AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued what they're calling "pre-emptive" disaster declarations due to a growing wildfire threat across the region.
According to forecasters, neither of Austin's climate reporting sites - Camp Mabry or Austin-Bergstrom International Airport - have seen measurable rainfall in over 40 days, with drought conditions again spreading across much of Central Texas.
The move follows Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's issuance of a state disaster declaration on Wednesday, including all of the Austin metro counties.
“Austin ranks sixth in the nation for number of homes at risk of wildfire,” Watson said. “With that in mind, and taking into consideration the heightened risk we face due to dry conditions, I am hereby declaring The City of Austin to be in a state of disaster for wildfires. This will allow our public safety staff to begin tracking expenses accrued and expedite the reimbursement from the federal or state government in the event a wildfire should occur during this declaration.”
According to the release, the early declaration makes tracking resources and personnel used in mitigation, response, and recovery efforts easier and fast-tracks the reimbursement request process from state and federal agencies.
One of the reasons for the pre-emptive declaration is the number of visitors expected in town this weekend for Formula 1 and the Texas-Georgia football game. Austin’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management Interim Director Bill Wilson touched on precautions that visitors and residents alike can take to keep wildfires from spreading.
“Wildfires can spread very quickly,” Wilson said. “The last thing we want to see is a wildfire spread at a large venue where thousands of people are gathered to have a good time. The dry conditions we are experiencing make this a particularly dangerous time. More than 90% of wildfires are manmade. Please take this threat seriously and do what is necessary to prevent a wildfire from sparking."
Under state law, a disaster declaration only lasts for seven days unless it is ratified by city council or county commissioners' action. Watson, in a post on the council's online message board, said he intends to ask council to ratify the declaration on next Thursday's agenda, which would extend it to 30 days.
