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Sydney Mittelstaedt and her dad Aaron Mittelstaedt worked together to distribute food in Cottonwood Shores Feb. 19 on behalf of Highland Lakes Crisis Network. Connie Swinney/The Highlander
From free food distribution to disaster declarations, local government entities have taken steps to help residents pick up the pieces in the wake of winter storm issues.
The cities of Marble Falls and Cottonwood Shores and Llano County Commissioners issued disaster declarations.
On Feb. 22, the city of Marble Falls has extended a disaster declaration through March 16 issued by the mayor in response to the impact of Winter Storm Uri on residents within the municipality. (See Cottonwood Shores information on page 2).
Marble Falls City Council members voted on the extension during a special meeting on Feb. 22, following a week of water system problems and issues caused by sub-freezing temperatures.
The initial declaration Feb. 15 was effective for seven days.
Disaster declarations by municipalities and counties can clear the way for possible federal funding to repair infrastructure and provide funding to assist with mitigating other city-wide issues related to the storm.
The emergency management coordinator for Burnet County announced Feb. 22 that the county will be helping to distribute thousands of FEMA-delivered ready-to-eat meals (MREs) with sites at all volunteer fire halls, Marble Falls and Burnet municipal fire departments, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, Marble Falls Community Resource Center and the county commissioner precinct barns.
Bottled water from FEMA, delivered Feb. 23 by Army helicopters, will also bed available at the locations.
Also, cities are coordinating water distribution efforts. The following is a list of locations in Marble Falls:
• Marble Falls Fire Rescue fire hall, 700 Ave N, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Fellowship Baptist Church, 2702 Mormon Mill Road, beginning on Feb. 22 (one case per vehicle);
• Trinity Episcopal Church, 909 Ave D, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The following locations are water distribution points in Horseshoe Bay:
• Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue fire hall #1, 1 Community Drive;
• Quail Point, 107 Twilight;
• Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue substation #2, 601 Broken Hill.