Austin and Travis County declare local disasters ahead of expected flash flooding
July 15, 2026
- What: Local disaster declarations were issued ahead of anticipated overnight flash flooding.
- Who: Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown announced the actions.
- Where: The declarations cover the City of Austin and Travis County, which is under a regional flood watch.
- Why it matters: The orders allow local and state resources to be coordinated quickly if rivers, creeks or roads flood.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued local disaster declarations ahead of possible flash flooding expected overnight Tuesday. Officials made the declarations proactively to enable faster coordination of emergency resources if flooding occurs.
The declarations give city and county leaders authority to organize response efforts and work with state partners. They are meant to speed deployment of personnel and equipment where needed during rapidly changing conditions.
Travis County is included in a flood watch that covers 22 Texas counties through Thursday evening, with rivers, creeks and low water crossings likely to rise and some roads at risk of flooding. The National Weather Service projects 2 to 6 inches of rain for the Austin area, with heavier totals of 10 to 20 inches possible in the Rio Grande Plains, southern Edwards Plateau and along the U.S. 90 corridor.
Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources on Saturday to support local preparations. Residents can sign up for text and email alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org and enable emergency notifications on their phones to stay informed.
Sources
- City and county officials' announcements
- Governor's office activation notice
- National Weather Service forecast
- Local public radio report