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Feature TYLA Affiliate

By:  David C. Courreges

Over the course of the week before Halloween, heavy rains pounded Central Texas, prompting minor flooding throughout the area. Even the tree hovering above Lady Bird Lake — a monument to the recent extreme drought — was enveloped by rising waters. Once the rains ended Halloween morning, it appeared that much of the area was spared any major damage. It would be a perfect night for tick-or-treating.

We were wrong. A flash flood had ravaged the Onion Creek Watershed, destroying the southeast Austin communities of Dove Springs, Bluff Springs, and the Onion Creek Neighborhood. Approximately 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and nearly as many families were displaced, including many within the Austin legal community, and some of our closest friends.

As Texans, we are familiar with disaster. Hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, and floods are an unfortunate part of living in the Lone Star State. It is a price we pay — a fact we may even accept. Though we may never be truly prepared, we do have experience. As soon as news of the flooding began to circulate, neighbors and friends from across Travis County rallied to help one another through a most difficult time. These responders included several Austin-area attorneys.

Throughout the month of November, Austin attorneys assisted hundreds of individuals and families in finding a sense of control over their situations. Assistance from the legal community has come in many forms, including a series of legal clinics established at local shelters and town hall meetings, and call-in help lines. Not to mention the dozens who have volunteered by helping clean out damaged homes, sorting and donating goods and food, and assisting at the various community shelters.

My purpose is not to praise the work of lawyers for doing what is right. Lawyers are first and foremost stewards of our communities, and we owe a duty to those who need our help.

Rather, I want to extend thanks to the many people and organizations who stepped up to donate their time to assist our neighbors in need.

In the days immediately after the floods, numerous legal organizations and their members came together to work in tandem to help those in need:
• Austin Bar Association
• Austin Black Lawyers Association
• Hispanic Bar Association of Austin
• Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas

Special thanks goes to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas for their invaluable contributions to the betterment of our community through their presence and resources. The driving forces behind the efforts of these organizations are D’Ann Johnson of TRLA and Abby Anna Batko-Taylor of VLSOCT.

As with any Texas disaster, the effects of the recent floods are far-reaching. It will take time to rebuild the hundreds of damaged homes and much longer to establish a feeling of safety again. Residents are still dealing with multiple legal issues and now must face the daunting tasks of hiring reputable contractors, determining insurance coverage, and interpreting contracts. They still need the help that attorneys can provide.

To volunteer to provide legal advice or take a case, please contact Abby Anna Batko-Taylor of VLSOCT. You can still make a difference in a life that has been turned upside down. And isn’t that why we became lawyers?