Burnet County properties damaged in the Fourth of July flood could qualify for tax relief.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott included Burnet County in a state disaster declaration July 5, which opened the door to potential property-tax exemptions for those impacted by the flood.

To qualify for the exemption, damage must equal at least 15 percent of the property’s overall designated 2025 market value.

The deadline to file for property tax relief in Burnet County is Oct. 20.

The form can be found and filled out online here. Completed forms may be emailed to info@burnetad.org. Contact the Burnet Central Appraisal District at 512-756-8291 with any questions.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Burnet County was added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration on Friday, July 11, meaning local governments, residents, and property owners can file for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover damages from the Fourth of July flood.

Burnet County joins Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green Travis, and Williamson counties in the declaration.

“President Donald Trump approved my request to add more counties to his disaster declaration, which will provide critical assistance to Texans and communities impacted by the devastating flooding,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a Friday media release. “There has been extraordinary collaboration with the state and the federal government to make sure that we address Texans’ needs as quickly as possible through disaster assistance programs. The State of Texas will continue to work with our federal and local partners to provide impacted Texans with the support they need to heal and recover.”

Burnet County has been eyeing inclusion in the federal disaster declaration since damage calculations and assessments began immediately following the flood July 5. Kerr County was the only county initially included in the declaration on July 6.

With the new designation, Burnet County residents can now file for FEMA assistance through the disaster assistance portal online or by calling 800-621-3362. 

Residents, property owners, and business owners can also continue to file damage assessments through the Texas Division of Emergency Management iSTAT system online.

Learn more about the TDEM process in the July 9 DailyTrib.com story “Burnet County seeks federal aid, disaster declaration; residents should take action.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

“I’ve completely lost my house,” Hubert Davis told DailyTrib.com as he arrived at the Ark of Highland Lakes Warehouse in Marble Falls on Thursday, July 10. “As of now, I’m just trying to figure out what to do.”

Davis’ home in Deer Springs was destroyed by Fourth of July floodwaters that swept across Central Texas and the Highland Lakes. Many of his neighbors in the Burnet County neighborhood near Hoover’s Valley shared the same fate.

On July 5, after a long day of work and driving his mother home from the hospital, Davis went to bed at around 3 a.m., only to be woken up by water lapping at his face at around 4:30 a.m. With his home flooded, he had to leave everything behind to make it to safety. 

Left with no possessions, but still working his job at the Hidden Falls Golf Course in Meadowlakes, Davis turned to Ark of Highland Lakes for help.

“I’m just needing clothes right now to continue back and forth to work, some food,” he said. “Any type of help to get back to normal.”

Davis is also getting support from the Community Resource Centers of Texas, which is paying for motel rooms for Highland Lakes flood victims. 

The cost and impact of the flood on Burnet County is still being calculated, but at least five people were killed locally, one is still missing, and Ark of Highland Lakes has identified 111 victims needing long-term support. The Cow Creek bridge on RR 1431 between Marble Falls and Lago Vista as well as homes and businesses along Hamilton Creek have been destroyed, and more reports of damage are coming in by the day.

In the face of so much destruction, the Highland Lakes community did not wither.

Since Sunday, an estimated 200 volunteers per day have dedicated their time at the Ark Warehouse, 800 Industrial Blvd in Marble Falls, which is serving as a donation hub for much of the supplies being funneled into Burnet County from across Texas and beyond. Literal tons of food, cleaning supplies, clothes, hygiene products, and other essentials are being organized, distributed, and given away by Ark volunteers.

“People come through here that have lost everything,” Ark Hospitality Administrator Angie Martinez told DailyTrib.com, while working at the Warehouse. “We supply them with clothes, with cleaning supplies, with food, with anything they need. This hit home. It’s hard; we’ve heard some hard stories. We have some people who lost people in Kerrville and here.”

Martinez and other volunteers have been working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the Warehouse to make sure donations sent to the county are put to the best use. Some help sort food, some load trucks destined for work sites across the area, others cook meals for first responders, and even more do whatever needs to be done.

“The thing that is great about being here and being a part of this is that nobody is talking about politics, nobody is yelling at each other. Every single person, regardless of who they are, is here with one question: How can I help?” said Ark volunteer Alex Payson.

Ark of Highland Lakes also has around nine, trained muck-out teams deployed across Burnet County, cleaning and clearing homes impacted by the flood, and a second distribution center at First Christian Church, 204 E. Graves St. in Burnet. 

“We are overwhelmed with joy and are just happy that we live in this community like this,” Martinez said. 

Assistance is also coming from outside of the community. Martinez was choked with tears as she recounted the delivery of five trailers of supplies all at once from out of state.

“I couldn’t hold it anymore and I just broke down,” she said. “It’s a happy joy to see the love that was shown, and I pray that every day that love will continue.”

