In emotional testimony before state lawmakers Thursday, survivors of the July 5 flood in Travis County accused local officials of responding too slowly to the disaster that tore through the Big Sandy Creek area, killing multiple people and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Speaking at a legislative field hearing in Kerrville that stretched past midnight, residents and volunteers said the county was unprepared, uncommunicative, and slow to begin search, recovery and cleanup efforts.
“The fact that we have spent our own personal money to help efforts because support has not been there is unacceptable,” said Ashlee Willis, a flood survivor who described using her own resources to provide aid to neighbors. She said the community still lacked access to temporary housing, transportation and heavy equipment to clear debris.
Residents of Travis and Kerr counties also testified that human remains continue to surface from the devastating floods. Willis struggled to speak as she recounted finding a “hip and a leg” on her property…