Travis County to waive $56,000 in flood-related permit fees
"I love it here 99.9 percent of the time," said Hill, who on Thursday was ripping out wallboard at the lakefront home where he's lived for the past five years.
The first floor had flooded before, Hill said, but this time, as the lake rose to near-historic levels, the water made it well into the second floor of his home. The water line is still visible, tracing the outside of the house.
Without flood insurance, Hill will have to pay for repair costs out of his own pocket, he said. It's enough to make him debate leaving the flood-prone neighborhood altogether.
There will be some form of relief for homeowners like Hill. Travis County commissioners voted this week to waive about
"It's a nice gesture, I guess," Hill said, "but it doesn't come close to touching all the other costs I will have to pay."
Giving residents a break on fees after natural disasters is something the county has traditionally done. The county will require applicants like Hill to sign a statement saying their insurance didn't cover permit fees. Each repair permit costs
"Although it's unfortunate, we have these happen with regularity," County Judge
The county also waived fees after the 2011 wildfire in western Travis County and the 2016 springtime flood that swamped
"Everybody's going to be able to repair their structure; it's just a matter of whether or not they're going to have to elevate them first," said
If more than 50 percent of the pre-flood value of a structure is declared lost, the rebuilt structure will need to be elevated, according to federal standards, Scheffel said.
Commissioners on Tuesday also voted to provide assistance with debris cleanup in residential areas affected by the floods. County staffers did not yet have a cost estimate for the cleanup.
Cleanup involves directing the county's solid waste disposal contractors to place dumpsters in affected areas for residents' use and contracting with vendors for special debris pick-ups.
Assistant Public Works Director
"The crews are continuously making sweeps of various areas and will continue to do so," Hunter said.
The county came with cranes to
"They really want all of these condemned," Hill said, looking toward his neighbors' ravaged homes. "If LCRA (the
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