Williamson County, Texas

Residents who fall under the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) Phase 1c may sign-up starting today, March 15, on Williamson County’s centralized waitlist to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  

To register and get on the waitlist, please visit www.wilco.org.  

DSHS opened the vaccination process to Phase 1c individuals, which includes anyone between the age of 50 to 64 years old.

DSHS reported that people in this age bracket are the next most vulnerable group in our population and could suffer serious to life-threatening effects when infected with COVID-19. 

To date, 144,669 doses have been administered to Williamson County residents, and 42,995 of those residents have been fully vaccinated, according to data provided by DSHS.

Williamson County has approximately 13,500 people on the waitlist that are in Phase 1b with approximately 3,600 of that group who are over 65.

If you missed the Williamson County AgriLife: Freeze Damage Recovery program yesterday, you can find the posted recording along with some extra fact sheets and tips at https://williamson.agrilife.org/winter-storm-recovery-for-lawns-and-landscape/. 

The following information is from Kate Whitney, Horticulture Extension Agent with Williamson County, who hosted the Facebook program: Remember that the key is PATIENCE! The warmer weather is helping our plants to recover, but it might take several weeks before plants start to show signs of life.  A scratch test on the stems is a good way to find living tissue in your plants.  Start at the tips and work your way down until you find live tissue. 

Please be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter “Trees, Turf & Tomatoes” for timely information about lawn and garden tasks in Williamson County.  It’s just one email a month, and we will not sell your information.  You can sign up here: https://williamson.agrilife.org/horticulture-newsletter/

Let us know if you have specific questions that were not covered during the webinar or in the handouts.  Remember our new favorite slogan #learntoloveugly.  Our plants will look ugly for some time, but that is okay!  Give them time to start greening up this spring before you give up. 

Williamson County is one of 77 Texas counties that fall under the federal Texas Severe Winter Storms disaster declaration. Williamson County residents who sustained damage from snow and ice during the winter storms may apply for federal assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If you have insurance, contact your insurance company first, and then FEMA. Your insurance claim information is needed to determine eligibility for federal assistance. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Registration is estimated to take approximately 20 minutes. You will need the following information to complete your registration:

• Social Security Number (SSN) or the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien
• Annual household income
• Contact information (phone number, mailing address, email address, and damaged home address)
• Insurance information (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
• Bank account information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)

Executive Director Gordon Butler dreams that Pavilion Clubhouse, serving people living  with mental illness and/or substance abuse throughout Williamson County, will one day be open seven days a week.

Pavilion peer counselors are positioned to be the support group for those being released from a jail or court who are suffering from mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

Helping people through recovery and reintegrating them into the community, either through paid employment or volunteer work, is Pavilion’s mission. These services significantly reduce recidivism and re-hospitalizations.

John Hopkins University projected that clubhouses in Texas save the community $10,000 per year per member in healthcare costs alone, and in reducing recidivism rates, typically 60 to 75 percent, to under 10 percent for those actively involved in a clubhouse.

Prior to courts going virtual, Pavilion peer counselors were present in some of our courtrooms.  When they recognized possible mental illness and/or substance use in someone standing before a judge, they would leave the courtroom to introduce themselves to the legal counsel and/or family and offer support. 

This program was created to administer the more than $1 billion allocated to Texas through the latest federal COVID-19 stimulus bill.

For a brief description, please visit Landlords and Renters.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community affairs (TDHCA) will begin accepting applications for the program on Monday, February 15, but Texans can visit TexasRentRelief.com starting today to learn more about qualifications, required documents, and the application process.

Applicants can submit their application by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) or submitting it online at TexasRentRelief.com. The call center will be open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.