Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes proclaimed April as Flood Safety Awareness Week in Austin and called on residents to prepare for future flooding while promoting a new pilot program aimed at helping families with flood insurance and a community event this weekend.

Fuentes said the city has worked with community partners and staff to “champion flood mitigation, expand public education, and to build a more resilient Austin.” She told the council that one of her first items on council examined ways to strengthen flood preparedness and said “we…brought together an innovative pilot program to help with flood insurance for our families in need.”

The proclamation described the Watershed Protection Department’s role in protecting lives and property from flooding, erosion and water pollution, and urged Austinites to prepare by making a family flood plan, assembling an emergency kit and heeding the “turn around, don’t drown” message. “A flood ready city takes teamwork, long term planning, and boots on the ground,” Fuentes said as she presented the proclamation to Jorge Morales, director of the Watershed Protection Department.

Jorge Morales thanked council for the recognition and described routine department duties such as monitoring and closing roads during heavy rains, reviewing proposed development for compliance with regulations, maintaining ponds and drainage infrastructure, and designing drainage improvement projects. He invited residents to visit ATXFloodSafety.com for preparedness tips and promoted the city’s Flood Safety Fest scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at L.L. Campbell Elementary School.

The council did not take formal policy votes during the proclamation. The statements noted the city’s ongoing operations and projects to reduce flood risk; the transcript did not specify funding sources, eligibility criteria, or program timelines for the pilot flood-insurance effort.

City officials encouraged community attendance at the Flood Safety Fest for family-focused information, giveaways and demonstrations. For official guidance and resources the proclamation directs residents to ATXFloodSafety.com.