Austin news

• PHOTOS: Damage in Port Aransas

  27-08-2017 23:38 via kxan.com
  PORT ARANSAS, Texas (KXAN) — Our crews were given access to some of the hardest hit parts of Port Aransas on Sunday. KXAN News photographer Frank Martinez captured these images of the destruction. Damage in Port A Port Aransas damage from Hurricane Harvey (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Port Aransas damage from Hurricane Harvey (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Port Aransas damage from Hurricane Harvey (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Port Aransas damage from Hurricane Harvey (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)
  
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• Williamson County deploys boat crew to Houston

  27-08-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A four person boat crew from Williamson County is making their way to Houston to help conduct water rescues amid catastrophic flooding.
  Sheriff Robert Chody announced the deployment on Facebook while reassuring residents that there would still be boat crews locally in the event water rescues were needed in Williamson County.Houston leaders put out a plea for boats to help with rescues in light of 20+ inches of rain stemming from Tropical Storm Harvey.
  
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• Viral photo shows nursing home residents trapped in water

  27-08-2017 23:14 via kxan.com
  DICKINSON, Texas (KXAN) — Residents of a Dickinson nursing home were reportedly trapped in waist-deep water Sunday.
  A photo by Trudy Lampson and obtained by KRTK shows residents sitting in water waiting to be rescued.Most of the residents were either on oxygen used wheelchairs.The residents are believed to be safe now.Dickinson is located between Houston and Galveston along Interstate 45.
  
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• The Latest: Trump to visit hurricane-ravaged Texas Tuesday

  27-08-2017 22:42 via kxan.com
  CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — President Donald Trump will travel to hurricane-ravaged Texas on Tuesday.
  White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tells reporters the White House is still coordinating logistics with state and local officials.
  She adds: “We continue to keep all of those affected in our thoughts and prayers.”
  Tropical Storm Harvey sent devastating floods pouring into Houston on Sunday. Rising water chased some people to rooftops or higher ground and overwh
  
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• Houston Bush, Hobby airports closed by flooding

  27-08-2017 21:45 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (KXAN/AP) — Both major airports in Houston have been closed amid severe flooding blamed on Tropical Storm Harvey. A Houston Airport System statement at midday Sunday says George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport are closed to commercial flights until further notice. Officials say roads in and out of both airports are shut down due to flooding.
  Check with your airline if you had travel booked into or through one of the airports to see about accommodations and other tra
  
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• Abbott wants to add 12 counties to disaster declaration

  27-08-2017 21:44 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flooding devastates communities in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the state’s governor is requesting an expanded Disaster Declaration.
  Last week President Donald Trump granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration, which allows residents to apply for assistance. Gov. Greg Abbott also previously declared a state disaster declaration for 50 Texas counties. On Sunday he requested 12 more counties be added to the president’s declaration.
  “We’re
  
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• Hurricane Harvey the latest threat to flood-prone Houston

  27-08-2017 21:02 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas coast some 175 miles (280 kilometers) from Houston, but the nation’s fourth-largest city has never needed a direct strike from a catastrophic storm to flood.
  Regularly inundated by floodwaters ever since its settlement in the mid-1800s, Houston looked on warily even before Harvey roared ashore. In Houston, the chronic deluges that have repeatedly swamped its neighborhoods are getting worse and more costly — not just for loc
  
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• Texas teams’ plans upended by Hurricane Harvey

  27-08-2017 21:01 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers won’t travel to Houston as planned after their games Sunday in California because of torrential floodwaters that have engulfed the city in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
  The Rangers had been scheduled to head to Houston after playing Oakland to await the start of a series with the Astros beginning Tuesday. Instead, they’ll return to Dallas to await word on the status of their three-game series. The Astros are in Anaheim and als
  
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• Harvey affecting High School football schedule

