Staff report

According to a press release Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has added 24 counties, including Hays County, to a disaster declaration first issued on May 11.

The move will authorize further mobilization of state resources to assist impacted areas. 

It comes as severe weather continues across the state. Current forecasts call for the continuation of possibly severe storms, large hail, damaging winds and flash and river flooding.

“The State of Texas has taken brisk action in dispatching all available resources to aid those affected by this severe weather system, and I strongly urge all Texans to exercise every possible precaution to ensures their safety and the safety of their families and neighbors,” Abbot said in a statement.

The Texas State Operations Center (SOC), in coordination with the Texas Emergency Management Council, remains at an elevated activation level. It will continue to monitor weather conditions and coordinate with the National Weather service, according to the release.

In Hays County, areas of Wimberley and San Marcos continue to sift through the damage done by catastrophic flooding of the Blanco River over the weekend. 

In a Monday morning press conference, Hays County officials estimate that up to 1,200 homes and business have been damaged as a result of the flood. In Wimberley, which has seen the brunt of flood damage, up to 67 to 72 homes have been washed away.

San Marcos Emergency Management Coordinator Ken Bell said that there are “still rescue operations in play.” Bell said the use of drone technology and thermal imaging is being utilized in the search effort. State resources are also being utilized to help.

He confirmed the continued search for 12 people that are still considered missing after the weekend’s flood. It is suspected that the 12 people missing are from one group that may have been in one building at the same time.

According to authorities, it is believed the group was attending a “fluid social situation” in Wimberley, however that has not been confirmed.

Authorities, however, still have not identified the man who was found dead in San Marcos on Sunday.

Kharley Smith, Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator, said Monday that a cost estimate for damages has not been determined at this time.

In addition, the Wimberley, San Marcos and unincorporated areas of Hays County affected by the flood will go into another public safety curfew at 9 p.m. Monday. The curfew on Tuesday will end at 6 a.m. to allow for school start times.

Depending on the impact of expected rainfall, officials could reopen shelters. Authorities are also asking people to refrain from returning to damaged areas.

Social service agencies are currently assisting government agencies, as the American Red Cross is staffing shelters in affected areas, while the Salvation Army is providing food.

Officials, however, are requesting people and organizations that want to donate material items to wait until those items can be catalogued, stored and distributed

Monetary donations to the American Red Cross are suggested in the interim.