Gov. Gregg Abbott and other officials surveying the devastation created by a pair of EF-2 tornadoes that plowed through the area last week praised hardhit communities for their determination to quickly rebuild.
The officials also provided updates on local recovery efforts. Meanwhile, resi
Meanwhile, residents in Hutto had concerns about a lack of emergency warnings from the city, such as sirens and cellphone alerts.
Abbott, as part of a sweep of several cities hit hard by tornadoes on March 21, visited Elgin March 23 and included it among a disaster declaration for 16 counties.
He referenced being with Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell on the night of the storms that spawned the twisters here and in Bastrop County.
“We went over all of the areas in Williamson County, making progress at the time. They have continued to make progress to get power back on, to get lives restored and get neighborhoods cleaned up, to get the community back in order,” said Abbott. “I’m extraordinarily proud of the swift action taken by leaders both in Williamson County but also the cities in Williamson County that acted so swiftly. They did a great job in getting people restored as quickly as possible.”
No fatalities were reported, but vehicles were flipped and structures turned into matchsticks by the onslaught. More than 100 homes were damaged in Bastrop County; Williamson County, including Granger and a swath of Round Rock including Kalahari Resort, saw at least 1,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, officials reported.
On the evening of March 21, the east Williamson County tornado originated in Round Rock at Interstate 35 and Texas 45 before slicing through the north edge of Hutto. The National Weather Service later classified it and the tornado that hit nearby Elgin as EF-2s, with winds in Elgin reaching 130 mph and 135 mph in Round Rock and Granger.
Power had to be turned off due to downed electrical lines, with about 15,000 customers left in the dark for awhile, officials said.
Hutto residents questioned why they didn’t hear tornado sirens.
“I think that it is definitely something that needs to be looked at,” said Mayor Mike Snyder. “Some are already saying that we don’t need them. Before I can say that, I have to know a few things: the cost of installing/maintaining, are there (Federal EmergencyManagement Agency) or other grants that would pay for the install and ‘how’ are they activated.”
As for cellphone alarms, Snyder acknowledged there are some buildings cell coverage cannot penetrate.
“The Hutto Emergency Preparedness Task Force is currently working on communication solutions for things just like this,” said Snyder. “I think that this is possibly another piece of the puzzle with regards to how we communicate severe weather.”
Gravell held another press conference with Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles, U.S. Rep. John Carter and state Rep. Terry Wilson Tuesday, March 22. Boles commented on how the storm veered from Round Rock and Hutto northeast toward Granger.
“We spent a good time of (Tuesday) in Granger,” said Boles. “They are a tight-knit community, and they have been a tight-knit community for its entire existence. To see the amount of people helping their neighbors, it is also overwhelming.”
Mayor Monica Stojanik chronicled what happened in Granger in a public social media post, including the aftermath.
“Phone services went out around 7:30 p.m. and were out until late Tuesday afternoon. I spent the rest of my night riding around till the wee hours of the morning helping where I could,” said Stojanik. “I am just so thankful that the city of Granger was spared. Much damage and destruction occurred just outside of Granger.”
Before hitting the Granger and Circleville area, the storm did clip Taylor in a northwest neighborhood near Chandler Road. Homes on Cotton Row Lane sustained roof damage. Roadways near Chandler Road and County Road 101 were blocked with debris or downed power lines.
“It was a harrowing evening in central Texas,” said Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell. “While Taylor fortunately escaped relatively unscathed, we will seek to assist our neighboring communities that weren’t so lucky.”
