City Of San Marcos Thanks Federal, State And Local Partners

The City of San Marcos would like to express thanks to all of our state, local and national partners whose efforts resulted in the award of $25 million of disaster relief funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and who continue to advocate on behalf of the community for long-term recovery resources.

“The City’s relationships with legislators, agencies and individuals like HUD and Secretary Julián Castro were built over many years, and when we were most in need they showed up and offered assistance before we could even reach out,” said Mayor Daniel Guerrero. “I’d like to extend my deepest appreciation to each of those individuals and organizations, but I’d also like to say thank you to the City’s federal legislative consultants, The Normandy Group, who were instrumental in connecting city officials with the right agencies and offices. Their expertise and insight has been invaluable to the City.”

HUD Secretary Castro was on the ground in San Marcos just days after the Memorial Weekend Flood.  He and his staff were able to see first-hand the aftermath, hear the concerns of the community, and were quick to assist.

The community’s federal legislators and their staff members were in contact with city officials in the days after the Memorial Day Flood and the October flood. Many of them took the time to visit the Emergency Operations Center and the hardest hit areas of the city.

However, their work did not stop there. The staff members of Congressman Lamar Smith, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz plan to meet City officials in Washington D.C. early next week to continue discussions on flood assistance and they have each committed to helping the San Marcos area through the next phase of the recovery process.

“I join the Mayor and the City Council in recognizing the tremendous efforts of City’s congressional delegation,” said former U. S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, now a partner at The Normandy Group. “I’ve worked with federal agencies for 25 years and this effort is one of the greatest accomplishments I have experienced. It was a pleasure for our team to work side by side with the city’s leadership and its wonderful congressional delegation. This funding is crucial and will be put to good use.”

Closer to home, the City’s state legislators continues to work daily to bring much needed disaster relief assistance to San Marcos. Governor Gregg Abbott visited San Marcos and expressed his intention to work to help the City, and surrounding communities, in their recovery efforts.  Sen. Judith Zaffirini, Senator Donna Campbell, Rep. Jason Isaac have also offered valuable support, along with the City’s state legislative consultants Windstead PC.

The City worked closely with Hays County during the response and recovery. The staff and elected officials of San Marcos are extremely thankful for the collaboration with County Judge Bert Cobb, who spent weeks in the Emergency Operation Center. The City’s gratitude also extends to the Hays County Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Commissioner Ray Whisenant, Commissioner Will Conley, Commissioner Mark Jones, and the county’s staff, who has worked tirelessly along-side San Marcos city staff and continues to work on implementing regional flood mitigation and management projects.

“Long term recovery is just that – long term. The City of San Marcos has a long road ahead, and other disasters prove that it could take years to restore the community and mitigate flood risks,” said City Manager Jared Miller “The process may be slow, but we will continue to work every day with our partners toward local and regional projects with lasting impacts on the resiliency of our community.”