Flooding in Texas, October 28 to 29, 1996

Significant river flooding occurred along the Llano River in Kimble and Mason counties on October 28th. This flooding was a result of a stationary front over the hill country combined with deep tropical moisture during the early morning hours of the 28th. Most of the rainfall occurred in the headwaters of the Llano River over northern Edwards County. Heavy rain also occurred over eastern Kimble and southern Mason counties. Rainfall amounts of three to five inches were common over Kimble and Mason counties, with up to nine inches reported in parts of southeast Kimble County. The runoff quickly entered the Llano River and caused river flooding and damage to homes and roads.An observer in Telegraph (extreme southern Kimble County) along the South Llano River reported the river had risen 20 feet on the morning of the 28th. Downstream at the South Llano State Park just outside of Junction (Kimble County), the river crested at 14 feet in the late morning. Eight people camping in the park were evacuated. The water then moved toward the city of Junction and caused camper parks to be evacuated. The water treatment plant was flooded requiring the residents of Junction to boil their drinking water. However, no damage was reported within the city limits of Junction.The South Llano River reached its crest of 23.7 feet in the early afternoon (1400 CST) of the 28th just east of Junction, with a secondary crest of 24 feet that night.Most of the flood damage in Kimble County occurred along the Johnson Fork, a tributary of the Llano River in the eastern part of the county. As many as four homes were flooded with as much as three feet of water in the homes. Several roads were damaged or washed out in the county including Farm-to-Market Road 2169 near Segovia and Highway 377 about 15 miles south of Junction. About 300 miles of fencing was also damaged.In Mason County, lowland flooding occurred along the Llano River and Beaver Creek. The Llano River near Mason crested at 24.6 feet around 1030 CST on the 28th with a secondary crest of near 22 feet during the night of the 28th. Bankfull stage is six feet. Beaver Creek near Mason crested at 19.6 feet on the morning of the 28th. Flood stage is 12 feet. However, no major flood damage was reported in Mason County.