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Search efforts continue Sunday as flash flooding leaves at least 10 dead in Central Texas
Travis and Williamson counties have issued local disaster declarations and dozens of people have been rescued from floodwaters.
AUSTIN, Texas — Search efforts continue Sunday as several people remain missing after devastating flash flooding swept through Central Texas this weekend.
Travis County officials have confirmed five deaths and between 10 and 13 people missing.
In Burnet County, three deaths have been reported and at least five people are missing. On Sunday morning, the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office said the body of a person missing from the Park Road 4 and U.S. 281 area, identified as Preston Prince, was recovered.
Rescue crews there are still searching for a fire official who appears to have been swept away by floodwaters early Saturday. The emergency vehicle was since recovered but the man, Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips, was not inside.
Williamson County confirmed one death from the flooding after a body was discovered under a vehicle that had been partially submerged in flood waters west of Liberty Hill. Two others are missing in the county, including one person swept away from a car off FM 1869 west of Liberty Hill.
Both Travis and Williamson counties have issued local disaster declarations and dozens of people have been rescued from floodwaters.
Austin Travis-County EMS said medics rescued 25 people on Saturday, with four taken to hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. In Williamson County, 27 people were recued on Saturday, including 16 evacuated by helicopter from Hope House in Liberty Hill.
Focus on recovery, damage assessment
In an update on Sunday morning, Travis County Judge Andy Brown said crews with Travis County Emergency Services District 1 are continuing rescue efforts in the area of Nameless Road along Big Sandy Creek, west of Leander, as well as along Cow Creek Road and FM 1431 northwest of Lago Vista. Dozens of residents in that area were rescued on Saturday after being evacuated from high water.
Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said the department received 49 flood-related calls around 1 a.m. Saturday, and 112 flood-related calls by 3 a.m. Rescue efforts were complicated by road access being cut off due to flooding. TCSO special response teams later went door to door to check on residents in flood-affected areas.
Residents in Williamson County were evacuated on Saturday as heavy rains caused the San Gabriel River to flood. Evacuations were in effect for RV parks along the river. The Rio Ancho subdivision in western Williamson County was also evacuated after several recues there, and a Williamson County swift water rescue team that had been sent to assist in Kerr County returned to help with local efforts.
County officials in both Williamson and Travis counties said efforts now turn to recovery mode and assessing the damage. Brown said assessments and debris removal will take weeks.
Road closures, flood operations
The flooding caused over 100 road closures across Central Texas, with some roads washed out and damaged from the weather. As of 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, more than 120 low-water crossings were still closed, according to ATXFloods.com.
FM 1431 near Cow Creek is blocked in parts that have been washed away. Nameless Road is damaged but passable through Terra Vista.
In Georgetown, a boil water notice is in effect for some areas after a water main break.
The LCRA has conducted flood operations at Inks, Wirtz, Starcke, Tom Miller and Bastrop dams as floodwaters flow through the Highland Lakes. Flood operations are not expected as Mansfield or Buchanan dams.
In Austin, a watercraft ban is in effect on all city waterways until noon on Monday. The ban includes Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. Barton Springs Pool remains closed through Monday morning as debris creates murky conditions. The LCRA has also advised the public to stay off the Highland Lakes for several days due to debris from floodwaters.
Gov. Greg Abbott expanded a disaster declaration to include Burnet, Caldwell, Travis and Williamson counties and requested federal aid. He called the damage “extraordinary devastation.”
More rain expected
A Flood Watch remains in effect for the area until 7 p.m. Sunday.
We’re tracking a few isolated showers and maybe a few storms through the Hill Country yet again, so any heavy downpours that could result in more flash flooding.
We do not expect widespread issues Sunday afternoon, so things should start to improve. A few scattered storms are possible again for Monday and Tuesday before things dry out completely by Wednesday.