The mayor of Austin is declaring a local state of disaster in the wake of flooding and heavy storms that damaged hundreds of homes in Central Texas.
Lee Leffingwell sent a letter to Gov. Rick Perry saying a “critical need” existed for state and federal help.
The Austin American-Statesman reported that the City Council was considering waiving permit and development fees for homeowners dealing with flooding.
Five people died in the flooding caused by storms Wednesday and Thursday that dumped up to 13 inches of rain on the region.
Monday morning, city officials said at least 1,100 homes within the city and 260 within Travis County's jurisdiction had been affected by last week’s flooding.
Twelve properties in Austin had been determined to be uninhabitable, officials said, and 48 in the county and 324 in Austin had sustained “major damage.” The city’s Code Compliance Department has completed its assessment of structural and property damage; the county’s similar effort was continuing.
Also Monday, officials said some 125 tons of debris had been collected.
The Red Cross of Central Texas again issued a plea Monday in the wake of the flood. Floods are notorious for not generating the donations other disasters do, said communications director Bristel Bowen.
“The damage is really widespread,” Bowen said. “We’re going to need a lot of help.”
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 500 people had checked in at the Red Cross shelter set up at the Dove Springs Recreation Center, 5801 Ainez Drive, Bowen said.
“We have 55 people staying at the shelter, and that number also has been climbing,” Bowen said. “People go back and see the devastation and they can’t stay. It’s unhealthy and it’s dangerous.”
The shelter offers meals, warm showers and computer access to displaced residents. The Red Cross is also operating a flood assistance center there along with the city, county and other agencies to register flooded residents and collect their contact information when funds become available, Bowen said.
No comments:
Post a Comment