While flood debris on the Highland Lakes might be decreasing, the Lower Colorado River Authority is still urging boaters and swimmers to take extra care, particularly at night when hazards are harder to see. 

The LCRA warns swimmers on the other Highland Lakes to be selective when choosing spots to jump in due to potentially higher-than-normal bacteria levels. Though levels tend to decrease in the weeks following a flood, they could still be elevated in coves, which generally have less circulation and accumulate debris more than the main body of a lake.

“There is always a chance of encountering bacteria in lakes, including the Highland Lakes, and that chance significantly increases in the weeks after a flood,” said LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hofmann in a Thursday, July 24, media release. “If the water is cloudy or murky, swim somewhere else. If there is debris in the area, go somewhere else. And if the water is stagnant, keep going. Find a place with clear water before you think seriously about going swimming.”

Risks related to the Fourth of July weekend flood continue, even weeks after the rain ended.

“The flood debris is settling, but we still are seeing debris both on the surface and below the surface in every lake,” Hofmann said. “In addition to taking extra care when boating and swimming, we encourage people to limit their boating to daytime and to keep safety top of mind.”

LCRA also recommends visitors to the Highland Lakes, which are Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin:

• Avoid cloudy, smelly, or murky water as well as any area with flood debris or stirred-up sediment, as bacteria tend to congregate in there.
• Never swim alone and always wear a life jacket when on the water.
• Be aware the lakes are deep and have uneven bottoms. Under current conditions, parts of Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are more than 100 feet deep.
• Understand that lake flows can be sudden and strong.

Since July 4, Lake Buchanan has risen more than 17 feet and Lake Travis is up more than 38 feet. The combined storage of the two water supply reservoirs has risen from 51 percent to more than 95 percent of capacity.

editor@thepicayune.com

Burnet is recovering from a hard hit by the Fourth of July weekend flood, with the city taking emergency measures to put itself back together. However, some homeowners have been bound by government red tape.

“On July 5th, the city of Burnet experienced the most severe flooding event in its

recorded history,” reads a July 22 statement from Burnet City Manager David Vaughn. “In response, city crews immediately began recovery operations to restore essential services, ensure public safety, and support impacted residents and businesses.”

Enormous amounts of rain fell across Central Texas just before and on July 5, when the normally subdued Hamilton Creek and its tributaries began rapidly flooding.

At least two people were killed in the city of Burnet and dozens of others displaced after floodwaters damaged or destroyed their homes. Around 10 homes along Oak Street were damaged or destroyed; 38 out of 40 Burnet Housing Authority living units were damaged; several businesses, including Consolidated Water and The Thirsty Penguin were flooded; and residences all along Hamilton Creek, Haynie Branch, and Daugherty Branch had some level of destruction.

So far, the city of Burnet has authorized up to $1 million for emergency repairs and curbside debris pickups, waived building permit fees for flood-damaged homes and businesses, established a $75,000 utility assistance program for impacted residents, and approved a new business grant program to help affected commercial property owners.

Burnet work crews are scouring the city, picking up debris and using heavy equipment to haul it off. These pickups will continue until at least Aug. 1.

“As we transition from response and recovery to rebuilding, we understand the frustration of residents eager to begin repairs,” the city manager’s statement continued. “Our top priority as a city is to work with homeowners and business owners to get them the information and support they need to return to their properties as soon as possible.”

The recovery process involves support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has strict guidelines for rebuilding and repairing homes that have been damaged in a flood. If a damaged or destroyed home is in a floodplain, it might have to be rebuilt to certain standards, meeting modern safety requirements and avoiding future flood issues.

To fall into compliance, Burnet hired outside consultant Streamline Engineering to conduct FEMA-required substantial damage estimations, which began July 22. 

According to Vaughn, the inspections should be done by Friday, July 25, and building permits could be issued early next week. However, until FEMA assessments are completed and building permits issued, many residents and property owners have had to put recovery on hold.

Debra and Tom Ashworth, whose home on Oak Street was damaged, woke up to water rising up their driveway in the dark morning hours of July 5.