On Thursday, members of Lake Church in Horseshoe Bay were stationed at the Ark Warehouse, cooking meals for the dozens of volunteers and first responders in the field. They were joined by the North Texas BBQ Addicts, a group of friends who converged on Marble Falls to lend their smokers and support.

According to Martinez and volunteer Payson, Ark of Highland Lakes is in it for the long haul. 

“The recovery side of things will take weeks, or months,” Payson said. “(Flood victims) may not be ready for it today, but a month from today, they will be rebuilding and we’ll be there to help.”

Ark has been the primary hub of flood relief efforts in Burnet County, even being designated as the county’s fiduciary agent for all monetary donations, but it is far from the only organization stepping up.

Elevate Church in Marble Falls has been working tirelessly since July 5 to distribute resources and offer helping hands across Burnet County and other impacted areas in the Hill Country. Church volunteers especially made use of donated resource kits from God’s Pit Crew, a national disaster response organization.

The Marble Falls FFA collected and donated a trailer full of supplies and gift cards to Ark for flood relief.

Dairy Queen in Marble Falls donated 100 percent of proceeds on Thursday to flood relief.

H-E-B in Burnet gave away free disaster relief kits immediately after the flood and still had some available on Friday.

The Llano Yellow Jackets barbecue team hosted a fundraiser on Friday for flood victims. They reportedly sold out of food within hours and raised more than $7,000.

Oaks Nursing Center in Burnet hosted its own barbecue fundraiser on Friday with all proceeds going to the family of Preston Prince, a 22-year-old flood victim from Kingsland.

Save the World Brewing Co. in Marble Falls hosts a fundraiser Saturday, July 12, with 100 percent of taproom sales going to Ark of Highland Lakes.

Kingsland’s Sharing the Harvest food pantry is setting up a mobile pantry of free food and hygiene products from 4-6 p.m. Monday, July 14, at the Kingsland Community Center, 3451 Rose Hill Drive.

First Methodist Church of Marble Falls is hosting a support session for parents to speak with their children about the flood devastation at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15.

The Hill Country Humane Society, 9150 RR 1431 in Buchanan Dam, is giving away free pet food and supplies to flood victims from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

If your organization or business is helping with flood relief efforts in the Highland Lakes, leave a comment below with details about how people can assist or receive help.

To donate or get help from Ark of Highland Lakes, visit its website, call 325-423-3662, or head to the Warehouse at 800 Industrial Blvd. from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Most Burnet County roads are back in working order following the devastation of the Fourth of July flood. Notable exceptions are two low-water crossings on County Road 340 and CR 341 on Hamilton Creek and the Cow Creek bridge on Ranch Road 1431 just across the Burnet-Travis county line.

Burnet County and Texas Department of Transportation crews were working overtime to repair and clear roads and highways following the extreme flooding that took place across the Highland Lakes from July 4-6.

TxDOT crews were immediately dispatched after the flood to clear debris and repair damage to Park Road 4, FM 1174, RM 243, and RM 963. These routes are all now passable.

“The response from TxDOT and county road and bridge has been incredible in a time like this,” said Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle. “They all put their heads down and got the work done.”

While most flood-damaged roads and crossings are usable, some could still be a challenge without a four-wheel-drive or all-terrain vehicle. Burnet County road and bridge crews will spend next week smoothing out the impacted areas, according to Precinct 3 Commissioner Chad Collier.

“It’s been steady progress,” he told DailyTrib.com. “Most everything is passable.”

The destroyed low-water crossings on CR 340 and 341 could take some time to rebuild as the projects will require a collaboration with TxDOT and engineering firms before work can be done.

The largest project looming is the Cow Creek bridge on RR 1431, which connects Marble Falls to Lago Vista, Cedar Park, and beyond. 

“The bridge at RR 1431 and Cow Creek was completely wiped out by floodwaters,” reads a statement from TxDOT to DailyTrib.com in a response to emailed questions. “Our team is actively working on the design and securing a contractor to begin reconstruction as soon as possible. We understand the enormous impact to travel following these devastating floods, and repairing our roadways is a top priority for TxDOT. We appreciate the public’s patience and resilience as we move forward.”

Currently, there is no timeline for when the bridge will be restored.

dakota@thepicayune.com

KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune is back on the air July 10 after repairs were made to equipment that was damaged over the July 4 weekend by extreme weather.

You can also tune in to your favorite KBEY programming at KBEYFM.com.

Severe weather on July 5 damaged an essential piece of KBEY broadcasting equipment, taking the station off the air until Thursday.

KBEY and DailyTrib.com are both part of Victory Media. The family-owned company is based in Marble Falls and also produces The Picayune Magazine, 101 Fun Things to do in the Highland Lakes magazine, 101HighlandLakes.com, Locals Love Us, and other special publications.

dakota@thepicayune.com

As of Thursday, July 10, over 62 planes have flown in supplies to the Burnet Municipal Airport for distribution to flood victims across the Highland Lakes, and more are inbound. Pilots with Operation Airdrop have been volunteering on flood supply missions since 7 a.m. Sunday.

