New Storms Dump Seven Inches of Rain on San Antonio Area

A new barrage of thunderstorms dumped more than seven inches of rain on parts of waterlogged South Texas early Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of about 2,000 people, stranding motorists in flooded streets and closing businesses and schools.

Later in the day, storms dropped up to five inches of rain on southeast Houston and caused street flooding that stalled numerous vehicles, including more than a dozen school buses, authorities said. There also was street flooding in Sherman near the Oklahoma border.

“In my 60 years in the city, I’ve never seen water this high,” San Antonio Fire Chief I. O. Martinez said.

Death Toll Rises

The drowning death of a soldier and the discovery of the body of a 5-year-old boy raised the number of storm-related fatalities in Texas to at least 10 since the current cycle of heavy rain began across the state on May 24, officials said.

“Conditions are still favorable for more (thunderstorms) forming,” National Weather Service meteorologist Stan Hall said Wednesday.

Dozens of motorists were stranded in low water crossings in San Antonio and many freeways were flooded and had to be closed during the day. Bexar County Fire Marshal Carl Mixon said four volunteer firefighters had to be rescued from a tree by helicopter.

The city manager’s office ordered the precautionary evacuation of about 200 houses and surrounding businesses, affecting an estimated 2,000 people, in a flood plain below Olmos Dam. Flood gates had to be opened in the 30-foot-high dam to release excess water into Olmos Creek, police spokesman Paul Buske said.

Joe Candelario of the city’s emergency management center said five emergency shelters were set up throughout San Antonio for evacuees, but most had been allowed to return home by midafternoon.

Most Critical Area

Candelario said the most critical area was along the San Antonio River in the Olmos Basin.

“The water is already over the banks. We were apprehensive the water would get into the streets and homes,” Candelario said.

Scattered flooding in homes was reported throughout the city, he said.

Trinity University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, other San Antonio-area colleges, businesses and offices were closed.

“We’ve had 2 1/2 inches of rain on our property and approximately four inches of rain above our property,” said Ron Rohde, owner of a KOA campground. “We are experiencing about a six-foot rise, at this moment, in our creek.”