The Phoenix Center is offering an online question-and-answer session with resources July 10 on how parents, caregivers, and teachers can support children after a natural disaster.
Presenter Chali Henderson will teach participants how to have conversations and answer questions from children based on their age and stage of development following a disaster or traumatic loss. Henderson is a licensed professional counselor and family therapist with the Phoenix Center.
The Highland Lakes-based Phoenix Center offers mental health care to children and their families. Learn more about the center on its website or the program by emailing info@phoenixcenter.org.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
“This isn’t just about a room,” said Dawn Capra, director of Community Impact at CRCTX. “It’s a critical step toward rebuilding lives. We are committed to standing with our neighbors—offering emotional encouragement, helping them regain stability, and connecting them to long-term recovery resources.”
In addition to motel stays, CRCTX Navigators will:
facilitate applications for financial assistance, rental aid, and benefits;
provide information on rebuilding programs, housing vouchers, and other programs;
and coordinate with local disaster relief agencies, mental health providers, and faith-based organizations for holistic care.
HOW TO GET HELP
If you or someone you know needs temporary shelter, contact 830-693-0700 or dcapra@crctx.org.
The Community Resource Centers of Texas (CRCTX) and Texas Housing Foundation work to serve rural Texas communities by providing affordable housing solutions, navigation services, financial assistance, and collaborative partnerships to help individuals and families overcome crises, rebuild their lives, and create lasting hope.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Several fundraisers and events are being organized to assist victims of the Fourth of July flood. Events will be added as information comes in.
JULY 11
BBQ chicken fundraiser for Preston Prince family
507 W. Jackson St. in Burnet
A barbecue chicken fundraiser for the family of Preston Prince is 11 a.m. until the food is sold out on Friday, July 11, at Oaks Nursing Center in Burnet. Prince was killed during the Fourth of July flood. All proceeds will be given to his family. Cost is $15 a plate, which includes grilled chicken, beans, potato salad, and bread. Local delivery available for 10 or more plate orders. Call Dixie at 512-756-6044 to order. Monetary donations of cash or via Venmo/Zelle accepted (scan QR codes in image above).
LHS barbecue fundraiser
801 Ford St. in Llano
The award-winning Llano High School barbecue team will be serving food from 11 a.m. until its sold out on Friday, July 11, at the Llano County Courthouse. Plates are $15. All proceeds go to Ark of Highland Lakes for flood relief efforts.
JULY 12
Flood relief benefit at Save the World
1510 Resource Parkway in Marble Falls
All sales on Saturday, July 12, at Save the World Brewing Co. in Marble Falls will be donated to Ark of Highland Lakes to distribute to Fourth of July flood victims. Taproom sales will be matched by donors and businesses. A silent auction at 3 p.m. Saturday includes items donated by local businesses.
JULY 27
Flood relief benefit at Cider Mill
222 Lee Lane in Round Mountain
Round Mountain Cider Mill is hosting a flood relief fundraiser on Sunday, July 27, with live music, a barbecue cook-off, a silent auction, and more. Tickets will go on sale at the link the week of July 7. General admission is $20 with first-come, first-served access to the picnic tables on the turf. Reserved tables for four on the deck are $100 each. Sponsorships are available.
If your organization or business is holding a flood relief event, please comment with the details below.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
The Hill Country Humane Society has free resources available for pets in need following the Fourth of July flood. The shelter is located at 9150 RR 1431 West in Buchanan Dam and open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Available supplies, etc. include:
dog and cat food
crates and kennels
leashes
bowls
blankets
basic medical care
Residents whose pet(s) went missing during the flood may email info@hchstexas.com with a photo and animal details so the HCHS can help reunite families.
To help the Humane Society’s flood relief for pets effort, donate at hchstexas.com/donate.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Drop off vegetative storm debris (tree limbs, branches, brush, etc.) for free at Granite Shoals City Hall, 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 7-11. Do NOT bring trash, construction materials, or tires. Residential debris only; no commercial dumping.
Call the city at 830-598-2424 for more information.
Residents and businesses within the city limits may place all flood-related debris and brush at the curb. As much as possible, remove hazardous materials (pesticides, paint, appliances with Freon, etc.) from the debris. The city of Burnet is coordinating with Burnet County to establish an emergency debris site. Haul-off will start once the site is approved by the state.