  27-08-2017 20:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The highly anticipated game between state powers Westlake and Katy to open the High School Football season has been cancelled because of Hurricane Harvey. The game was scheduled for Friday, September 1st at the new $70 million Katy ISD Legacy Stadium.Katy is ranked number 2 in Class 6A and Westlake is ranked 7th.
  The Vista Ridge-Corpus Christi Flour Bluff scheduled at Incarnate Word University in San Antonio has been cancelled.
  The high school season begins on Thursday.Bowi
  
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• One dies after car runs down embankment on SH 130

  27-08-2017 19:35 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One man died and another was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after a car struck a guardrail and went down an embankment south of Austin.
  Southbound lanes of State Highway 130 are closed at Moore Road, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The guardrail was damaged in the crash.
  At least one of the people were pinned in the car, according to tweets from the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Service. The incident happened just after noon. The m
  
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• Falling glass shuts down 2nd Street in Austin

  27-08-2017 19:19 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police have closed a downtown road after glass reportedly fell from a building.
  They say 2nd Street is shut down between Colorado Street and Congress Avenue. It is unclear how long it will be closed.APD IS shutting down 2nd st between Colorado and Congress due to falling glass from a building, unknown for how long at this time,
  — Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) August 27, 2017
  
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• Danger of falling glass shuts down 2nd Street in Austin

  27-08-2017 19:19 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police have closed a downtown road after glass reportedly fell from a building.
  They say 2nd Street is shut down between Colorado Street and Congress Avenue. It is unclear how long it will be closed.
  Ashton building management notified residents that the external panes of glass are cracked on the building.
  APD IS shutting down 2nd st between Colorado and Congress due to falling glass from a building, unknown for how long at this time,
  — Austin Police Dept (@Aus
  
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• Water ‘is swallowing us up’: Catastrophic floods hit Houston

  27-08-2017 18:06 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Rescuers answered thousands of desperate calls for help Sunday as floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Harvey rose high enough to begin filling second-story homes, and authorities urged stranded families to seek refuge on rooftops.
  A fleet of helicopters, airboats and high-water vehicles confronted flooding so widespread that authorities had trouble pinpointing the worst areas. Rescuers got too many calls to respond to each one and had to prioritize life-and-death situ
  
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• Resources for evacuated livestock, pets

  27-08-2017 17:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As people leave their homes because of Tropical Storm Harvey or the flooding that follows, many are concerned about how to protect their pets or livestock.
  The Texas Animal Health Commission compiled a list of animal holding facilities and shelters, which can be found here. It recommends people call the facilities ahead of time to make sure there is space available.
  If people are searching for a place for their animals that is not on the list, they can call 211 or contact t
  
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• Central Texas Evacuations

  27-08-2017 17:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several Central Texas communities have ordered evacuations as rain continues to fall across the area. This list of evacuations will be continuously updated as floods continue to threaten our communities. Save this link and share it with people who may need it. 
  Mandatory Evacuations
  Bastrop County
  Some individual homes have been evacuated, but there is no large-scale evacuation order at this time.
  Fayette County
  La Grange: Evacuations ordered from Water Street to
  
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• School cancellations for Monday

  27-08-2017 15:51 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Harvey continues to pummel Central Texas, some school districts are canceling classes. Here’s a list of all the cancellations and it will be updated:
  CANCELLED FOR MONDAY AUG. 28
  New Braunfels ISD
  Smithville Independent School District is canceling school Monday Aug. 27. The district is evaluating with emergency management whether to cancel on Tuesday as well.
  Texas State University
  
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• School cancellations and delays for Monday

  27-08-2017 15:51 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Harvey continues to pummel Central Texas, some school districts are canceling classes. Here’s a list of all the cancellations and it will be updated:
  CANCELLED OR DELAYED FOR MONDAY AUG. 28
  Bastrop ISD
  Del Valle ISD
  Elgin ISD
  Fayetteville ISD
  Giddings ISD
  La Grange ISD is canceling school on Monday and officials will meet to decide if they should cancel Tuesday as well.
  Lexington ISD
  Lockhart ISD
  Luling ISD
  Manor ISD
  McDade ISD
  New Braunfels ISD
  Pflugerville I
  
