Travis County Judge Declares Region Disaster Area

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Travis County Judge on Thursday proclaimed the region as a disaster area in light of the continued threat of more flooding, beseeching the governor to make state and federal aid available when needed.

In a formal letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt alerted of the disaster-prone areas following an assessment of the landscape and forecasts for even more rain to come. A wide swath of Central Texas has been hammered by heavy rain this week, creating severe flooding in many areas. While Travis County has been spared the full force of the storms, forming storm systems arriving from the Gulf of Mexico threaten to wreak havoc locally in dumping more rain on an already-saturated landscape.

What's more, the Lower Colorado River Authority has gradually been opening floodgates to relieve overburdened dams filled to capacity, potentially unleashing man-made torrents on those living near major bodies of water. On Thursday, LCRA officials scheduled to open additional floodgates at the rain-swollen Lake Travis reservoir have alerted residents in the area to safeguard their property and themselves ahead of the ensuing runoff.

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"Beginning on Oct. 16, 2018, and continuing into the foreseeable future, the County of Travis began suffering severe damage and loss of property resulting from flood waters adjacent to the Colorado River, Lake Travis, and other watersheds" Eckhard wrote in her letter. "After an extensive survey, the County Judge of the County of Travis has deed that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of persons and to rehabilitate property."

Then, the judge lowers the boom: "Be it proclaimed that I, County Judge of County of Travis, do hereby declare a state of local disaster based on flooding for the County of Travis."

The declaration sparks two immediate measures:

• "Be it also proclaimed that the appropriate recovery and rehabilitation aspects of the Travis County Emergency Management Plan are hereby activated as provided in this plan and the furnishing of aid and assistance is authorized by this declaration."
• "Be it also proclaimed that the state of local disaster shall continue for not more than seven days after of the date of this declaration, unless it is continued by consent of the Commissioners Court of the County of Travis, state of Texas."

The proclamation took effect immediately following its issuance, the judge noted.

Apart from the official proclamation, Eckhardt sent the governor less formal correspondence detailing the situation from ground level. Already, the judge noted in the letter, the county suffered severe damage an loss of property resulting from rising flood waters adjacent to the Coloraod River, Lake Travis and other watersheds.

"Numerous homes around Lake Travis have flooded or are expected to flood as the water continues to rise while the Lower Colorado River Authority moves record amounts of water through the highland lakes of the Colorado River in Travis County," Eckhardt wrote. "The National Weather Service forecasts additional rain in the Colorado River watershed for the next several days that will contribute to flood waters."

She detailed how county roadways have been closed near Lake Travis due to inundation from flood water, noting how additional impacts currently being studied as the weather event continues to develop. "Travis County and jurisdictions within Travis County expect to incur significant costs associated with debris removal and road repair once the water begins to recede," Eckhardt added.

Having assessed the damage, Eckhardt asked the governor to be prepared in making relief available, suggesting their imminent need.

"While response operations are still underway, it is my belief that damage to homes, businesses, public infrastructure and property due to rain and flood water constitutes a potential public health and safety hazard," Eckhardt wrote. "I have determined the incident will be of such severity that effective recovery will be beyond Travis County's capability without state and/or federal assistance. Additionally, I certify that Travis County does not have local funding available to make the needed repairs and to provide these citizens effective relief."

Eckhardt's move comes after a previous disaster area declaration by the governor himself. Following recent heavy rains that induced flooding across a wide region, Abbott issued a disaster declaration covering 18 counties, including Travis and Williamson in the immediate area. Other counties covered in that declaration are: Bastrop, Burnet, Colorado, Fayette, Hood, Jim Wells, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Live Oak, Llano, Mason, McMullen, Nueces, Real and San Patricio.

"Texas is taking immediate action to respond to the threat of recent severe weather and flooding across the state," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "We have made available all necessary resources to respond as quickly and effectively as possible to this disaster, and to assist those in harm's way. I thank all the first responders and local officials on the ground in these communities for their efforts to assist fellow Texans during this dangerous event."

To read the governor's full state disaster declaration, click here.

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