Call the city at 512-756-4858 for more information.
For more information about debris collection plans from the following cities, call:
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Five people are confirmed dead and two people are still missing after flash flooding over the Fourth of July weekend, according to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, which held a media conference in Burnet at 2 p.m. Monday. First responders rescued 62 people in total.
At least 89 people have been killed across Central Texas during the flash floods, according to the Associated Press, with the majority in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River swept through Kerrville and the surrounding countryside.
In the Highland Lakes, only two names of the five confirmed dead have been released, and one verified by DailyTrib.com. The names of most of the missing and dead have not yet been made public. The body of another victim was recovered on Monday morning.
“We are still in an active search, and we are doing everything we can to find the other two folks that we have missing,” Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said during Monday’s media conference.
Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips is still missing as of Monday. He was swept away while attempting to cross Cow Creek on FM 1174 during a rescue. His vehicle and some personal effects have been recovered, but the search for the chief continues.
The other missing person is believed to be in the Burnet area.
The body of 22-year-old Preston Prince was recovered on Sunday. He was reportedly swept away in his vehicle along Park Road 4. His body was found 8 miles downriver, according to the BCSO.
Ed Schaefer indicates the water line, which reached 4 feet, inside the home of Lee Brizendine, a resident of Pafford Place in Burnet. Brizendine was washed away in floodwaters after he tried to escape from his apartment early July 5. Staff photo by Suzanne Freeman
Another victim of the flood, Lee Brizendine, was an elderly resident of Pafford Place assisted living in Burnet. He reportedly tried to leave the complex on Hamilton Creek when he was swept away by floodwaters. Ed Schaefer, whose daughter-in-law and stepson own Pafford Place and Wildflower Meadows Independent Living, told DailyTrib.com that his grandson saw Brizendine by his apartment unit’s front door on July 5 before he was taken by floodwaters. His body was recovered about 5 miles downstream, according to Schaefer.
DailyTrib.com will continue to provide details on the search for the missing as they are made available.
CORRECTION: The original story misnamed the place where flood victim Lee Brizendine lived. He was a resident of Pafford Place, which is a separate business from, but on the same campus with Wildflower Meadows Independent Living. Also, Ed Schaefer’s relationship to the owners was incorrect. They are his daughter-in-law and stepson, and not daughter and son-in-law. DailyTrib.com regrets the errors.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Floodwaters have destroyed bridges, businesses, homes, and lives across the Highland Lakes since the Llano and Colorado rivers and their tributaries began rising on Friday, July 4. Major highways and back roads alike were washed out and are now intraversable.
Some Highland Lakes residents lost their homes, businesses, vehicles, personal property, and more.
Burnet County officials are asking residents to report damage through the Texas Division of Emergency Management at this link.
ROAD CLOSURES
(As of Monday, July 7)
RR 1431 at Cow Creek
First responders are staged at the remains of the Cow Creek bridge on RR 1431 east of Marble Falls as they conduct recovery operations. The bridge was washed out in the July 4 flood, making the route between Marble Falls and Lago Vista impassable. Photo by John Ortis
The Cow Creek bridge on RR 1431 was destroyed on Saturday, July 5, blocking travel along the road between Marble Falls and Lago Vista and beyond.
A sign at Ranch Road 1431 East warning drivers that the road is closed due to the Cow Creek bridge being washed out from the flood. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Replacing the bridge is a Texas Department of Transportation project. DailyTrib.com reached out for a timeline but did not hear back by the time of this article’s publication. According to a Facebook post from Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which lies along RR 1431 near Cow Creek, the bridge will likely require “long-term repairs.”
Park Road 4
UPDATE: Park Road 4 is open as of Tuesday morning. PREVIOUS REPORTING: Park Road 4 near the U.S. 281 intersection in Burnet County sustained heavy damage and is closed as of Monday. Crews could be seen clearing debris on Monday morning, and entry to Park Road 4 from U.S. 281 was blocked.
FM 1174 at Cow Creek
Another Cow Creek bridge, this one on FM 1174, was also reportedly destroyed in the flood. The road extends from RR 1431 a few miles east of Marble Falls and runs north to Bertram. It is also one of the primary access points to Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.
According to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, one lane on this road is open for emergency use only and repairs for regular travel will likely take some time.
