Reliably Austin
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Austin Mayor Declares State of Disaster in Anticipation of More Storms

Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon/KUT News

The City of Austin announced Thursday that Mayor Steve Adler declared a Local State of Disaster to remain in effect until taken up at an upcoming special called City Council meeting.

At the meeting, to take place this Sunday, the ratification and extension of the declaration has been added to the agenda. Adler stated the declaration in a memo to council:

"Due to the extreme amount of rainfall and record flooding that struck the City of Austin on October 30, 2015, the City is facing tremendous physical and economic losses. Hundreds of homes and businesses have been damaged, and many more residents and families are in need of temporary housing and other individual assistance."

Making the declaration will allow the city to coordinate with Travis County, also given a disaster declaration, to facilitate funding and support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Adler noted in his memo also that City departments and public utilities are dealing with unexpected costs related to the floods and the damage they caused to city infrastructure.

More heavy rains were expected to move through Central Texas last night, but the system broke up over Austin overnight. However, the National Weather Service forecasts rain for the Austin area this weekend, but doesn't expect any flooding over the weekend.

The service canceled a flash flood watch at around 5 a.m., adding that rain is expected this weekend "just not flooding."

Still, there could be a chance for up to an inch of rain in parts of Austin this weekend.