As the rushing flood water came through the Onion Creek area of southeast Austin neighbors did what they could to survive. They got on their roofs. That’s where they stayed as they waited for emergency crews in helicopters and rescue boats to save them.
Neighbors cheered as each person was carried to safety. Once the flood victims were out of danger– the raw emotion sunk in. Their homes, cars, every last possession ruined.
As the water receded they got a better look at the damage. Albert Castro took us through his home. The water rose so fast, he barely made it out with his life.
“We swam back this way and it’s a good thing my dad had that ladder there and we made our way up,” said Castro.
But before he and his father got settled, they saved seven people next door. That included Jesus Arriaga his two week old baby, wife and two girls.
“I felt worried because I wanted to get them to safety. You just don’t think about it until it’s going to happen,” Arriaga said.
They climbed out their bedroom window. For four hours the families stayed on the roof before help came.
“Just kept them in my arms, making them feel safe, telling them we’re going to be okay,” Arriaga said.
Debris stretches for blocks. Vehicles were battered and carried far away from where their owners left them.
Late in the day even more tragedy. Julie Robin Jackson found what appeared to be a flood victim.
“I nudged the body and it was heavy. I checked to see if he was breathing and he wasn’t. So and then said a prayer for him,” Jackson said.
Emergency officials checked for other bodies, marking each home and vehicle with an x if clear. What lives still remain have been forever altered.
“We don’t got nothin. I’d rather something than nothing. It’s a big change but we gotta do what we gotta do to make things work,” said Castro.
“9 p.m. update: Austin Energy is reporting that all but 100 customers have power restored in the Onion Creek neighborhoods following the latest bout of severe weather that knocked out power to thousands.
Those customers without power are in the Onion Creek Forest neighborhoods, according to the Austin Travis County Emergency Operations Center, and it is unclear when power would be restored.
Power has also been restored to all Pedernales Electric Cooperative customers who had weather-related outages, said utility spokeswoman Anne Harvey. The utility had nearly 3,000 members without power by around noon. Most were centered near Manchaca, Kyle and Buda, the Johnson City-based nonprofit electric utility said.
The story has been updated to correct that Onion Creek Forest neighborhood still does not have power.
7 p.m. update: Onion Creek neighborhoods that were evacuated Thursday morning from floods have been reopened to residents, according to officials.
Foot traffic has been allowed back into the Onion Creek Forest neighborhoods, but cars are still prohibited until about midnight Friday as Austin Energy works to restore power, police said. Onion Creek subdivision and Onion Creek Planatation have reopened foot and vehicle traffic, but drivers can expect some roads to be closed because of flooding or debris, police said.
Police said they will monitor the areas for suspicious activity and looting and have asked Halloween celebrators to avoid those homes.
Officials have barred residents from returning to 15 homes in the Onion Creek Forest neighborhood because of “unsafe conditions,” officials said. They said that the homes have structural damage, like shifted or collapsed walls, that would be hazardous to those residents.
The city is still tallying how many structures have been flooded and the total cost of the damage.
Two shelters will be opened for evacuees including Parker Lane United Methodist Church at 2105 Parker Lane and Dove Springs Recreation Center at 5801 Ainez Dr.
2 p.m. update: More than 100 people have been rescued from flood waters across Central Texas on Thursday morning after storms dropped more than 12 inches of rain in some areas.
The heaviest rainfall began at 9 p.m. Wednesday and continued to pound the region overnight. Some of the highest totals of 9 inches or more were reported near southern Travis County and Hays County.
In downtown Austin, rainfall totals reached 4 to 5 inches, the National Weather Service reported.
The heaviest storms have moved beyond Central Texas, and some light rain is possible throughout the day, said Steve Smart, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
“Light showers are still possible,” Smart said. “But the heaviest rains have moved east.”
A flood warning remains in effect for the Colorado River in Travis, Bastrop and Fayette counties.
Some of the heaviest flooding in Austin has been in the Bluff Springs area near Onion Creek, which reached a record high of 41 feet this morning and continues to rise, officials said.
“What we have now is the runoff,” the official, Wendy Morgan, said of the rising water levels.
Austin Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr crews responded to 105 calls for flood-related evacuations or rescues between midnight and 10:30 a.m.
An estimated 500 to 600 homes have been flooded by the Thursday storms, officials said.