“My wife woke me up. I went and looked in the driveway—an inch or two, it wasn’t bad,” Ashworth told DailyTrib.com. “But I looked up and there was a huge wall of water coming at us.”

Ashworth opened the front and back doors to their home, allowing 3 feet of water to rush through and alleviate pressure on the walls. 

He, his wife, and their three dogs escaped through waist-deep water by truck and waited out the storm in the parking lot of Walgreens on the corner of Texas 29 and U.S. 281.

Following the ordeal, the Ashworths were lucky enough to have a family friend with a construction company willing to donate labor and materials to get their home back in shape, but there was a hiccup.

“(The city) said we could tear up the debris, but we couldn’t begin construction,” Ashworth explained.

While the Ashworths have been ready to rebuild since July 8, Burnet has not issued them a permit, as they cannot proceed until a full FEMA inspection is complete.

“The biggest thing I’m frustrated with about the city of Burnet is the lack of communication,” Ashworth said. “We’ve been in a holding pattern since the 8th. We’ve heard very little about how the process is going.”

The Ashworths’ biggest concern is they would have to rebuild their home to modern standards if the damage is assessed at more than 50 percent of the home’s value. Their house was built in 1939, and modernizing it would require a complete overhaul. It would have to be raised 3 feet, include wall studs every 16 inches instead of every 24 inches, and all electrical would need to be replaced.

The couple is currently staying at a home owned by a friend. They expect that, after getting the greenlight from the city, it will take two or more months to rebuild.

“The uncertainty is just killing me right now,” Ashworth said.

Many Burnet residents are in the same holding pattern, waiting to get to work on rebuilding their homes and their lives.

City Manager Vaughn acknowledged the concerns of residents.

“While we know the process is frustrating, it is essential to protect both current and future

residents and to ensure continued access to long-term federal funding support,” reads his statement.

Once all FEMA assessments have been completed, the city is prepared to contract with additional staff to help expedite the building permit process for property owners.

Residents can learn more about FEMA support online or by visiting the FEMA disaster recovery center from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily at the Burnet Community Center, 401 E. Jackson St.

dakota@thepicayune.com

The CR 307 low-water crossing over the Llano River, better known as the Kingsland Slab, was closed to traffic on Wednesday, July 23, after the Texas Department of Transportation discovered structural damage likely due to recent flooding. According to the Llano County Department of Emergency Management, the popular swimming hole will probably remain open to pedestrians but be closed to vehicle traffic until repairs are made. Staff photos by Dakota Morrissiey

Rebuilding the flood-damaged bridge over Hamilton Creek on Burnet County Road 341 is an “emergency,” according to county leaders, who approved an engineering contract for the project on July 22. The bridge is currently impassable, adding significant miles and minutes to drives into Marble Falls from east of the structure.

The Burnet County Commissioners Court awarded a $54,870 contract to K.C. Engineering on Tuesday to perform the necessary survey and design work to prepare the bridge for construction bids.

“It’s an emergency, so they’re going to jump right on it,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Chad Collier told DailyTrib.com.

The engineering firm will also assess the Burnet County 340 bridge over Hamilton Creek, located northeast of Marble Falls and about a quarter-mile from the CR 341 bridge. The crossing on CR 340, also known as Mormon Mill Road, was damaged in the flood but remains passable.

A schedule for repairs to both bridges will become clearer once K.C. Engineering draws up its plans.

Unable to cross the 341 bridge, travelers on the east bank of Hamilton Creek traveling into Marble Falls proper have a 9-mile route, compared to the 4.5-mile drive using the bridge. CR 341 is a rural artery between Mormon Mill Road and RR 1431.

Both bridges are intact, but their approaches have been damaged. The immediate sections of road on either side of the 341 crossing were washed away in the Fourth of July weekend flood.

Commissioner Collier mentioned the possibility of adding some sort of temporary structure to allow travel over the 341 bridge, but no plan has been worked out.

The CR 341 crossing is not the only bridge east of Marble Falls that officials are working quickly to fix. TxDOT has already started rebuilding the Cow Creek bridge on RR 431 that was completely washed out in the flood. A new one should be finished by Sept. 19, according to officials. 

dakota@thepicayune.com

The recent presidential disaster declaration for much of the Texas Hill Country following severe weather over the Fourth of July weekend opened up emergency loans to ranchers and farmers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.

