FEMA Does Preliminary Texas Flooding Assessment

Emergency officials have finished a preliminary assessment of deadly Central Texas flooding in an effort to determine possible federal assistance.

The Austin American-Statesman reports teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the weekend canvassed Travis, Hays, Caldwell and Williamson counties.

FEMA spokeswoman Jacqueline Chandler says the agency will provide details to state officials who are considering whether to seek federal help. Details weren’t released on the initial assessment.

At least five people died in flooding blamed on end-of-October storms that damaged hundreds of homes, mainly in the Austin area. Investigators are trying to determine whether another body, recovered Saturday in some debris along a creek, was a man reported missing Nov. 1.

Austin officials last week announced plans to buy 115 homes from the flooded Onion Creek area.