Large parts of Central Texas remain under disaster declaration after a winter storm, referred to as Winter Storm Mara, blew through earlier this month.
The initial winter storm warning went into effect the morning of Monday, Jan. 30, and lasted through 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2. Due to significant ice accumulation during the storm and resulting debris and power outages, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for Denton, Hays, Henderson, Milam, Smith, Travis and Williamson counties on Feb. 4. This was preceded by similar disaster declarations from Hays County as well as the cities of Woodcreek and Wimberley.
These declarations enabled additional access to local, state and federal resources. Abbott encouraged residents to report damage, with details and photos if possible, through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool survey, organized by the Texas Department of Emergency Management and available at damage. tdem.texas.gov.
In Hays County, the county’s declaration activated the Hays County Emergency Management Plan. In Wimberley and Woodcreek, the declarations not only granted the cities access to additional resources and funding but also enabled emergency spending.
The emergency order in Wimberley enabled City Manager Tim Patek to to spend up to $5,000 as needed for any additional equipment, labor or contractors to assist with cleanup resulting from the storm, and a special meeting of the Wimberley City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 8 authorized an additional $15,000.
Because of the disaster declarations, residents and business owners may also be able to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, as discussed at the Woodcreek City Council meeting on Feb. 8, signing the declarations is just the first step in accessing these funds; the threshold for the county to access FEMA funds is $5.7 million in recovery expenses. If that amount is met, FEMA will reimburse 75% of overall expenses.
“That’s why it’s so important that people report any damage, even if you think it’s minimal,” said Woodcreek Councilmember Debra Hines.
While the disaster declarations themselves have begun to expire, cleanup efforts throughout the area have continued.
“This process is not going to go away very soon,” said Woodcreek City Manager Kevin Rule. “I’m sure we’re going to be dealing with trees and limbs being down — and the resulting damage — for probably a couple months.”
Multiple storm debris drop-off points and pickup schedules have been established throughout the area. The Hays County Emergency Management office announced a location in Wimberley at 1691 Carney Lane, and Wimberley residents have limited curbside pick-up of debris by Texas Disposal Systems on regular collection days. Similarly, Waste Connections’ pick-up of brush and limbs, placed in “Community Piles” by residents at the edge of city streets began in Woodcreek on Monday, Feb. 13.
Additional cleanup assistance is available through Barnabas Connection, the Austin Disaster Relief Network and local churches.
