Travis County opens volunteer reception center to assist in flood cleanups

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As families in Central Texas struggle to recover from the devastating Independence Day flooding, volunteers from around the state have rushed in to help in any way they can.

Travis County has taken notice.

The county is set to open a new Volunteer Reception Center on Tuesday in an effort to coordinate and centralize volunteer opportunities. The center, located at Plain Elementary School in Leander, will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

“The VCR is being established as part of a strategic effort to enhance volunteer coordination and task assignments, reduce vehicle traffic in affected neighborhoods, and improve safety for both area residents and emergency responders,” the county wrote in a Monday statement.

The announcement comes after officials in Kerr County are warning volunteers to vacate the river area in preparation for continued heavy rainfall. The county is encouraging volunteers to move to higher ground to stay safe.

Travis County is working alongside the Austin Disaster Relief Network to provide volunteer opportunities throughout Central Texas, from Kerrville to the Sandy Creek neighborhood. The county will provide transportation from the VRC to affected areas until 2 p.m. each day. While volunteers are not required to pre-register, the county encourages individuals to register at the ADRN website before reporting to the VRC.