Texas sheriff’s deputy missing in Southwest rains, floods

Heavy rain was making its way through the Southwest Thursday, sparing southern Arizona, but hitting a good portion of New Mexico and Texas with a deep soaking from the remnants of Hurricane Odile.

The storm has led to flooding in the Austin, Texas, area, where there have been several water rescues and thousands left without power. A Travis County sheriff’s deputy is missing after she was last heard using her radio to report she was being swept away by water.

By Thursday morning, New Mexico had received 4 inches of rain. Some parts of Texas were doused with 7.1 inches of rain overnight, the National Weather Service reported. Additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected through the weekend and a flash flood watch is in effect in the San Antonio area until 7 p.m. CDT Thursday.

The storm prompted the National Weather Service in the most affected areas to send out tweets and Facebook posts warning people to keep safe.

“South Texas storms can easily produce several inches of rain in a short period of time. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” the National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio Texas posted to its Facebook page.

Officials were looking for a Travis County sheriff’s deputy who was checking low water crossings around 2 a.m. Thursday, Roger Wade, Sheriff’s Department spokesman said. She last used her radio to report that she was being swept away by the water. Emergency officials, fire crews and sheriff’s deputies immediately responded to her call, and began to search the area where her car was found submerged, Wade said.

Wednesday, residents in Southeastern Arizona braced for intense rains and flooding. Residents stocked up sandbags, school officials canceled afterschool activities and even the University of Arizona warned that it may have to cancel classes but the region — particularly the Tucson metro area — was essentially left unscathed and a flash flood watch scheduled to expire later Thursday was canceled.

Last week, record-breaking rainfall deluged parts of Arizona, prompting Gov. Jan Brewer to declare a state of emergency as floodwaters led to at least one death, turned portions of a Phoenix interstate into a deep canal and forced the closure of dozens of schools and the House of Representatives.

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