Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, August 16 to 17, 2007

Storms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch totals in Lavaca County, with the highest amounts of 4 inches near Yoakum. Flash flooding closed FM531 and SH111 for a few hours in the morning.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across Bastrop County, with up to 4 inches near Elgin. FM1704 and SH95 were closed through mid-morning due to flash flooding.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across DeWitt, County. The highest rain totals were 5 inches between Nordheim and Yorktown. Several roads in the western part of the county were closed due to high water, including FM108 and SH119.

The area of heaviest rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Erin in South Central Texas began in Karnes County. General rainfall over the county ranged from 3 to 5 inches with up to 7 inches near Helena. Most of the roads in Karnes County were closed Thursday afternoon, including FM887, SH119, and US80.

The area of extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin continued northwestward into Wilson County. General rain totals over the county varied from 3 to 4 inches. The highest amounts were 8 inches and stretched northwestward from Floresville to the Bexar County line. Roads across the northwest part of the county were closed due to flash flooding, including FM1303, FM536, and FM2579.

The area of extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin continued to spread northwestward across Bexar County, with a general 4 to 5 inch rain over the county. Totals of up to 8 inches were reported at several locations in the south and west parts of San Antonio as well as between Helotes and Leon Springs. By 1400 CST, most roads in the northwest part of the county were closed. By 1530 CST that afternoon, more than 39 high water rescues were reportedly underway in San Antonio. Water was almost waist-deep at Southcross Boulevard in San Antonio. Floodwaters were so deep and running so swiftly at the San Antonio High School West Campus that they collapsed a masonry wall and filled the school with almost five feet of muddy water. Hallways were flooded, and desks, computers and boxes were tossed and thrown together. The students were moved to classrooms in another building across the district. A young man was driving to work in the mid afternoon of August 16 when his vehicle struck a guardrail on Southwest Military Drive and was knocked into Six Mile Creek near South Flores Street. The young man called his family to say he had had an accident, then exited the vehicle but drowned as he attempted to move to higher ground. Near midnight a young woman was driving with three friends and a baby near North Star Mall when she accidentally drove her sport utility vehicle into deeper water where it was slammed against a bridge and then was swept into a drainage ditch. The three other adults in the vehicle were able to get baby out of the vehicle through the window and escape. But when the three looked back for the driver, she was gone. Her body was found later by emergency responders when the water receded.

Extremely heavy rainfall associated with Erin spread into the east and north sections of Medina County. General rain totals in this area were between 3 and 5 inches, with up to 8 inches reported around Castroville and near the Bandera County line south of Tarpley. Most county roads north of US90 were closed due to high water.

From Bexar County the extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin spread in Bandera County. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain was reported in general, with up to 7 inches to the northwest of Medina near the Kerr County line. Roads across the north part of county were closed due to high water requiring several high water rescues. High water also closed bridges north of Medina on SH16 and northwest of Medina on FM2107. Residents were evacuated from over 50 homes in the Lakeshore area. Three cars were washed off bridges and numerous rescues were required. A bystander noted that one truck attempted to cross Privilege Creek and was warned away by everyone nearby, but the truck continued along and was quickly washed into the creek. The driver and his wife were able to leave the truck and were rescued. Their vehicle finally came to rest almost a half-mile down the creek.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across Guadalupe County with up to 4 inches in the Cibolo area. Flash flooding closed FM78 and FM3009 briefly during the late afternoon.

Extremely heavy rainfall associated with Erin spread into the western sections of Comal County in the evening period. General rain amounts of 3 to 4 inches were reported along and west of US281, with up to 7 inches falling near Spring Branch. Flash flooding was reported in the western part of the county, closing SH46 and FM311.

The extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin moved into Gillespie County in the late afternoon, producing general 3 to 5 inch amounts. Highest were 9 inches at Cain City just south of Fredericksburg. Most roads in the southern and western part of the county were closed due to flooding. High water rescues were made on Bear Creek Road in the county and on East College Street and Goehmann Lane in Fredericksburg. US290 was blocked by the Pedernales River by early Friday morning and the LBJ Ranch was closed to visitors all day on Friday.

The extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin moved into Kendall County in the afternoon, producing between 3 and 5 inches over most of the county. Highest rain totals were 8 inches between Boerne and Sisterdale. Most roads in the county were closed and several families had to be evacuated along Cypress Creek due to flooding. City Lake was reported to be only six feet below the spillway. It had only been topped twice in the past 10 years. Near 1900 CST on the evening of April 16, a man and his son were in a truck traveling along FM473 when they attempted to drive across a bridge near FM1376 that was already flooded by Sisterdale Creek. The truck stalled and both men crawled out of the cab through the rear window and stood in the truck bed. Rescuers who arrived within minutes were unable to pass them life jackets or to secure a rope to the truck before a surge of water lifted the vehicle and swept it over the bridge. The father and son were washed into the creek and drowned.

The extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin moved into Kerr County in the afternoon. A general 3 to 5 inch rainfall was indicated across the northeast part of the county, with up to 8 inches falling north of Center Point. Most roads and bridges in northeast Kerr County were closed due to flash flooding. Two women were turning onto Town Creek Road when their vehicle became stalled in high water, then swept into Town Creek and finally lodged in some trees about 50 years from the bridge and 30 yards from the banks of the creek. Fire and rescue personnel were only able to get them to safety by forming a human chain in the flood waters and then pulling them to safety.

The Sheriff's Department reported that a short-lived, small tornado touched down at the Cave-Without-a-Name northeast of Boerne. The tornado struck a small building and caused minor damage before lifting and dissipating. There were no injuries.

The extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin moved into Blanco County in the late afternoon, producing a general 3 to 5 inch total over the southwestern part of the county. Highest rain amounts were 6 inches between Blanco and Twin Sisters. All roads from Blanco southward were reported to be closed due to high water.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch rain amounts over north and east Uvalde County. Highest totals were near 5 inches north of Sabinal toward the Bandera County line. Flash flooding closed FM187, FM1050, and SH127 through much of the evening.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across Hays County, with up to 4 inches near Dripping Springs and to the northwest. FM12 was reported closed in several places due to high water.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across Real County with up to 5 inches just east of Leakey. Many of the roads in the county were closed due to flash flooding, including FM336, FM337, and FM2748.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across the south and west portions of Travis County. This rainfall was in addition to general 1 to 2 inch amounts from earlier in the day. The resulting flash flooding closed FM2244 and FM620 for a short time in the late evening.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across the south and west portions of Llano County. FM2323 was reported to be closed due to high water through the late evening.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin produced general 2 to 3 inch amounts across Edwards County, with up to 5 inches falling in the extreme northeast corner of the county. US377 and FM41 were closed from midnight into the early morning hours.