Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown announced local disaster declarations ahead of potential flash flooding overnight Tuesday.
Watson said the declarations were being made preemptively. “This declaration will allow the City to quickly organize our resources and respond to any disaster event that might occur,” he said.
The declarations allow local governments to coordinate emergency response efforts.
“When our community faces an emergency, we act,” Brown said in a news release. “This disaster declaration ensures that we can respond immediately and marshal every available resource in the event of flash floods threatening Travis County.”
Travis County, along with 21 other Texas counties, is under a flood watch until Thursday evening. Rivers, creeks and low-water crossings may swell, with roads potentially flooding.
The declaration comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources on Saturday.
The National Weather Service forecasts a potential 2-6 inches of rain locally. The Rio Grande Plains, southern Edwards Plateau and the U.S 90 corridor may see 10-20 inches of rain, according to the NWS.
To stay updated, you can sign up for text or email alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org and turn on emergency notifications on your cellphone.
This is a developing story.