Marble Falls VFD chief still missing; county OKs disaster response measures
Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd gave an update on the search for the final missing victim of the flood, Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips, during the July 8 meeting of the Burnet County Commissioners Court. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
As of Tuesday, July 8, Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips is the only known missing flood victim in Burnet County. The body of another victim was found Monday night, bringing the county’s confirmed death total to five.
Chief Phillips was one of the first people to go missing when Burnet County began to flood on July 5. He was reportedly attempting to cross Cow Creek on FM 1174 in response to a distress call when he was swept away in his vehicle.
“Where he went in the water is one of the most difficult places to get to,” Sheriff Calvin Boyd told the Burnet County Commissioners Court during its Tuesday meeting. “We located his vehicle and some personal items. We just have not located him yet, but we’re not going to stop until we do. I feel confident that we will find him.”
Only one of the five confirmed dead has been identified by law enforcement: 22-year-old Preston Prince. Another victim, Lee Brizendine of Burnet, was reported dead by family and friends, including in an interview with DailyTrib.com. The identities of three remaining victims have not been officially released by law enforcement.
Local first responders and more than a dozen assisting state and federal agencies made at least 62 successful rescues in Burnet County over the Fourth of July weekend.
EMERGENCY MEASURES APPROVED
During its Tuesday meeting, the Burnet County Commissioners Court approved an emergency addendum to take rapid action on the county’s flood damage response. Normally, open government meetings require 72 hours’ notice for an agenda item to be included, but in the case of emergencies, this rule can be bypassed to include necessary response measures.
Commissioners approved the following:
- extending the July 5 disaster declaration to Aug. 5;
- several donations (and future donations), including 5,000 tons of road base from Texas Materials, the use of a helicopter from Allied Services in recovery efforts, all food and water from all sources, and mutual aid from other government agencies and entities;
- a measure that allows county employees to enter private property during cleanup efforts as long as they obtain permission from the property owner;
- and spending up to $1 million from the county fund balance on aid for overtime hours amassed by county employees during the flood response and cleanup, emergency contracts with outside contractors for protective measures and cleanup, contracts for debris management, and the purchase or rental of equipment or supplies for debris cleanup and repair of county roadways.
Burnet County also approved naming Ark of Highland Lakes as its “fiduciary agent for long-term disaster recovery.” This means monetary donations for flood response efforts will be funneled through Ark of Highland Lakes, which Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson explained was better equipped for the response.
“(The county) is not really set up to (accept and distribute donations),” Wilson said.
Ark of Highland Lakes, formerly known as the Highland Lakes Crisis Network, was formed in 2018 in response to another major flood. It started as a small coalition of churches that helped with flood and disaster response but has since grown into a network of organizations and volunteers that are ready to respond to disasters and community crises.
“We’re just trying to coordinate everybody’s goodwill,” said Ark of Highland Lakes Executive Director Kevin Naumann.
Ark volunteers were providing aid within hours of the July 4 weekend flood, and they have already begun assisting with cleanup and food distribution across the Highland Lakes.
Learn more about Ark of Highland Lakes resources for people impacted by the flood and how to donate or volunteer at arkofhighlandlakes.org.