In Austin, two boats were rescuing people from flooded homes and roads, while StarFlight plucked people from roof tops. By noon, one boat was being used.
Rescues continue, though not as many as during the height of the storms.
“We saw very significant flooding,” City Manager Marc Ott said at a press conference about noon. He had just returned from a helicopter tour with police Chief Art Acevedo and Kerr. “In some cases people cut holes through rooftops to have access to the outside. While there are no confirmed fatalities, we have many areas that need to be searched.”
The Austin Travis County/Emergency Operations Center was partially activated early this morning. It is now on full activation and officials are focused on monitoring water levels, road conditions and evacuations.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division also activated its statewide search and water-rescue team to assist emergency crews. The agency has been working to rescue stranded residents in Travis, Hays, Comal and Bastrop counties.
Wimberley in Hays County posted the highest rainfall total at 12 to 14 inches, National Weather Service forecaster Steve Smart said.
In Travis County, 3 inches to 9 inches or more were reported since storms began.
Round Rock saw 9 inches and Bastrop County has seen 4 inches, officials said.
However, much of the Hill Country received less than a quarter inch, doing little to ease lake levels.
The flooding closed roads throughout the area, knocked out power and forced school closures and cancellations.
To check Austin Energy power outages, click here.
To check road closures in Austin, click here.
Click here for road closures in Hays County.
For road closures in Williamson County, click here.
Road closures in Bastrop County can be found here.
For school conditions, click here.
In Williamson County, officials notified 88 homes of evacuations in three areas of Hutto and Round Rock using a variety of methods, including a notice online. Sheriff’s deputies also knocked on doors on County Road 123 in Hutto telling people to evacuate. Officials also knocked on doors on County Road 135.
Water rescues were conducted along Brushy Creek, including on Ranch Road 620, Shady Lane and Lake Creek Parkway, but none were life-threatening incidents, sheriff’s officials said.
A shelter had been set up at Hutto Middle School, but only one family arrived there, a city official said.
In Wimberley, the community center helped 20 people who evacuated from nearby Mill Race Lane. Those residents left the center by 8 a.m. to return to their homes.
One hundred people took shelter at the San Marcos Activity Center, officials said. That shelter had closed by 11:30 a.m. A shelter at San Cruz Catholic Church at 1100 Main St. remains open for Buda-area residents, officials said.
In Austin, three shelters had been opened: The South Austin Recreation Center, Parker Lane United Methodist Church, and the South Austin Recreation.
By noon, only one shelter, Parker Lane United Methodist Church at 2105 Parker Lane, is open.
The Austin fire chief has ordered Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake closed through noon Friday.
12:20 p.m. update: In the midst of the rescues, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division activated its statewide search and water-rescue team to assist emergency crews. The agency has been working to rescue stranded residents in Travis, Hays, Comal and Bastrop counties.
Among the rescues, game wardens assisted in water rescues in the Onion Creek area and homes near Circuit of the Americas near Texas 130.
Austin officials said STARFlight has rescued 29 people since flooding started and that rescues continue.
In Williamson County, officials notified 88 homes in three areas of Hutto and Round Rock using a variety of methods, including a notice online. Sheriff’s deputies also knocked on doors on County Road 123 in Hutto telling people to evacuate. Officials also knocked on doors on County Road 135.
Water rescues were conducted along Brushy Creek, including on Ranch Road 620, Shady Lane and Lake Creek Parkway, but none were life-threatening incidents, sheriff’s officials said.
Pedernales Electric Cooperative said nearly 3,000 members were without power by around noon. Most were centered near Manchaca, Kyle and Buda, the Johnson City-based nonprofit electric utility said.
Update 12:05 p.m.: Several Central Texas shelters are starting to close as displaced residents find new housing options and local waters continue to recede in some areas.
In Austin, the South Austin Recreation Center at 1100 Cumberland Road was closed shortly before noon, leaving the Parker Lane United Methodist Church as the remaining shelter for displaced city residents.
The San Marcos shelter was also closed in Hays County, while the Buda area shelter at San Cruz Catholic Church at 1100 Main St. remains open, officials said.
11:45 a.m. update: An additional 2,000 customers will be without power after crews discovered an Austin Energy substation was flooded, officials said. The substation was taken offline as a result, but crews hope to restore power as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative was reporting 1,280 power outages.
To check on Austin Energy power outages, click here.
