Body recovered in Llano as county reels from devastating floods

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The body of a woman was recovered and at least 24 people were rescued from floodwaters that ravaged Llano County Tuesday, according to county officials.

More than 10 inches of rain have fallen in the area since Monday, where the ground was already saturated from previous stormy weeks. The Llano River crested at near-record levels Tuesday and flooding reached the towns of Llano and Kingsland, affecting phones, internet and water treatment facilities.

Boil water notices have been issued in the area, and the county is setting up distribution centers to hand out water and ice that were donated by H-E-B. One is set up at Llano Junior High School, while the other will be at the First Baptist Church in Kingsland.

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The Texas Game Warden Search and Rescue team had a busy day, answering 40 calls for service resulting in 24 rescues and 5 evacuations as of Tuesday night.

One high-water rescue captured on camera in Kingsland showed a woman climbing into a game warden boat from the second story of a home.

One woman was found dead in near West Sandstone and Flag streets, Llano County officials said. Though the woman’s family has been notified, officials declined to release the woman’s identity Wednesday.

Earlier in the day a body was removed from the floodwaters of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson near Kingsland.

The situation appears to be improving, however.

Ron Anderson, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the Llano River did not crest again Wednesday morning as was expected. Instead, the river levels receded to about 12.5 feet, which is still in the moderate flood stage.

“That doesn’t mean it’s not hazardous out there still,” Anderson said.

Light rain is expected Wednesday, but the main concern comes Thursday and Friday, when the National Weather Service is predicting up to four additional inches of rain in isolated areas throughout the region.

County officials are monitoring the forecast and plan to notify residents if flash flooding occurs again.

Several other waterways and lakes were affected as a result of all the rain. Flooding was reported in the Nueces, Colorado and Guadalupe river basins.

The runoff inundated Central Texas lakes. Lake Travis, for example, was above the major flood stage Wednesday morning, reaching 696 feet.

Officials are opening up dams and releasing water to alleviate the issue, which will likely result in minor floods in surrounding river basins.

Closer to San Antonio, officials said Canyon Lake also reached maximum capacity. Water will be released from there beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday until about Friday.

Property owners in that area are urged to keep an eye on river flows and take caution as the water gets released.

Llano County officials plan to update the public about recovery efforts again at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA