Travis County Judge Andy Brown and county executives told the Commissioners Court on July 22 that the county is moving from emergency response to long-term recovery after the July 2025 severe weather and flooding. County staff described a newly formed recovery branch, expanded debris removal, mass-care operations and temporary permit changes meant to speed homeowners’ recovery.

The recovery branch "includes debris management," County Executive for Emergency Services Chuck Brotherton said, and it "is headed by TNR [Transportation and Natural Resources]." Brotherton said search-and-rescue operations have largely concluded and that county teams are “beginning the cleanup and assistance process to helping this community recover and get back to some sense of normal.”

County fire and emergency officials also told the court they would adjust the burn ban in flood-affected corridors to allow limited, permitted burning for disposal of vegetative debris. "We do have a burn ban that's in place currently in the Northwest portions of Travis County along Big Sandy Creek, Cow Creek, and some of the low lying streams in areas. I'd like to revise that burn ban," said Gary Howell, Travis County Fire Marshal. Howell explained that residents in affected neighborhoods can request a permit by calling (512) 854-2876; dispatchers will route inspections through the incident command post before a burn proceeds.

Why it matters: the court described the transition as operational — coordinating debris removal, mass care, and infrastructure repairs — and procedural, with short-term policy changes to reduce friction for residents trying to rebuild. Removing administrative barriers and routing volunteers, donations and FEMA resources to the impacted area were presented as immediate priorities.

Most important facts
- Recovery branch and roles: The incident command post established a recovery branch with a debris-management section led by Transportation and Natural Resources (TNR), a mass-care section led by Health and Human Services (HHS), and an infrastructure section led by Transportation and Natural Resources and Public Works, Brotherton said.
- Limited burning with inspection: Fire Marshal Gary Howell said the burn ban for certain creek corridors will remain but that limited debris burning will be allowed through a phone-permit system and inspection by fire personnel. The court approved the revised burn-ban approach unanimously.
- Debris and voucher program: County staff reported 13,324 cubic yards of debris collected to date and an average removal rate near 3,500 cubic yards per day; 73 resident vouchers for self-haul or volunteer-assisted removal had been issued. Temporary dumpsters for household trash were placed near Sandy Creek and Windy Valley, and extended hours were added at the 1431 collection center.
- Permits and fee waivers: Sean Snyder, Travis County Flood Plain Manager, requested a countywide waiver of development, permit and septic fees for people affected by this disaster, and asked permission to remove the notary requirement on the waiver form so staff can operate a satellite permit office nearer the impacted neighborhood. The court approved a fee-waiver motion unanimously. Snyder estimated the base permit revenue loss at roughly $56,000 and associated septic-related fees near $260,000 (estimates described as conservative).
- Satellite permitting and on-site assistance: County staff said they will staff a satellite permitting site near the neighborhood to help residents file forms and, where possible, issue permits on site to accelerate repairs. Officials said they will verify ownership in person when a notary is not available.
- Mass care, resource center and partners: Health and Human Services and partners (Integral Care, Ascension Seton, Austin Public Health, Leander ISD, ADRN, Red Cross and others) opened a recovery resource center at Danielson Middle School and later transitioned services to a church and the Jonestown Community Center. HHS said about 230 people sought direct assistance via all sites and distribution points, with volunteers and donations staged through an incident donations warehouse.
- Volunteer and donation coordination: County staff said volunteers should check in at Blaine Elementary; the county established a volunteer check-in center and a public information campaign, using social media and the county incident website to publish updated maps, shelter locations, volunteer signups and FEMA registration guidance.
- FEMA and financial aid: County staff said FEMA is on-site; residents can register at the local registration teams or by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The court highlighted the Travis Cares fund, administered through Central Texas Community Foundation, for monetary donations to long-term recovery.

Discussion and caveats
Court members and staff repeatedly emphasized the long-term nature of recovery: "This is not going to be a sprint. This is gonna be a marathon," County Commissioner said during discussion. County executives warned that many activities (debris removal from waterways, permanent repairs to washed-out low-water crossings, and infrastructure fixes) are contingent on engineering proposals and outside agency schedules (for example, TxDOT work on State Highway 1431). Officials said TxDOT estimated an initial 60-day repair window for its section but promised updates if that changes.

Staff noted tradeoffs in administrative relief: removing the notary requirement will speed intake but staff will verify ownership in person, and the county’s waiver approach follows precedent from prior regional floods, including the 2018 and Halloween floods. The court’s waiver motion covered the county’s lost permit revenue (except for direct fees owed to state agencies, e.g., the $10 TCEQ septic fee) and authorized staff to adjust the waiver form.

What the court decided
- The Commissioners Court unanimously approved: (1) a revised burn-ban approach that allows limited, inspected burning in the affected creek corridors under permit, and (2) a request to waive development, permit and septic fees for disaster-affected residents and to remove the notary requirement on the waiver form so a satellite permitting office can operate near the impact site.

Look ahead
County staff said they will return with additional engineering proposals for permanent repairs (including Cow Creek and Sandy Creek bridges and low-water crossings), a debris removal plan for waterways, cost estimates for ongoing operations, and updates from TxDOT on state-controlled road repairs. Officials urged residents to report damage via the state’s damage assessment tool so that long-term housing and assistance needs can be triaged for FEMA and other funding sources.

Ending
For now, the Commissioners Court directed county teams to continue recovery operations, coordinate volunteers and donations, and implement the temporary administrative changes to speed homeowner recovery while staff complete longer-term repair proposals and cost estimates.