Travis County reports 160,779 cubic yards removed; county transfers debris management to state as residents press for faster repairs

Travis County officials on Aug. 26 briefed Commissioners Court on flood recovery operations and requested an additional $2 million from the county’s emergency reserve to close out debris removal. County staff said responsibility for debris management has shifted to the state but stressed that the county has already removed a large volume of material and kept emergency crews working.

The most important numbers: County natural resources staff said crews have removed 160,779 cubic yards of debris from 33 properties; county officials recorded about $8 million in debris removal expenditures to date and more than $1.5 million in personnel costs. Planning and Budget Office staff said the court approved transfers that have totaled $14,952,000 from the county’s emergency reserve in multiple draws (including $4 million on July 8, $3 million on July 15, roughly $5.6 million and a $2,352,000 transfer on Aug. 12) and that staff were requesting another $2 million for debris removal, leaving a projected emergency reserve balance of approximately $2,463,227 after this action.

County staff and contractors described local repair work and the state handoff Emily Ackland, Natural Resources and Environmental Quality manager for the county, told the court that effective the Monday before the meeting the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) assumed active management of the county debris effort and that state contractor crews were already on the road. Ackland confirmed that county crews had removed 160,779 cubic yards of debris, and that 33 properties had been serviced.

Public works staff outlined near‑term near‑term repair timelines. Robert Valenzuela, director of public works, said county crews issued design and bid documents for the Sandy Creek bridge and had selected a contractor; the work was awaiting a remaining payment bond, but the county expected to begin work the following week with a 30‑day construction timeline. Valenzuela said the contractor would operate 24 hours a day until the temporary bridge work was complete. He said other low water crossing repairs (e.g., Juniper Trail) and designs for Rock Cliff area roads were in progress.

Residents told the court it still feels too slow Residents from Sandy Creek and nearby neighborhoods gave public comment during the meeting. Auburn Gallagher and Steven Dake described ongoing safety issues on Nameless Road and asked for higher priority for ditching, guardrails and shoulder work; Gallagher said residents had waited weeks for promised services after the flood and said riverbeds had not been cleared. Gallagher said the road resurfacing earlier in the year had worsened vehicle stability at the roadway edge, contributing to accidents. Dake described what he said were almost 100 serious accidents and one fatality on Nameless Road in recent years and cited a rollover of a school bus on Aug. 13. County staff acknowledged Nameless Road is a county roadway and said Public Works would meet on site for further assessment and repairs.

Assistance centers and recovery outreach Lars Sanchez, County Executive for Health and Human Services, and staff described a recent “mini‑MARK” multi‑agency resource event that served more than 120 households at a Round Mountain site and that included FEMA and SBA staff, community foundation assistance, and county staff. County officials asked TDEM to extend FEMA and SBA availability at the Round Mountain Disaster Assistance Center beyond Aug. 30; officials reminded residents that Sept. 4 is the federal deadline to apply for assistance for this disaster at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Context and next steps County officials said they will continue coordination with TDEM and FEMA on vehicle and large debris removal, seek a temporary debris management site for vehicles and boats, and continue design and construction of temporary and permanent bridge repairs. PBO sought and received court authorization to move $2 million from the emergency reserve into the central response budget. Officials cautioned the court that additional follow‑up items may return for authorization as the state transitions responsibility and as final invoices are received.

Ending County leaders thanked recovery staff and volunteers for ongoing work; residents urged faster action for road safety in affected neighborhoods. County staff said they would update the court as the state transition proceeds and as more cost information is finalized.