The application deadline is March 13, 2026. Loans can be used for recovery needs, including:

• replacing essential items such as equipment or livestock;
• reorganizing farming operations;
• and refinancing certain debts. 

The FSA will review loan applications based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. 

Impacted areas

Primary counties eligible: Llano, McCulloch, and Mason

Contiguous counties also eligible: Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Coleman, Concho, Gillespie, Kimble, Menard and San Saba

Triggering disaster: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding

More resources

On the USDA’s farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help agriculture producers determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.

FEMA offers assistance programs for individual residents, public groups (including government agencies), and private nonprofit organizations. Find FEMA help at fema.gov/assistance.

A memorial service for missing Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips is 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, in the auditorium at Marble Falls High School, 2101 Mustang Drive.

Phillips was swept away by the raging waters of Cow Creek on July 5 while responding to a distress call during the flood that ripped through the Highland Lakes and Central Texas. The search for the chief is still ongoing as of Wednesday, July 23.

“We invite our community to come together in remembrance of Chief Michael Phillips of the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department,” reads a VFD social media post. “Chief Phillips served with honor, integrity, and deep commitment to our community. Join us as we celebrate his life, legacy, and lasting impact.”

The VFD asks that any department wanting to participate in a procession for Phillips email mfavfdstation@gmail.com.

Phillips was with the volunteer department for 30 years and worked for the Marble Falls Independent School District for 28 years.

The community has honored Phillips’ service with candlelight vigils as well as a moment of silence and flag ceremony at the Marble Falls Rodeo on July 18. The VFD announced an “end of watch” for the chief on July 15.

Maryum Mitchell told DailyTrib.com about receiving help from Chief Phillips on July 3, shortly before the flooding began. Mitchell’s mother was on the outskirts of Marble Falls when her vehicle caught fire due to a mechanical failure. Mitchell arrived to help and was quickly followed by Phillips and other volunteer firefighters responding to the call.

“When he came to assist us, I admired his calm, peaceful demeanor,” Mitchell said in her email to DailyTrib.com. “He and his crew helped us move the vehicle to a safe location and as one of the other members was calling the tow truck, (Phillips) engaged in conversation with us asking about our time in the area and mentioning his family including his grandkids.

“He was such a proud family man and that stuck with me on top of genuinely worrying about my mom’s well-being. Once the tow was arranged, he stayed back and ushered us to my van to leave safely off (RR) 1431. I’ve never met such a kind and compassionate crew who genuinely cared for our safety.

“The car unfortunately blew an hour after we left when the tow truck arrived and thankfully, no one was injured. We owe a great deal of that to Chief Phillips and his crew for moving the vehicle to a safer location and away from the major roadway.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Burnet County Commissioners Court is dedicating money to consult with an outside law firm on a massive transmission line project by the state that could cut through northern Burnet County.

The court earmarked a maximum of $20,000 for legal help, though it remains uncertain what can be done to effect a route change for the proposed Bell County to Big Hill 765-kilovolt Transmission Project.

“We’re trying to assess as a county what type of stances we can take and things we need to look at,” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle during the Commissioners Court’s July 22 meeting. “What I would like to see us focus on, with the help of this law firm, is … health and safety and what are the things we want to do to protect our constituents.”

The line would likely go through Beierle’s Precinct 2 as well as Commissioner Jim Luther’s Precinct 1.

All four of the court’s commissioners, including Joe Don Dockery and Chad Collier, voted in favor of allocating up to $20,000 from the county’s professional services budget to engage a law firm. Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson recused himself from all discussions and voting on the matter as he and his wife own property along one of the proposed line routes.

The transmission line project has been causing worries in Burnet County since it came to light in June when members of the court shared plans from the Public Utility Commission of Texas for the largest powerline project in state history with all possible routes cutting through Burnet County. The Bell County to Big Hill line, being built by the Lower Colorado River Authority and Oncor Electric Delivery, will be the first 765-kilovolt line in Texas and serve to strengthen the state’s electric grid.

