Flood watch issued, local responders stress safety

by Alexandria Randolph

With a flash flood watch issued this evening, local firefighters remind motorists to “Turn Around, Don't Drown.”

The National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio has issued a flood watch for Burnet, Llano, Travis, Williamson, Blanco and other nearby counties beginning at 9 p.m. tonight and lasting through Friday morning. The statement read that two to four inches of rainfall is expected over Wednesday night, but isolated amounts of up to six inches may be possible in this area.

“The heavy rainfall threat will move into the hill country during the overnight hours into Thursday morning and may possibly move into the Interstate 35 corridor,” meteorologists said. “However, the greater heavy rainfall threat for the I-35 corridor will be on Thursday evening into Friday morning as a cold front moves through the area and ends the heavy rainfall threat.”

On Thursday, one to three inches of rainfall is expected, but isolated areas may receive up to five inches.

“Areas have already seen significant rainfall over the last few weeks so runoff from rainfall could result in flash flooding more quickly than would usually be the case,” the statement read.

Areas in the Highland Lakes have received up to six inches of rainfall in the last week, and heavy rainfall in the week before that.

With the impending rainfall in mind, Hoover Valley Volunteer Firefighter Fatima Sparks reminds motorists “do not attempt to cross low water crossings when there is a flow, especially those who drive smaller cars.”

Sparks said just last weekend, Hoover Valley VFD had to rescue a woman and her young child who stalled in a low water crossing on County Road 116 near Peter's Creek.

“I don't want to have to do a swift water rescue,” Sparks joked.