Operation Airdrop, founded in 2017 in response to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, is a network of pilots and aviation enthusiasts from across the country that responds to disasters via planes, getting vital supplies as quickly as possible to where they’re needed the most. 

“The response from the aviation community during these deployments is incredible,” Operation Airdop Executive Director Russ Keith told DailyTrib.com over the roar of a jet engine on the Burnet airport runway. “(The devastation from the flood) touched a lot of heartstrings. When you start talking about missing kids, people take notice, and they want to get involved.”

Kerr County suffered the brunt of flood damage, with dozens of missing and dead, including 27 young campers and counselors from Camp Mystic. 

In Burnet County, five people have been confirmed dead due to the flood, including 17-year-old Malaya Hammond of Marble Falls and 22-year-old Preston Prince of Kingsland. Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips is still missing as of Thursday.

Some of the Operation Airdrop pilots are Texas natives, like Robert Greene and Marty Fass, who flew in from San Marcos with a load of cleaning supplies Thursday. Others are from out of state, including Brent Fontana, who arrived from Arkansas the same day.

The supplies delivered to the Burnet Municipal Airport were distributed to Ark of Highland Lakes, which is organizing local relief efforts, and people in need across Burnet County. Operation Airdrop also provided at least 8,000 gallons of diesel for work crews using heavy equipment to clear debris.

“My heart goes out to (the community). Anything we can do, just let us know,” said Keith, the operation’s executive director.

Operation Airdrop will continue to run missions and donate monetarily in the Highland Lakes area until there is no longer a need, according to Keith.

Members of the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force have been volunteering for 12-plus hours a day since Operation Airdrop arrived, lending their Burnet hangar as a base of operations to the nonprofit pilots.

“The CAF Highland Lakes Squadron are incredible people. We couldn’t have done it without them,” Keith said.

dakota@thepicayune.com

A candlelight vigil for Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips is 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 11, at the station, 606 Avenue U. Phillips is the last known missing person from Burnet County following the Fourth of July flood.

The Marble Falls VFD held another vigil for Phillips on Wednesday evening.

“At this time, we simply do not have the words to express our deep gratitude for the outpouring of support and resources we’ve received during the ongoing search for Chief Phillips,” reads a July 8 statement from the department. “We will continue the search for Chief Phillips with unwavering determination. Please keep us in your thoughts, and we will share any updates as soon as we are able.”

Phillips went missing July 5 after being swept away by floodwaters in his vehicle at Cow Creek while on a rescue call. His vehicle and other personal effects have been found. The search for Phillips was still ongoing as of noon Thursday.

Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Mike Sorenson told DailyTrib.com that more search teams are being assembled and the BCSO hopes to soon gain access to ground-penetrating sonar and underwater drones. Searchers are already using at least a dozen dogs, helicopters, horses, ATVs, and more in their search for Phillips. 

The bodies of five other flood victims in Burnet County have been recovered, making Phillips the last known missing person.

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Burnet County Commissioners Court hopes to meet with legal counsel July 22 to determine what, if anything, can be done to alter the proposed course of a massive transmission line project through the northern part of the county.

The law firm scheduled to meet with the court in executive session July 8 canceled at the last minute, the matter was tabled, and Burnet County general counsel Randy Leavitt was tasked with finding a new firm by the July 22 meeting.

Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson recused himself from the court’s July 8 decision and discussion of the project, stating:

“Today, I am going to recuse myself even though there is no evidence or chance that I will receive a direct financial benefit from any financial action being considered by this Commissioners Court action to represent the county or all residents for the county until I can complete research and obtain more information. 

“I will choose not to participate in this executive session today.”

Judge Wilson told DailyTrib.com that one of the proposed transmission line routes would pass through his own property. He recused himself and abstained from the court’s vote to make sure he didn’t cross any ethical or legal lines.

“The line is scheduled to go through one of my properties,” he said. “I don’t want to do anything unethical or anything illegal. The only thing I want to do is make sure these giant entities follow what the law says.”

The Bell County to Big Hill 765-kilovolt Transmission Project is one of the largest power projects in Texas history, representing the first 765-kilovolt lines in the state and spanning about 200 miles between Bell and Schleicher counties. 

All of the current proposed routes run through northern Burnet County, and local officials have been scrambling to see if plans can be changed since learning of the project in late May. 

Much of the concerns surrounding the project comes from landowners along the proposed routes who fear environmental and health impacts along with diminished property values and personal conflicts.

The Bell County to Big Hill project is part of a larger effort by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to strengthen the state’s electric grid. It will be built jointly by the Lower Colorado River Authority and Oncor.

