San Antonio Flash Floods Leave 2 Dead; Over 200 Rescued
Even as a flash flood watch was in effect in south central Texas until Sunday morning, authorities said at least two women were confirmed dead and a 17-year-old boy was missing in the San Antonio area while more than 230 people had been rescued after torrential rains Saturday.
Floodwaters swept away a 29-year-old woman who got on the roof of her car after being trapped in West Rhapsody Drive, San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Christian Bove told The Associated Press. Hours later, rescuers found her body pinned to a fence.
Later, emergency officials in Leon Creek found the body of a 60-year-old woman who had drowned when their vehicle was swept into a drainage ditch by flood waters. Firefighters managed to reach her car and break a window, which injured a firefighter, Fire Chief Charles Hood told CNN. However, while rescuers were trying to get her from on top of the car, "the currents changed and washed that vehicle away."
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"You can imagine how emotionally spent you are to try to rescue somebody, you're face-to-face with them, and then they're washed away," Hood added.
Meanwhile, search was on for a 17-year-old boy, who was trying to cross Cibolo Creek from the Universal City side over to the Schertz side, San Antonio Express-News reported.
Fire officials said they could rescue over 235 people from their homes and cars in the San Antonio area, as some homes had water up to 4 feet high, USA Today reported. In a neighborhood, 54 people were rescued with inflatable boats, Bexar County spokeswoman Laura Jesse was quoted as saying.
In what was being described as the second-wettest day ever in the region, the San Antonio International Airport had received nearly 10 inches of rain by Saturday afternoon. Olmos Creek at Dresden Drive recorded 15.5 inches of rain even as most streams and rivers in the area were flooded.
In October 1978, 11.62 inches of rain was recorded in the area which killed at least 30 people.
Rains began Friday afternoon, followed by thunderstorms that continued into Saturday. Officials had to close some of the Texas roads and order evacuations in Tipps Park, according to AccuWeather.
"We're asking folks to observe low-water crossing (warnings), to use common sense and to stay off the road if possible," CNN quoted Mayor Julian Castro as saying.
"This year has been unlike any other for us," Michael Bennett, Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross, was quoted as saying. "Just when we think we can catch our breath, along comes another disaster. At times like these, however, we don't look for an excuse."
