Under disaster declaration, storm cleanup continues

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 a similar disaster declaration from Hays County and followed by a declaration from the city of Dripping Springs on Feb. 5.

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 Dripping Springs, the city’s declaration not only granted the city access to additional resources and funding but also enabled emergency spending by the City of Dripping Springs Emergency Management department — up to $50,000, as of last week’s City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Because of the disaster declarations, residents and business owners may also be able to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, Travis County Judge Andy Brown said 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. Those expenses can include things like the cost of debris removal and damage to county or cityowned property.

“That $5.7 million is a high threshold, but my understanding is we can combine with what the city of Austin may do and with neighboring counties as well for this region to meet that dollar amount,” Brown explained.

Brown said this additional funding could help citizens with personal expenses as well, like those who lost income because they couldn’t get to work or those who lost food due to power outages.

While the disaster declarations themselves have begun to expire, cleanup efforts throughout the area have continued. Dripping Springs Ranch Park, which had temporarily closed to debris dropoff, has reopened, providing a place for residents and business owners to drop off trees, branches and limbs from the ice storm.

For the latest on disaster declarations, federal assistance and debris clean up in Dripping Springs, follow the city of Dripping Springs on Facebook or visit cityofdrippingsprings. com.