Water rescues, evacuations in Hill Country as heavy rains cause new flooding

Heavy rains across the Hill Country region ravaged by floodwaters a week ago prompted new evacuation orders Sunday and first responders were conducting water rescues in several counties.

Rescuers were at work in Kimble, Lampasas, San Saba and Schleicher counties.

"Task Force 1 has already rescued dozens of Texans in the Lampasas area," Gov. Greg Abbott said via social media, referring to the Texas A&M urban search and rescue unit. "They and other first responders will continue operations to prioritize saving lives."

Evacuations were ordered in Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas, Menard, San Saba and Sutton counties.

ALSO READ: Flash flood warning issued for Kerr, Guadalupe River to hit moderate flood stage

San Saba County Judge Jody Fauley said the situation there could be more dire than it was last week, when flooding in Kerr County killed more than 100 people and left more than 160 missing.

"The river is rising faster than it did on July 4," Fauley said of the San Saba River, which was forecast to rise to 31.5 feet by Sunday evening. Flood stage is 24 feet.

In Lampasas County, the Kempner Volunteer Fire Department told 6 News it had evacuated two RV parks as the Lampasas Police Department evacuated elderly residents whose homes were endangered by rising waters.

First responders had been evacuating people and pets since Sunday morning, according to the Lampasas Police Department.

Kimble County officials similarly took precautionary measures and evacuated senior housing near the Llano River early Sunday afternoon.

"We are expanding operations in all affected counties," Abbott said. "All while monitoring the rising waters in Kerrville."

Sunday morning, Kerr County and the city of Kerrville issued evacuation orders for the Guadalupe River and suspended searches for flood victims as heavy rains threatened more flash floods.

"All search crews need to evacuate the river corridor until further notice," the Kerrville Police Department said. "The potential for a flash flood is high."

By about 3 p.m., the Kerr County Sheriff's Office allowed recovery operations to resume in the county's west side.

A flash flood warning that was issued early Sunday for Kerr County was lifted about 11:45 a.m. but a flash flood watch remained in effect until 7 p.m. as the slow-moving storm made its way across the region.

"It is possible the river will continue to rise due to the amount of rain we’ve received," Kerrville police said.

The flash flood warning was extended until 3:45 p.m. for Gillespie and Llano counties, which are north and east of Kerr County. The National Weather Service said from 1.5 to 5 inches of rain had fallen by 12:25 p.m. in those counties and flash flooding was occurring. Another inch of rain was possible.

As much as 2.5 inches fell Sunday morning directly northeast of Kerrville, according to gauges maintained by the Guadalupe Basin River Authority, which showed nearly as much fell at Hall Ranch about 30 miles west of Kerrville.

An emergency alert from the city of Kerrville said there was a high probability of the Guadalupe River at Hunt reaching flood stage Sunday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s water prediction service forecast the river to crest about 4 p.m. at 13.2 feet, more than 3 feet above the flood stage of 10 feet. Downriver at Kerrville, it called for a crest of 7.7 feet by 6 p.m. Flood stage in the city is 10 feet.

Earlier in the day, heavy rains were causing flooding in low-lying areas across Kerrville.

About 10 a.m., Kerrville City Hall posted a social media image of floodwaters rushing across Park Street, which is about three blocks east of the Guadalupe River. Farther east, water was surging across a low-water crossing on First Street.

The Guadalupe River had risen in Louise Hays Park and low-lying areas along Quinlan Creek and Town Creek had water in the roadways, Kerrville police said.

The Rio Vista low-water crossing off Texas 39 was closed and the Kerr Couny Sheriff’s Office redirected residents and first responders to the Cade Loop bridge crossing.

By midafternoon, localized flooding in Kerrville had subsided as the storms, which appeared to be heaviest north of the city, lumbered eastward.

Sunday’s threat came with Kerrville and the Hill Country still reeling from last week’s deadly flash floods, which inundated the area on Independence Day. Abbott said last week as many as 161 people were still unaccounted for and searchers have been working non-stop to find them.

Early Sunday, however, search operations were suspended as authorities warned of new flooding.

"This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation," the Kerr County’s Sheriff’s Office said about 9 a.m. "Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order."