Death toll rises as record flooding devastates parts of San Antonio

Update on June 12 at 10:45 a.m.: San Antonio Fire Department has raised the death toll from raging flood waters to four. According to an SAFD spokesperson, at least four people have been confirmed dead. That is an increase from the two people who were reported dead earlier Thursday morning. The names of the victims have not been released. 

Original story: 

Record rainfall abruptly hit San Antonio bringing about dangerous and deadly road conditions. On Thursday morning, June 12, the San Antonio Fire Department reported two were killed and two were still missing as dozens of high water rescue calls flooded emergency lines, starting at 5 a.m. Overall, first responders were able to save 10 individuals from cars succumbed to high waters, but four of those drivers or passengers had to be transported to local hospitals for injuries.

Starting at 5 a.m., SAFD Public Information Office Joe Arrington told MySA high water rescue calls began flooding emergency lines for help near Northeast Loop 410 and Perrin Beitel on the Northeast Side of San Antonio. By 8 a.m., the fire department received upwards of 65 high water rescue calls. A glance at the SAFD active calls and number of rescues continue to rise. 

A drive down major San Antonio roads, like Broadway, show the aftermath of a severe storm. Side streets are coned off after large stones and limbs were washed into the right of way. Vehicles are idled out on lower levels of the interstate connecting the Northside to I-10 where water has accumulated.

It’s not just high water rescues that SAFD is responding to, either. Three lightning strike calls, eight high water investigation reports, one watercraft rescue order, eight water evacuation calls, four transformer fires, one rollover crash report and 22 calls for major motor vehicle crashes reached the desks of firefighters Thursday morning. The monster storm also left thousands without electricity.

The National Weather Service reports more than 1.6 inches of rain have already fallen over San Antonio this morning, causing flash floods around the city. With rain on the forecast for the rest of the day, a flash flood watch will remain in effect for the greater San Antonio area until 7 p.m. Thursday night. A flash flood warning, which is more severe, was placed on San Antonio until 9:30 a.m.

“With heavy rains in the forecast 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.”

A map of road closures from the San Antonio Public Works Department shows more than three dozen closures due to water on the roadway. The majority are north of downtown, and they’re even more concentrated to areas north of Loop 410, spanning from Leon Valley on the Northwest Side all the way to nearly Live oak and Universal City on the Northwest Side.