Fluid situation
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Breyana Segura
Disastrous flash flooding across South Texas has triggered scores of emergency rescues and pushed the Frio River to near-historic levels, prompting officials to issue voluntary evacuation notices and widespread road closures.
The catastrophic weather comes just one year after historic flooding plagued the neighboring Texas Hill Country, leaving regional infrastructure severely compromised.
According to Governor Greg Abbott, emergency personnel have rescued nearly 300 people across South Texas.
In a regional effort, Texas Game Wardens completed 153 rescues and 92 evacuations as of Sunday in Bandera, Comal, Crockett, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala counties.
Hotel owners in Dilley reported having no vacancies as emergency responders from across the state converged on the area to assist with ongoing operations.
The flooding has proved fatal to the region.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 74-year-old Uvalde man died after bypassing a high-water barrier; flood waters swept his truck away and emergency crews spotted the man’s vehicle bobbing in the floodwater about four miles north of Uvalde.
Officials confirmed a second unnamed individual died near Comfort after a mobile home was swept away.
In Frio County, rainfall began Tuesday, with severe flooding inundating county roads by Wednesday.
The Frio River crested at 23 feet on Saturday, according to the US National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center.
Research shows the Frio hit an all-time historical high when it crested at 29.45 feet in July 1932. More recently, the river crested at 22.02 feet in July 2007.
At one point during the weekend surge, authorities reported that the Frio River was rising by approximately one foot every two minutes.
On Thursday afternoon, Frio County sheriff’s deputies successfully evacuated 26 people near the Halff Brothers Ranch at Hwy 57 and FM 140.
First responders in Dilley have worked continuously to execute high-water rescues.
“The water was rising super fast and they were grateful for deputies assistance in evacuating,” Sgt. Investigator Michael Guerrero said. “It went up about another eight inches to a foot within 30 minutes while we were escorting those individuals. We were flagged down by a lineman crew who requested an escort.”
Shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, Dilley volunteer firefighters rescued a commercial truck driver stranded in rising waters along FM 117.
At around 9 p.m. Sunday, sheriff’s deputies and Dilley firemen rescued a Fredericksburg man who had become trapped in a tree near CR 4440 and FM 1581 at the Leona River crossing after his kayak capsized while he was checking water levels.
“Conditions remain extremely dangerous due to the fast-moving current, high water, and debris in the river,” Fire Chief AJ Gonzalez said.
Frio County officials issued voluntary evacuation notices for residents near riverbeds and those living along CR 4550 due to the cresting of the Leona River.
Authorities declared widespread thoroughfares impassable.
Local officials closed HWY 57, FM 117, FM 1581, FM 140, county roads 4550 and 4440; noting FM 140 sustained serious structural damage after sections of the roadway completely washed away.
“These roads are impassable and water levels continue to rise, increasing the risk that additional road closures are in the near future,” county officials said.
The region faces further weather threats as Tropical Depression Bertha is forecasted to strengthen into a tropical storm. Meteorologists warn the system could make landfall along the Texas coastline, bringing additional heavy rainfall to already heavily saturated areas of South Texas.