Other road closures and notices
The Kingsland Slab Road (CR 3404) was still flooded on the morning of Monday, July 7. Sand and debris will have to be cleared from the road before it can be used. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The following is just some of the damaged roads and crossings collected through DailyTrib.com reporting and notifications from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office. Some lower crossings might still have water flowing over them and drivers are cautioned to not pass through until it has receded.
Burnet County FM 243 West, 6700 block—Low-water crossing bridge has been washed out.
Burnet County CR 113—Low-water crossing has been washed out.
UPDATE: Burnet County CR 120 is now open.
Llano County CR 3404, Slab Road—Covered in sand and debris.
Burnet County RM 963 at the San Gabriel River bridge—Closed due to damage.
Other damage
Debris still clings to the banks of Hamilton Creek in the middle of Burnet after floodwaters receded July 7. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Hamilton Creek flooding caused mass damage throughout the tributary.
Cedar Stays RV Park at 3380 RR 1431 East was completely flooded out. Literal tons of debris, including at least two vehicles, were washed down the creek.
Water from Hamilton Creek completely flooded out Cedar Stays RV Park on RR 1431 just outside of Marble Falls. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Businesses and homes in Burnet were also damaged by Hamilton Creek flooding. The Thirsty Penguin at 700 S. Water St. (U.S. 281), Bulldog Motors at 708 S. Water St., and all of the businesses housed at 711 S. Water St. were filled with floodwaters.
Several businesses near Hamilton Creek in Burnet were flooded out, like at 711 S. Water St. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Also, the historic Joppa Bridge in northern Burnet County was destroyed on July 5.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Free meals are being served at 8 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. to first responders, volunteers, and flood victims at the Ark Warehouse, 800 Industrial Blvd. in Marble Falls. Numinous Coffee Roasters and Ark of Highland Lakes organized the effort on Sunday, July 6, as the area was reeling from devastating flash flooding over the Fourth of July weekend.
“Anyone who’s hungry is welcome to come eat,” said Numinous owner Alex Payson, a longtime supporter and volunteer with Ark of Highland Lakes.
The Ark Warehouse became a clearing house for food and cleaning supplies as soon as flooding began. Volunteer muck-out teams lined up their pickups Monday morning for tarps, shovels, and wet vacs to begin the first steps in flood recovery in Burnet and Marble Falls.
Food has been donated by multiple individuals as well as H-E-B and Operation Barbecue Relief. Several organizations in Houston also have been sending food.
“We have lots of food, water, and Gatorade,” Payson said. “The biggest need right now is money.”
“We also need brooms, heavy duty and household,” said Jason Coleman, an Ark volunteer and real estate developer, who has been training muck-out teams. “And baby food and formula.”
Bring food and supply donations to the Ark Warehouse, 800 Industrial Blvd. in Marble Falls. Donations may be made through the Ark of Highland Lakes website.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
They came prepared with rubber boots, gloves, N-95 masks, and other supplies necessary to muck out flooded homes in the Highland Lakes. Around 40 men and women of all ages filled a room at the Mission Center on R Street in Marble Falls on Monday, July 7, while Jason Coleman, a volunteer with Ark of Highland Lakes, gave a brief training in Muck Out, just one of several groups that have been deployed in the wake of the Fourth of July flood.
Ark of Highland Lakes, originally called the Highland Lakes Crisis Network, formed in the wake of the October 2018 flood that swept away the RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland.
“This flood is different than the flood in 2018,” Coleman said. “It happened faster and caught so many people by surprise.”
Burnet residents along Hamilton Creek were some of the hardest hit by flash floods from torrential rains that began Thursday, July 3, and continued through the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, the Burnet and Bertram area received over 12 inches of rain July 1-5; Marble Falls received 11 inches. The area was still under a flood warning from the NWS as muck teams headed out on Monday.
“Scoop, shop vac, power wash, then scoop and shop vac again,” Coleman told volunteers.
He explained how to cut sheet rock one foot above the water line, how to safely handle fiberglass insulation, and where to put items homeowners want to keep and where to dispose of the rest.
“Respect the homeowner’s wishes,” Coleman said. “Explain what you are going to do and set expectations. This is a hard time for people. Be aware of that.”
Leaders self-selected and picked team members, with the largest group going to Hamilton Creek Apartments at 805 S. Water St. in Burnet. The job there is simple, Coleman said: Help residents pack the remains of their belongings because most of the duplex units are set for demolition.