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• Texans impacted by Harvey can start registering for FEMA assistance

  27-08-2017 14:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With dozens of counties in Texas declared disaster areas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says people impacted by Hurricane Harvey can start filing for federal assistance.
  President Donald Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration ahead of Harvey making landfall. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the eff
  
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• Harvey storm chaser reunites lost dog with owners

  27-08-2017 14:10 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A storm chaser managed to track down more than just Tropical Storm Harvey this weekend. He also found — and reunited — a lost dog with its family.
  “I stopped for gas and this guy was following me down the road and when I stopped he jumped into the Jeep,” Aaron Jayjack said in a video he posted to Twitter asking for help to find the pup’s home.
  Jack was traveling back to Austin from Victoria, Texas, when he found the dog near Runge, Texas. He wa
  
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• University of Texas sued for removing Confederate statues

  27-08-2017 13:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (AP) – The University of Texas is being sued for removing four Confederate statues from the main area of campus in Austin.
  The Sons of Confederate Veterans filed the lawsuit Wednesday, three days after the statues were quickly taken down following a late-night order from University President Greg Fenves.
  The removals followed the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school says the statues will be moved to other areas on campus, including a museum.
  The st
  
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• People in Corpus Christi search for gas, necessities in wake of Harvey

  27-08-2017 13:46 via kxan.com
  CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Nexstar) — As South Texas residents return to scenes of devastation, many find gas stations shut down and convenience stores closed. And with “open” signs shut off for the foreseeable future, many are looking for basic necessities.
  “No hotels, no gas, no food, no restaurants are open, so you’re just kind of stuck,” said Corey Gooch, who was searching for gas along Coastal Bend.
  Dozens of people lined up at one of the only gas stations to
  
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• Hawk takes refuge in a Houston cab during Harvey

  27-08-2017 13:31 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON, Texas (WFLA) – A Houston taxi driver picked up an unusual passenger as Hurricane Harvey battered Texas on Friday night.
  When William Bruso got out of his car to take video of the storm on Friday, he says a hawk swooped into the vehicle and hunkered down in the passenger seat.
  Bruso said he tried to get the bird out of the car, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
  He recorded several videos of the bird in the car and in Bruso’s home, which he posted on YouTube.
  He told NBC he&r
  
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• Parts of La Grange under mandatory evacuations

  27-08-2017 12:35 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — Mandatory evacuations have been called for parts of La Grange as of 9:15 a.m. Sunday.
  KXAN’s Chris Davis says the evacuation is for everyone from Water Street to the Colorado River — which is hundreds of addresses.
  Earlier this morning, the Fayette County Office of Emergency Management told residents to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice Sunday morning because the Colorado River is now expected to crest at 49 feet, which would be the third or
  
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• Parts of La Grange, Fayette County under mandatory evacuations

  27-08-2017 12:35 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — Mandatory evacuations have been called for parts of La Grange as well as parts of Fayette County along the Colorado River.
  KXAN’s Chris Davis says the evacuation in LaGrange is for everyone from Water Street to the Colorado River — which is hundreds of addresses.
  At Noon Sunday, The Fayette County Judge Judge Ed Janecka issued a mandatory evacuation of areas along the Colorado River outside the incorporated area of La Grange:
  The river is predicte
  
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• Fayette County residents should be prepared to evacuate

  27-08-2017 12:35 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — The Fayette County Office of Emergency Management is telling residents to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice Sunday morning because the Colorado River is now expected to crest at 49 feet, which would be the third or fourth highest crest ever in that area.
  In a Facebook video with KTIM Radio, Fayette County OEM spokesperson Colton Brugger said the county is concerned about the new projections and the devastating effects it’ll have on homes in the ar
  
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• Mayweather dominates McGregor in late rounds to go 50-0

  27-08-2017 11:44 via kxan.com
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. put on a show in the last fight of his spectacular career.
  Conor McGregor didn’t do so badly, either.
  Mayweather figured out a 50th opponent Saturday night, letting McGregor have the early rounds before stalking him late and leaving the mixed martial artist defenseless and exhausted on the ropes in the 10th round.
  It was a smashing end to a career that earned Mayweather more money than any fighter before him — including an estimated $200 mi
  