The official route will be chosen by the summer of 2026, according to the Public Utility Commission.

Beierle specifically noted the Commissioners Court wants to avoid rerouting the project’s path, as landowners in Burnet County would be impacted regardless of which way it went.

“From a county standpoint, it makes things difficult because if we start getting into route discussions, it starts to push it from landowner to another. So it makes it difficult, in my opinion, for us to get into the route discussion,” he said.

Many property owners along the proposed routes have expressed concerns, including Burnet County resident Judy Gracie, who owns land off of CR 243.

“This is really going to devastate my property,” she said.

Gracie told DailyTrib.com her property could end up having as many as five towers on it if the project follows a proposed route through her land. 

Other landowners, like Jan and Austin Rose, could have massive lines and towers crossing their 140-year-old Texas heritage ranch. 

According to Beierle, the possibility of requesting the project follow existing transmission line routes will be discussed with legal aid, but the county’s options are unclear at this point.

“I think we can justify spending some money to get some answers to those questions because we don’t know (what is possible),” he said.

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is offering resources to those impacted by the Fourth of July weekend flood, including access to food, baby formula, early Medicaid prescription refills, and mental health services.

HHSC is also providing emergency grants for affected rural hospitals, including Llano Regional Hospital, which will receive $396,500, according to a July 21 media release from the commission. The money can be used to cover any unplanned expenses related to the flood, such as repairing structural damage, fixing equipment, providing staffing support, and addressing operational issues.

“HHSC serves Texans. That is our goal and our mission,” said Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young in the media release. “We will continue to provide the necessary services and resources to help our fellow Texans as they take the next step toward healing.”

THOSE SERVICES INCLUDE:

SNAP Benefit Replacement

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in affected counties (see below) can apply for replacement benefits through Aug. 4 for food lost or destroyed by recent catastrophic floods.

Affected areas include Burnet and Llano counties as well as Bandera, Bexar, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties.

SNAP recipients can request replacement food benefits by calling 2-1-1 and selecting option 7. Recipients can also download Form H1855 (Affidavit for Nonreceipt or Destroyed SNAP Benefits) on the HHSC website. Completed forms should be mailed to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, P.O. Box 149027, Austin, TX, 78714-9027 or faxed to 877-447-2839.

SNAP Hot Foods

SNAP recipients in 33 flood-impacted counties can purchase hot foods and ready-to-eat meals with their Lone Star Cards through Aug. 14. These areas include Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, and Llano counties as well as Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Brown, Caldwell, Coke, Concho, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Irion, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Lee, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Milam, Mills, Real, Reagan, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties.

Foods include rotisserie chicken, grocery store deli items, and other foods that are hot at the point of sale. No action is required by SNAP recipients to receive this additional benefit.

WIC Food and Formula Benefits Replacement

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), administered by HHSC, is replacing food and formula benefits lost during the floods through July 31.

WIC participants must visit a WIC office in person to receive updated benefits. To find a local office and make an appointment, visit TexasWIC.org.

Medicaid Prescription Refills

HHSC is allowing pharmacies to fill prescription refills early for people affected by the flooding who are enrolled in Medicaid, the Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program, and the Kidney Health Care Program.

Texans impacted by any disaster can visit the HHSC Receiving Disaster Assistance webpage for more information. To find local resources, such as food or shelter, dial 2-1-1 and select option 1.

Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line

HHSC has launched the Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line, a new statewide crisis support line to help affected Texans cope with loss and the recovery process. Survivors, families, first responders, and others affected by the disaster can receive professional crisis counseling at no cost by calling 833-812-2480.

The crisis support line is available 24/7. All calls are confidential and answered by personnel specially trained to work with disaster survivors.

Other Needs Assistance

HHSC is distributing relief funds approved by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. Relief funds are provided through a grant and can be used for furniture and appliances, car repair or replacement, moving and storage, disaster-related medical and dental needs, funeral costs, child care, and other miscellaneous expenses. People must apply for Other Needs Assistance through FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov. For more information, visit the HHSC website.

editor@thepicayune.com