The project’s current timeline shows final route determination scheduled for summer 2026 with an expected completion date of summer 2030.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Most livestock species have thicker skin than humans, but it’s still vulnerable to harsh summer conditions. Sun exposure, bacterial infections and increased activity of parasite-carrying insects can all take a toll on livestock.

Each year, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, receives samples that reveal how sweltering summers affect livestock health. It’s essential to act promptly to prevent skin irritation from becoming painful and causing serious harm.

Effective diagnostic testing paired with veterinary care can help guide treatment and protect both animals and producers’ livelihoods.

Dr. Erin Edwards, a veterinary pathologist with the Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, explains three common summer skin conditions to watch for in warm weather.

Photosensitization

Severe sunburn caused by toxic plants

Just like humans, animals can experience a fiery reaction to summer rays.

“Effects of photosensitization are like a really severe sunburn,” Edwards said. “Livestock owners might see signs of redness, swelling, and ulceration. Usually, the skin will start sloughing off, and it’s very uncomfortable for the animals.”

Primary photosensitization occurs when livestock become overly sensitive to sunlight after eating toxic plants containing the photosensitizing agent phylloerythrin. The harmful compounds are concentrated in the skin, making it more susceptible to the sun’s rays.

“Burns are usually found on areas with less hair or pigmentation, like the nose or around the eyes,” Edwards said. “Lighter-colored animals in general are usually more susceptible to burns.”

Secondary or hepatogenous photosensitization is the most common form of skin disorder. The prefix “hepato” comes from the Greek word “hepar,” meaning “liver.”

This form of photosensitization is caused by liver damage. Liver damage might result from a range of conditions, one of which is the consumption of toxic plants. When the liver fails to break down and eliminate substances like phylloerythrin, they begin to build up in the blood, increasing photosensitivity and causing the skin to react severely to sunlight. 

In severe cases of photosensitization, skin, ear, lip, and udder tissues might die and peel away. And secondary bacterial infections often occur after skin sloughing, leading to additional health concerns and delayed healing.

Furthermore, if livestock continue to consume toxic plants, liver damage could worsen and lead to death.

What to do if livestock show signs of sunburn or peeling:

• Move affected animals to shade immediately.
• Contact a veterinarian for diagnosis and care.
• Remove liver-damaging and phototoxic plants such as Bishop’s weed and Largeleaf lantana from pastures.

To learn how to identify harmful plants, read Toxic Plants of Texas, written by veterinary and toxicology experts from the Texas A&M University System.

Rain rot

Crusty skin infections after wet weather

Rain rot, a disease caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis, is a skin infection that typically develops when pasture animals spend long hours in rainy conditions. Prolonged moisture softens the skin, allowing bacteria to enter—even without visible wounds.

Rain rot may appear to be a minor skin irritation at first, but it can quickly worsen without proper care.

Rain rot signs include:

• crusty, matted hair and patchy hair loss, typically starting on animals’ backs or around their feet;
• sores along the back or lower legs;
• and raw, pink, or bleeding skin in severe cases.

A lack of veterinary attention could lead to secondary infections that extend into the bloodstream or organs. Consult your veterinarian to speed up healing, ease discomfort, and even prevent death.

Summer sores

Fly-transmitted wounds that won’t heal

Summer sores, or cutaneous habronemiasis, are open wounds that won’t heal. They’re caused by parasitic worms transmitted by flies, especially as fly activity increases during the summer. An immature habronema worm enters the body through the bite of a fly, specifically a housefly or stable fly.

Horses, donkeys and mules are most at risk, but other livestock can be affected.

Signs of summer sores include:

• red, round wounds that won’t heal;
• sores near eyes, lips, or existing wounds;
• and inflammation and intense itching caused by the worm burrowing inside the skin.

“The flies are attracted to areas where there’s moisture,” Dr. Edwards said. “They bite around the eyes, lips, and especially where there are wounds or damaged skin.”

To protect livestock, owners should consider fly control in barns and pastures. They should also consult their veterinarian as soon as signs are spotted because summer sores don’t heal on their own. Without proper treatment, sores could become larger and more painful, usually leading to reduced mobility and a decline in overall health.

Healthy herds with expert support

Protecting livestock skin during the summer is essential to keeping animals healthy and productive. By staying alert to early signs of skin problems and working closely with veterinarians and diagnostic labs like the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, livestock owners can prevent minor irritations from turning into serious, costly issues. With proper care and management, animals can stay comfortable and healthy during the summer.

Working alongside veterinarians, Medical Diagnostic Laboratory experts can assist livestock owners with a range of diagnostic testing. For information about the laboratory’s veterinary diagnostic services, visit its website or call the College Station laboratory at 888-646-5623 or the Canyon laboratory at 888-646-5624.