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• Onion Creek will hit moderate flood stage

  27-08-2017 11:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The National Weather Service says while Onion Creek will reach moderate flood stage in Austin, it is not expected to impact any homes.
  At 2:35 a.m., Onion Creek was at 17.53 feet and rising. It is expected to get to 23.6 feet, which is moderate flood stage, by Sunday morning. Minor flood 17 feet and major flood would be 27 feet.
  Travis County Emergency Service District No. 7 says they’ve seen standing water on some of the roads and they doubled their staff for pa
  
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• Houston-area inundated with rain from Harvey

  27-08-2017 10:09 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON, Texas (AP/KXAN) — The Houston-area has seen what Harvey can do when it comes to rain.
  In Jersey Village, officials are recommending that people who live along the White Oak Bayou, about 17 miles northwest of Houston, consider whether they need to evacuate their homes.
  Jersey Village City Manager Austin Bleess says the city issued a notice to residents about 1:30 a.m. saying the bayou looked like it would be out of its banks before long. He says city officials worried that streets
  
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• 25 Smithville homes taking on water due to heavy rainfall

  27-08-2017 09:54 via kxan.com
  SMITHVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Twenty-five homes in Smithville are taking on water due to the amount of rain the city has gotten over the past few hours.
  Smithville Mayor Scott Saunders told KXAN News around 1:30 a.m. that he’s never seen homes in his town flood like this before. The flooding in the neighborhoods is because the drainage isn’t able to keep up with the amount of rain.
  While on the phone with KXAN News, Saunders said the water outside his grandparents house was 3 feet
  
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• Bastrop County issues voluntary evacuations in some neighborhoods

  27-08-2017 09:36 via kxan.com
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A couple of homes are under mandatory evacuation in Bastrop County as the county continues experiencing heavy rain early Sunday morning.
  The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management says the mandatory evacuation only applies to two homes with addresses 548 and 545 State Highway 95, which is just north of Bastrop.
  The following other areas are under voluntary evacuation:
  2 Mile Lane from Farm to Market 153 to State Highway 71
  Entire Ponderosa Road South o
  
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• Luling family rescued from high water

  27-08-2017 09:08 via kxan.com
  LULING, Texas (KXAN) — A family in Caldwell County who had to make a trip to an emergency room for scorpion bites got stuck in a precarious situation Saturday night.
  Markeatha Simmons says she, along with her husband and three children, were in their truck driving along Farm to Market Road 1322 when their truck got stuck in 2 feet of water. Worried about the high water, Simmons called 911 immediately.
  “It was still climbing and we began to panic because we didn’t know
  
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• Caldwell County braces for consistent rain as Harvey hovers

  27-08-2017 06:33 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders in Caldwell County confirm twice they had to respond to calls for water rescues after someone drove into a low water crossing Saturday evening.
  In Lytton Springs, people had to abandon a vehicle before it got swept away around 8 p.m. At 9 p.m., water along Farm to Market 1322 east of Luling swept away the barricades. A car drove into the crossing afterward. Luling police were able to get the car and the two people out safe.
  The Caldwell County Office of Eme
  
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• Victoria family seeks shelter in Austin, comforted by Gov. Greg Abbott

  27-08-2017 05:17 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hundreds of coastal evacuees have found safety and shelter across Central Texas. In Austin on Saturday, evacuees staying at the Wilhelmina Delco Center were greeted by Gov. Greg Abbott, alongside local, state, and federal lawmakers who served them dinner and spoke with them about their circumstances in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
  Shirelle Franklin arrived at the shelter Friday afternoon after being evacuated from her home in Victoria. Now that more than a day has passed,
  
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• PHOTOS: Hurricane Harvey damage in the Rockport area

