Kingsland roadways flooded, RR 2900 River Bridge collapses in Llano County

Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •
An "historic flood event" has submerged major thoroughfares and toppled a bridge, where the Llano River feeds into Lake LBJ in Kingsland.
Businesses along RR 1431 in the community closed their doors as a result of rising water.
The Llanorado, an RV park on Lake LBJ, evacuated about a dozen residents in search of higher ground as swift currents rose up to the bottom of the so-called railroad bridge on RR 1431, adjacent to the venue, just west of Lookout Mountain.
At least 10 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period in the Llano area, sparking flash flood conditions as swift-moving runoff rushed down the Llano River into the Highland Lakes.
"The Llano River has hit major historic flood stage," according to the Llano County Office of Emergency Management stated Oct. 16 at the height of the flood waters. "It is currently at 40' and has almost topped the bridge in Llano."
Flooding has also prompted evacuations of residents of Lighthouse Drive, The Cape in Horseshoe Bay.
As a result of the flash flooding, authorities asked anyone living within a quarter mile of a waterways to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
Temporary evacuation shelters include the Kingsland Community Center, 2451 Rose Hill Dr. and the Church of Horseshoe Bay, 600 Hi Ridge.
Motorists are encouraged to avoid flooded areas. The vast majority of low-water crossings in the Llano County area are impassable.
Runoff is also occurring in creeks, streams and low-lying areas.
The Lower Colorado River Authority has opened all floodgates on Wirtz Dam and Max Starcke Dam to pass through floodwaters, however, lakeside resident are reporting high water flooding into structures and causing property damage.
So far, no reports of injuries or deaths.