‘The recovery process is much, much worse’

Recovery from last year’s devastating Central Texas floods did not end when the water receded.

One year later, communities across Travis, Burnet and Williamson counties came together to make sure survivors are not forgotten.

A benefit concert, “Three Counties, One Cause,” filled The Haute Spot in Cedar Park Saturday night with live music, food and a shared mission to support families still rebuilding after the floods.

“It’s really important work to support folks as they attempt to recover from such a devastating loss,” executive director of Travis County Recovery Alliance Janis Bookout said. “So we’re here to celebrate life, celebrate the work and be together as a community, and get behind these folks.”

Local residents said recovery extends far beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

“When people go through a trauma, like the horrific flooding that happened, I mean, it greatly impacts you,” Georgetown resident Kathryn Mullen said. “Not just in that moment, or for the couple weeks after, but for the rest of your life.”

For many survivors, the road to recovery is far from over.

“At the time, I thought it was the most horrifying thing I’ve ever experienced, but it turns out the recovery process is much, much worse,” Ashlee Willis, a Sandy Creek flood victim, said.

Despite the challenges, Willis said the tragedy has strengthened the community.

“There’s real power in community and through this tragedy, that’s what we’ve built, is a community, and we’re going to be stronger after,” Willis said.

Brandy Gerstner, another Sandy Creek flood survivor, said the event is about more than raising money.

“Seeing the light, after all the darkness, coming together in such a beautiful way – communities coming together, people coming together, who have suffered in the same fashion, for a common goal,” Gerstner said.

Organizers said the concert serves as a reminder that, even a year after the floods, survivors are not facing recovery alone.