Travis County creates 'Travis County Cares' fund and shifts $3M to emergency response after Big Sandy, Cow Creek floods

Travis County on July 15 approved creation of a short-term relief fund run by the Central Texas Community Foundation and transferred $3 million from the county emergency reserve to the county—entral emergency response budget to support continuing flood response in the Big Sandy and Cow Creek areas.

The move followed public testimony from residents and volunteer coordinators who described widespread property damage, ongoing search and rescue needs, and frustration about coordination and access. Judge Amy Brown said the county would create the fund, to be named "Travis County Cares," and that the foundation would charge a 5% administrative fee and verify residency and damages before distributing emergency aid.

Why it matters: County leaders said federal and state teams are conducting damage assessments that could lead to FEMA public and individual assistance, but they also stressed immediate needs for debris removal, heavy equipment operators, and site-level coordination. The court pproved a $3 million transfer from the county emergency reserve to Department 195 (centralized emergency response) to ensure funding is available for…