy Lane (Highwater) - Closed
Windy Valley Road (Highwater) - Opened
Fulkes Road (Highwater) - Opened
Live Oak Road (Highwater) - Opened
Long Hollow Road (Highwater) - Opened
Fawn Drive (Highwater) - Opened
Juniper Trail (Highwater) - Closed
River Fern Court (Highwater) - Closed
Cottonwood Street (Highwater) - Closed
Daffan Lane (Highwater) - Opened
Decker Lake Road (Highwater) - Opened
Round Mountain Road at Big Sandy Lane (Damaged Bridge) - Closed
Nameless Road at Travisso (Highwater) - Closed
Residents who notice damage to county roads that haven’t yet been assessed by TNR can call 512-854-9433 to report it.
Status of other roads not under the jurisdiction of Travis County may be found at www.atxfloods.com.
Several roads in Northwest Travis County were left impassable after intense flooding. (Sam Schaffer/Community Impact)
Rebuilding
Commissioners approved a motion that eliminates permitting fees for those seeking to rebuild.
“We certainly don't want to increase the hardship that [residents] are going through,” Floodplain project manager Shawn Snyder said.
Residents in the impacted areas will need to show proof that their insurance will not pay for the fee in order to get it waived. Additional information about Travis County’s permitting process can be found on the county’s permitting website.
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