SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - The city of San Marcos has received $25 million in federal relief funds, and add they're in position to possibly receive more.
City leaders made a trip to Washington, D.C. in early March to discuss storm recovery efforts. About a week prior to their trip, they were informed that they would receive the $25 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. That money is earmarked towards preventing future disasters.
"We also want to do large-scale projects that are going to prevent the area from flooding. Or at least make it a lot more flood resistant. It might involve buy-outs. It might involve large-scale river modification projects," said City Manager Jared Miller.
While in D.C., local leaders said they met with state officials and federal agencies to discuss flood relief progress, as well as learn about other grant programs.
The Army Corps of Engineers suggested the city set up a meeting with the Natural Resources Conservation Services to discuss flood-related dam repairs. The agency had $157 million set aside for all its projects, but had $27 million remaining after completing all its commitments. They told San Marcos officials they would review applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. Within hours, the city had submitted their proposal.
"We were very serious about the damage that had been received to the flood-control dams. And we wanted to make sure that we were considered for funding and for projects that would address the damages to our dams," said Miller.
The group is reviewing San Marcos' application. Miller added it's rare for a city, especially of San Marcos' size, to receive that much funding.
"I've not heard of it. I've not seen a situation where a city like San Marcos, the size of San Marcos, has been singled out like that in the past. Now the damage that was received in San Marcos and its surrounding areas was significant. I've never seen any damage like that before either," said Miller.
He thanked state and federal officials for their assistance in securing the funds,.
"I think it's very important to note how appreciative we are for the assistance and recommendation that we received, especially from HUD Secretary (Julian) Castro, former mayor of the city of San Antonio, as well as all our elected officials we visited in Washington, D.C.. Without their assistance, I know for a fact that the city of San Marcos would not be in the advantageous position we are in right now. Or at least the hope-filled position we are right now. We have opportunities that we wouldn't have without their assistance," Miller said. City leaders also met with Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Lamar Smith, and Sen. Ted Cruz during their trip.
It's assistance homeowners like Erasmo DelBosque hope to receive soon. He's lived in the Blanco Gardens Subdivision for nearly 35 years and received extensive damage in May and October. Living in between the San Marcos River and Blanco River, DelBosque said officials should focus their attention there.
"The river has too much water. And it can't hold all that water. So it has to get out," DelBosque said. He said 28 inches of water got inside his home in May, and another eight inches of water came inside in October. The damage forced his family out of their home for months, and cost an estimated $100,000 in repairs and additional cost-of-living expenses. He said both his next-door neighbors still have not moved back in, and many of the homes on his block did not have flood insurance. DelBosque wants city leaders to focus on repairing and strengthening dams.
"I think the dams that they built is not protecting, or they're not helping the river. So it should be something better than what we have," he said.
The NRCS does not repair any other agency's dams due to liability issues and they do not replace dams. A city spokeswoman said three of San Marcos's five flood control dams "sustained major damage during the floods." On top of that, "millions of pounds of debris were deposited" in riverways.
City officials said they have strict federal guidelines they must follow as part of receiving HUD money, which does include hiring staff members to help oversee the process.
HUD relief is separate from FEMA relief, which city officials explain focuses more on repairs. The city is still in the process of applying for FEMA relief from the October floods. The money received from HUD can be applied to areas of future resistance that were affected in either flooding event. Officials are also seeking public input on how to best spend the funds once they receive them.
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