Photos reveal aftermath of record-breaking flooding in San Antonio

Residents across Central Texas are left with with damaged property after the area experienced record-breaking rain, dangerous winds and a short-lived tornado on Thursday, June 12. Several towns, many of which are in the San Antonio metropolitan area, are also experiencing flash flooding, resulting in a number of road and river closures.

The National Weather Service reports more than 1.6 inches of rain have already fallen over San Antonio this morning. A flash flood watch will remain in effect for the greater San Antonio area until 7 p.m. Thursday night, as many counties remain at risk for severe storms this afternoon. 

“With heavy rains of 3 to 8 inches falling over northeast Medina County and western Bexar County, expect significant rises along the Medina River and Leon Creek,” the National Weather Service warns. “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”

High water rescue calls began flooding emergency lines for help near Northeast Loop 410 and Perrin Beitel Road around 5 a.m. this morning, according to San Antonio Fire Department Public Information Officer Joe Arrington. The site of the incident occurred on the Northeast Side of San Antonio, in between Austin Highway and Loop 410. 

According to an SAFD spokesperson, at least four people have been confirmed dead. First responders were able to save 10 individuals from cars succumb to high waters in the area, but four of those drivers or passengers had to be transported to local hospitals for injuries. Photos taken by MySA staff show empty cars at the scene.

A photo captured by a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Transguide camera shows flooding on Interstate Highway 35, near San Pedro Avenue. At around 5 a.m. this morning, the upper level of I-35 was at a standstill due to the lower level being closed as cars tried to merge over. 

As of 11:39 a.m., the entrance ramp onto I-35 South at San Pedro Avenue is closed, but the other five lanes, along with the shoulder, have been cleared. Portions of the lower level of the highway near this area are closed due to standing water on the roadways. 

More than three inches of rain fell within 30 minutes in the New Braunfels area, resulting in the reported flooding of Comal River in New Braunfels. Data from the United States Geological Survey shows that water levels at the river rose to nearly 14 feet, a stark difference from the four feet it measured at just 24 hours prior.

The City of New Braunfels has temporarily closed access to the river and will reevaluate river conditions on Friday, June 13, to determine when Comal River recreation can safely resume, MySA previously reported.

A vehicle was swept away in swift water around 5 a.m. this morning, according to the Medina County Emergency Services District (ESD). It occurred near County Road 2615 and County Road 372. District 7 Fire Rescue and Texas A&M Task Force crews were able to safely remove the victim from the area, according to the agency. The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries, officials say.

At the time the rescue was underway, the district received a second call about a trapped vehicle that held several occupants inside, the agency says. Crews from Bexar County District 2 were dispatched to the scene and rescued the passengers from swift water through using their ladder truck, a post from the Medina County states. That incident occurred on County Road 381.

Tree damage has also been reported in at least one Castroville neighborhood.

The National Weather Service reports that widespread to moderate rain is expected to continue for parts of the Houston area, including in Victoria. As of 10:30 a.m. this morning, flash flood warnings and advisories were still in effect. Several streets in the city are closed due to flooding, according to the local news site Crossroads Today.

Earlier this week, a news station in Abilene was partly destroyed after a chaotic 24 hours of rain, large hail, and lightning hit Central Texas. A series of storms crept over the area on the evening of Sunday, June 9, leading for the National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm watch as a “particularly dangerous situation.” 

Caiden Dinkins, a morning meteorologist at KTXS who had been updating residents on the dangerous conditions, warned residents to shelter inside around 10 p.m. that night in a post on Facebook. Shortly after, the news building was hit by the storm, knocking the station off the air.

In a Facebook post published on Wednesday, June 11, Dinkins said KTXS is back on the air in Abilene in San Angelo.

“Our engineers have worked tirelessly to get us up and running,” Dinkins said. “We will have a 10PM show this evening.
There has been quite a bit of rain the past few days and almost 1.5-2.5 inches in just an hour in Abilene this evening. Do not drive through flooded roadways. Turn Around, don’t drown.”