San Antonio has been hit hard by recent floods, leaving at least 11 people dead and an unknown number still missing. The severe flooding began early Thursday after heavy thunderstorms, fueled by an upper-level trough, swept through Texas, even spawning two confirmed tornadoes.
Search efforts are in full swing, with teams from the San Antonio Fire Department, San Antonio Police Department, and Texas A&M Task Force 1 focusing on areas around Salado Creek and Leon Creek. They're meticulously searching creek beds, low-water crossings, and debris fields for those unaccounted for.
The National Weather Service reported that as much as 8 inches of rain fell between midnight and 4 a.m. on Thursday, leading to 15 vehicles being swept away on or near Perrin Beitel Road. Ten people were rescued, and two others managed to get to safety on their own. Fire officials noted that some individuals were pulled from trees, and one body was tragically found a mile from Perrin Beitel Road's creek crossing. In total, over 70 water rescues have been performed since early Thursday.
One heartbreaking account comes from Angela Richards, whose husband, Stevie Richards, 42, called her early Thursday morning to say his car had stalled in rising waters and started to float. She heard the impact and the water engulfing the car before losing contact.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus emphasized the difficulty in gauging the depth and speed of water at low-water crossings, which contributed to the rapid engulfment of roadways. Imagery of the aftermath shows vehicles completely submerged, some even overturned.
Beyond the flooding, two EF0 tornadoes, with winds between 65 and 85 mph, touched down in Hays County, Texas, near Wimberly, causing tree damage and minor structural damage. The city also reported that 15 of its 141 low-water crossings were damaged, and 18 roadways remained closed on Friday due to flooding, debris, or surface damage.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg and his wife expressed their deep sorrow for the loss of life and their hope for the safe return of those still missing.
While Friday's forecast for San Antonio included possible isolated thundershowers and a high of 107 degrees, flood warnings were set to remain in effect for parts of the San Antonio River and Cibolo Creek south of the city through at least late Saturday morning, as floodwaters from earlier in the week continued to move downstream.
