LAGO VISTA, Texas — Several property owners in Lago Vista were able to return home Monday for the first time in almost two weeks, after flood waters forced them out. Lake Travis has continued to drop since cresting at more than 704 feet; the reservoir is considered full at 681 feet.

  • Many people are returning to their homes after recent floods
  • City of Lago Vista brought in crews to clear debris
  • Mobile disaster relief sites are planned throughout the week

Water rose to five or six feet in many of the waterfront homes in and around Lago Vista neighborhood. That pushed out garage doors, brought in several inches of mud, and soaked drywall.

Kenneth Seiler built his home in 2002.

"We had to build to FEMA specs at that time, which has changed since then," he said. "For example, the house going up next door--they have to build higher than we did."

Seiler said his garage has flooded three times since he moved in: in 2007, 2016 and this month.

"It's worse than the one in 2007," he said. "[Water reached] about two feet higher [than the top of the garage door]—just short of getting on the second floor."

Lago Vista brought in crews to clear debris from the low-lying roads, which included wood chippers, high-angle tree trimmers, and other heavy equipment. The American Red Cross set up a disaster relief site at a restaurant Monday to assist affected residents.

"We wait until they're done doing their jobs, and then we come in," the nonprofit's Veronica Ramirez said. "The mud in the houses is probably a foot deep. People don't realize that river came so strong and so fast that it churned up everything and just sent it all on land."

Ramirez and her team handed out clean-up kits, provided counseling, and assisted residents in beginning the claims process for their property damage.

"The financial assistance [the American Red Cross offers] is not meant for them to rebuild their house," Ramirez said. "It is just meant to assist them along the way before government and FEMA step in to really provide those resources."

Mobile disaster relief sites are planned all week at the following locations:

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 - Lago Vista
Lake Travis Community Library
1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd
Austin, TX 78734
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - Granite Shoals

First Baptist Church Granite Shoals
505 S. Phillip Ranch Road
Granite Shoals, Texas 78654
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 1, 2018 - Marble Falls

Boys and Girls Club of Marble Falls
1701 Broadway
Marble Falls, Texas, 78654
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.