Burnet County extends flood disaster declaration to Sept. 4
Some of the living units at the Burnet Housing Authority had entire walls blown out by floodwaters from Hamilton Creek. Courtesy photo by Tanner Swope
The Burnet County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, Aug. 5, voted to extend its disaster declaration for the recent flood to Sept. 4.
The county has been under the declaration since July 4 and will likely remain so until victims who lost their homes are rehoused, according to Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio.
“Once we get folks into longer-term housing, that would justify possibly lifting the declaration,” he told DailyTrib.com.
Marchio explained that the official disaster declaration is necessary to keep the door open to state and federal support for Burnet County flood victims.
While the floodwaters receded within days of the disaster, recovery efforts are still well underway across the county.
Ark of Highland Lakes and Burnet County Emergency Management have identified over 400 long-term recovery cases that still need assistance.
Some flood victims, like the 45 who lived at the Burnet Housing Authority, might have to wait weeks or months before they are permanently rehoused.
According to Marchio, the county will likely reassess the disaster declaration every 30 days until all victims are able to return home.
“We’re still very much in the early steps of recovery,” he said.