Only about eight of the around 60 units at Hamilton Creek Manor, also at 805 S. Water St., are still liveable, according to Raynell Atkinson, who has resided in a unit near U.S. 281 for 23 years.
“I got some water on the floor, but not too much,” she said. “I’m going to sleep in my bed tonight.”
The units along Bunk Gibbs Road are all funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Many of the elderly residents are now without a place to live.
Shandra Langston of Georgetown said her parents, Carlus and Lorease Noah, 84 and 82 respectively, are now in a hotel, but she has no idea what will happen to them long term. They each have their own unit and have lived in them for more than 30 years. As the closest units to the creek, they were some of the hardest hit.
Shandra Langston of Georgetown points out the water line in mother Lorease Noah’s unit at Hamilton Creek Apartments in Burnet. Many of the units will have to be demolished, according to officials. Staff photo by Suzanne Freeman
“They lost everything,” Langston said. “My mom called me at 4 in the morning and she said, ‘Something’s flooding.’ The water was up to her waist.”
Volunteers also received training on how to deal with stressed-out residents.
“The first thing you do is meet the client, hear their needs, and pray with them,” Coleman said. “It’s sometimes hard to realize their heart is more important than their house. This is not about their stuff; it’s about them.”
Around 70 volunteers swarmed Wildflower Meadows Independent Living on CR 340A in Burnet on Sunday, July 6, to help muck out units. All residents have been temporarily moved, according to Ed Schaefer, whose daughter and son-in-law own the facility.
“I teared up when I saw all those cars,” Schaefer said. “There was nowhere to park so many people turned up to help. This community is really something.”
Residents and business owners who sustained flood damage are urged to report it through the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s iSTAT, according to a media release from the city of Burnet.
“This helps Burnet County Emergency Management document the full extent of local damage and pursue state and federal recovery assistance,” reads the release.
Residents and businesses located within Burnet city limits are asked to place flood-related debris and brush at the curb. To the greatest extent possible, hazardous materials such as pesticides, paint, and appliances containing Freon should be separated from general debris. The city is working with Burnet County to establish an emergency debris site and will begin haul-off as soon as the state has approved the location.
A city of Burnet flood response webpage has been created to provide updates, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you observe any issues related to the flood that you believe the city should be aware of, visit the city’s Report It webpage.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
This Content Submission and License Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Victory Media Marketing LLC (“Company,” “we,” or “us”) and you (“User,” “you,” or “Submitter”) upon your submission of content through our websites’ See it, Share It form.
Submitted Content “Submitted Content” means any news tips, text, descriptions, images, photographs, videos, audio files, recordings, or other materials you upload, submit, or provide to us via the news tips forms on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, or any other websites owned or operated by Victory Media Marketing LLC.
License Grant By submitting any Submitted Content, you hereby grant to Company a worldwide, non- exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, and otherwise exploit the Submitted Content in any form or medium (now known or hereafter developed), including but not limited to:
Publishing on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, other Company websites, apps, newsletters, and social media platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc.).
Editing, formatting, or combining with other content for news, promotional, archival, or commercial purposes.
Allowing third parties (e.g., affiliates, syndication partners) to use it under the same terms. You retain ownership of the copyright in your Submitted Content, subject to the license granted above.
User Representations and Warranties You represent and warrant that:
You are at least 18 years old and have the full right and authority to grant the rights in this Agreement.
The Submitted Content is your original work or you have obtained all necessary permissions, consents, and releases (including from any individuals appearing in photos/videos or owners of any third-party materials).
The Submitted Content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or defame any person.
It complies with all applicable laws and does not contain viruses, malware, or prohibited content.
You will not submit false, misleading, or confidential information.
No Compensation You understand and agree that you will receive no compensation for the submission or use of your Submitted Content.
Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from your breach of this Agreement or any third-party claims related to your Submitted Content.
Moral Rights and Publicity You waive any moral rights or rights of attribution in the Submitted Content to the extent permitted by law. Company may use your name, username, or likeness in connection with the Submitted Content if applicable.
Termination and Removal Company may, in its sole discretion, edit, refuse to post, or remove any Submitted Content at any time without notice. This Agreement survives any termination.
Governing Law This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts located in Burnet County, Texas.
Entire Agreement This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements. Modifications must be in writing. By submitting content, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement.