Update 11:25 a.m.: The Austin fire chief has ordered Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake closed through noon Friday.
Update 11:15 a.m.: Austin fire crews are continuing water rescues in the Pleasant Valley area in Southeast Austin, officials said.
Since fire crews responded to the scene of flooding waters in the area at 5 a.m., about 100 people have been rescued by boat or ground crew, said Austin fire official Carrie Stewart.
Another 100 rescues are possible, Stewart added.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries, but crews continue to check for homes and vehicles affected by flooding, she said.
Austin Energy says it now has 5,500 customers without power scattered across their service territory. Flooding continues to trigger delays for repairs in some areas, officials said.
10:55 a.m. update: Although Onion Creek continues to rise, Austin fire crews are starting to wind down operations in the Bluff Springs area.
An estimated 60 people were rescued with the aid of two boats this morning, officials said.
Now, one boat will be left on scene in case it is needed for deployment.
All residents and homes reported to Austin fire officials have been accounted for, but some residents were allowed to remain in their homes, officials said.
“Some did choose to stay in their homes as the water is receding,” said Austin fire official Carrie Stewart.
Onion Creek reached a record high of 41 feet this morning and is continuing to rise, officials said.
“What we have now is the runoff,” the official, Wendy Morgan, said of the rising water levels.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Onion Creek Forest and Plantations subdivisions as well as homes along nearby Pinehurst Drive areas. Emergency crews are also conducting rescues of residents from their roofs and attics in the hardest hit areas of nearby Bluff Springs areas.
As many as 625 homes could be evacuated during rescue efforts, Morgan said, as water levels for homes near the Onion Creek flooding rose to about 8 feet or more.
The city has opened three shelters for area residents or people are encouraged to stay with family and friends.
Earlier: Multiple people have been rescued from flooded creeks across Central Texas on Thursday morning after storms dropped more than 13 inches of rain in some areas overnight.
Since midnight, emergency crews have responded to 81 flood-related incidents within Travis County. That includes 32 water rescues and other rescue alerts, one structure fire caused by lightning and 46 flood assistance and barricade calls, Austin fire officials said.
City of Austin officials say an estimated 500 to 600 homes have been flooded by the Thursday storms.
The heaviest rainfall began at 9 p.m. Wednesday and continued to pound the region overnight. Some of the highest totals of 9 inches or more were reported near southern Travis County and Hays County.
In downtown Austin, rainfall totals reached 4 to 5 inches, the National Weather Service reported.
Some of the heaviest flooding in Austin has been in the Bluff Springs area near Onion Creek.
Fire crews have rescued more than 60 residents who were forced to seek safety on roofs and in their attics, said Austin fire official Carrie Stewart. Two boats are in the water rescuing residents, and a StarFlight helicopter is hovering overhead looking for stranded residents, she said.
Rescues and reports of people on rooftops are still being reported in the area.
Three shelters have been opened for Austin residents displaced by floods, city officials said. The South Austin Recreation Center at 1100 Cumberland Road and Parker Lane United Methodist Church at 2105 Parker Lane near West Oltorf Street and Interstate 35 have been designated as shelters, officials said. The South Austin Recreation Center at 1100 Cumberland Road was opened about 10:15 a.m.
Austin Energy was reporting 8,500 outages by 9 a.m., including 6,500 customers without power in flooded areas, an official said.
To check Austin Energy power outages, click here.
To check road closures in Austin, click here.
Click here for road closures in Hays County.
For road closures in Williamson County, click here.
Road closures in Bastrop County can be found here.
A flash flood watch is in effect more much of Central Texas until noon today.
The City of Austin has issued a watercraft ban on Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake because of unsafe water conditions, an official said.
Officials have partially activated the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center, where city emergency representatives plan to coordinate response to the heavy rains, flooding and area rescues, a spokeswoman said.
The heaviest storms have moved east, and some light rain is possible throughout the day, said Steve Smart, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
“Light showers are still possible,” Smart said. “But the heaviest rains have moved east.”
So far, Wimberley in Hays County has posted the highest rainfall total at 12 to 14 inches, Smart said.
In Travis County, anywhere from 3 inches to 9 inches or more were reported since storms began last night.
Round Rock saw 9 inches and Bastrop County has seen 4 inches, officials said.” – statesman.com
Goaty's News (UK) 