Georgetown staff reports major San Gabriel River flood damage; $9.6M preliminary estimate

Christy Rogers, the city of Georgetown’s emergency management coordinator, briefed the City Council on flood impacts from a late-June/early‑July event that produced a 37.36‑foot crest on the San Gabriel River and widespread damage to municipal infrastructure.

Rogers said the river “reached its height about 11:25 in the morning” during the event and described primary impacts to water and wastewater systems, parks facilities and electrical infrastructure. She told council crews found a 12‑inch break in a main water line under the river that drained two water storage tanks and prompted boil‑water notices while crews isolated the break. Two water intake structures on Lake Georgetown remained submerged until the previous Friday, Rogers said, and one control panel on an intake has been sent to a contractor for evaluation.

The nut graf: City staff said debris removal and damage assessment are ongoing, the city has opened federal and county assistance channels, and preliminary local damage estimates total about $9.6 million — a figure staff said will be refined as assessments continue.

Rogers detailed wastewater impacts including aeration tanks and water tanks filled with silt and sand, lift stations and manholes blocked by debris and soot, and an estimated 400 manholes in the floodway requiring assessment or recovery. She said crews are using metal detectors to locate manhole covers that are buried.

Parks and recreation losses included damage at San Gabriel Park and Blue Hole Park: trails washed away, pavilions and playground surfacing lost, a section of a dug bridge was lost and several trail segments and recreational courts were damaged or destroyed. Electric crews reported 11 light poles at Bridal Veil requiring full replacement and additional damage to poles and conductors at Blue Hole Park; the city is still inventorying possible impacts to meters along the floodway.

Debris management: Rogers said contractors have removed 124 truckloads, equal to about 3,740 cubic yards of debris, and that removal contractors have worked in San Gabriel Park since roughly July 15. She compared the flood (localized to the riverfront) with previous winter storms, noting winter storm Uri produced roughly 30,000 cubic yards of debris but the recent event was smaller and more localized.

Assistance and finances: Rogers said Williamson County applied for and received an individual assistance declaration from the federal government; FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the Williamson County EMS North Campus with hours she said run through Aug. 10. The county issued a temporary disaster exemption through the Williamson County central appraisal district and the WILCO CARES fund will accept applications this week, Rogers said. Staff reported the public assistance declaration was amended July 16 to include Williamson County and approved categories A through G. She said staff will submit the city’s public assistance request and project paperwork by Aug. 15 and that the FEMA process typically reimburses 75% of approved project costs with a 25% local cost share.

On emergency spending, Rogers said the city transferred $300,000 in emergency appropriations from the general fund to the public works department to begin debris removal and monitoring contracts and that staff are reviewing available cash balances across funds to temporarily cover expenses while tracking costs to comply with FEMA public assistance documentation requirements. Rogers gave the meeting a preliminary damage total of about $9,600,000 and said the number will be refined as contractors provide quotes and assessments are completed.

Community support and volunteers: Rogers said the county and local partners operated a Multi‑Agency Resource Center (MARC) that served about 100 families with food, water, medical services, document replacement and short‑term housing assistance. The city is using the Crisis Cleanup platform to coordinate individual requests and volunteer matching. Rogers said staff were planning volunteer cleanup days and would announce details the following week.

Outlook and next steps: Rogers said debris removal in San Gabriel Park was ongoing and contractors estimated roughly three weeks to complete work in that park; Blue Hole cleanup had not yet started. Rogers said staff will continue damage assessments of water, wastewater, electric and park infrastructure and will assemble documentation and cost estimates needed for FEMA public assistance projects.

Ending: Council members thanked staff for rapid response and praised early field assessments. Rogers closed by saying staff will continue to collect damage documentation, refine cost estimates and proceed with the public assistance process.