  27-08-2017 04:19 via kxan.com
  ROCKPORT, Texas (KXAN) — Destruction could be seen far and wide along the central Texas coast Saturday after Hurricane Harvey came through.
  There was one confirmed death in Rockport that’s being blamed on Harvey. Here is a look at the damage in the area. PHOTOS: Harvey devastates Texas coast ROCKPORT, TX - AUGUST 26:A damaged home is seen after Hurricane Harvey passed through on August 26, 2017 in Rockport, Texas. Harvey made landfall shortly after 11 p.m. Friday, just north of Port
  
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• Riding out the eye in Rockport: David Yeoman’s Hurricane Harvey experience

  27-08-2017 02:20 via kxan.com
  ROCKPORT, Texas (KXAN) — KXAN Meteorologist David Yeomans sought shelter with three other KXAN employees at a hotel rated to sustain a Category 5 hurricane when the winds from Category 4 Harvey’s eye wall tore the walls from the hotel.
  David shared some video shot by photographer Andrew Choat who kept rolling as the worst of the hurricane moved in. Meanwhile, Reporter Wes Rappaport and photographer Todd Bailey continued to provide live reports to stations across the state. KXAN Crew
  
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• Lufkin, Texas, takes on mighty Japan for LLWS title

  27-08-2017 02:08 via kxan.com
  SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Lufkin, Texas, came from five runs down on Saturday to take the United States bracket at the Little League World Series.
  Its task may be even tougher on Sunday, when Lufkin takes on 10-time tournament winner Japan in the championship.
  Japan has won four of the last seven Little League World Series, and Tokyo Kitasuna, the club representing Japan this year, has won the championship three times before. Its most recent title came in 2015, when it was led by curr
  
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• Fayette County battles rising water and rain pounds small towns

  27-08-2017 01:54 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — Heavy rains have battered the small communities in Fayette County since Saturday morning, bring rising water closer to some homes and businesses.
  Meanwhile, a lot of that rainfall — from all over central Texas — eventually makes its way into the Colorado River, which until Saturday had remained below five feet for weeks leading up to the arrival of Hurricane Harvey.
  In less than 12 hours, the river rose more than 7 feet. According to the Lower Colorado
  
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• Houston football calling Texas home during Harvey

  27-08-2017 01:39 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  The University of Houston football team has temporarily relocated to Austin and the Texas football facilities as Hurricane Harvey wreaks havoc on the the Texas coast.
  The connections between the schools run deep when it comes to the two coaching staffs. Longhorns head coach Tom Herman spent the past two seasons in the same role at U of H. Once he left for Texas, former Longhorns quarterback and longtime assistant coach Major Applewhite replaced him. Applewhite was als
  
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• Austin waterways ordered closed due to excessive rainfall

  27-08-2017 01:35 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — All waterways in the City of Austin are closed until 6 p.m. Thursday  because of continuous rainfall and flooding concerns.
  The affected waterways include: all creeks within the City of Austin area; Barton Creek; Bull Creek; Lady Bird Lake; the entirety of Lake Austin from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam; and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam.
  Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr ordered the closure Saturday evening ahead of continued rainfall.
  
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• Residents of flood-prone areas of Bastrop County urged to consider voluntary evacuations

  27-08-2017 01:23 via kxan.com
  BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — As the remnants of Hurricane Harvey continue to dump rain on the eastern part of Central Texas, Bastrop County judge Paul Pape is asking residents on property that typically foods to consider voluntary evacuation.
  Judge Pape issued a disaster declaration for the county saying the measure would provide for mandatory evacuations should they become necessary.
  “At this time, the Office of Emergency Management is asking all families who know their property is prone
  
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• Red Cross shelter open in Luling as tropical storm Harvey hits Central Texas

  27-08-2017 00:55 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  People in small towns across Central Texas brace for long, wet, and windy days ahead. The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Luling Civic Center in preparation for a continued downpour.
  A line of tables separate where people sleep on cats from where people can sit and eat.
  Two volunteers from Baltimore and Washington State came to set up one of the many shelters across Central Texas. They expect more volunteers to trickle in after flight delays. Right now, peo
  
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