After the floods, cleanup begins

AUSTIN (KXAN) - People in New Braunfels were picking up the pieces Thursday after a massive flood along the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers on Wednesday killed a man, injured several more and did devastating damage to the area.

The worst hit were businesses and homes along the Guadalupe River in Gruene and New Braunfels.

Businesses and residents faced the tough road ahead together.

"We thought nothing would be salvageable, but look what these beautiful people have done for us," said Cathi Kneuper, whose home was flooded and whose husband rescued an 11-year-old girl from the river. "It's almost…its overwhelming…but we're blessed and so thankful."
After flooding killed a man and endangered several others in the Comal County area Wednesday, the Guadalupe River has retreated to its banks.

Former flood victim Margaret Parr said, "The third one down, is where we were…" as she points out the foundation where her home used to sit in 1998. A massive flood that year destroyed many homes along the river.

Margaret Parr was one of those victims.

Parr said, "The morning it had hit…we had rained 22 inches…"

She's since moved to higher ground in New Braunfels, but visits the site to see the latest damage for herself.

Parr said, "I told my husband yesterday you know, I would move right back on the river, if I can find a high place."

And for Cathi Kneuper, her and her husband will rebuild.

Kneuper said, "In the whole scheme of things, Im just glad were alive…it could have been so much worse."

Some 6 feet of water still covered the Rockin' R parking lot in the early morning hours Thursday, but the water continued to retreat as time passed. And as daylight begins to uncover more of the damage Thursday morning, residents are left to pick up the pieces left by the devastation.

Since 'Surf n Burg' was the only area under water, most of the Schlitterbahn amusement park reopened Thursday at 10 a.m. - with discounted admission prices. Teams spent the majority of the night cleaning up.

An early morning, slow-moving, tropical, low-pressure system dumped a foot of rain over the Guadalupe River just northwest of Gruene and New Braunfels Wednesday.

Some 11.87 inches was measured 5.5 miles northwest of New Braunfels, and several surrounding locations reported 10- to 11 inches of rainfall.

In just eight hours, 10 inches of rain fell - producing deadly and devastating flash flooding.

In the Austin metro area, 2- to 5 inches of rain fell, producing some flash flooding at low water crossings Wednesday.

However, little rain fell over the Hill Country, so the levels of lakes Buchanan and Travis will not be affected.

The upper-level low-pressure system has moved just northeast of Central Texas, and could be the focus for more heavy rainfall Thursday. Eastward, an additional 1- to 3 inches of rainfall are possible from the Austin metro area.

Rainfall will mostly end by Friday, with hot and humid weather returning this weekend.

Norman Walker of Iowa Park, Texas, died in the Guadalupe River. According to the City of New Braunfels, the 65-year-old became trapped after the river began to rise while he camped in the area of Hueco Springs in Comal County.

Some five Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens and one game warden captain were assisting Comal County authorities in high water rescues. Here's a video of one rescue posted on YouTube:

 

 

An area man also saved an 11-year-old girl - after being in the river for two hours - who was washed from a camp zone north of Gruene, six miles up the river from New Braunfels. She was wearing a life vest that was apparently put on her by her parents when their truck flooded, the man told KXAN. Their actions, and his, saved her life.

Both the girl and her rescuer are safe. The man's home was under water, he said, and has sustained heavy damage. His wife woke him up in their home on the river to alert him to the rising water, and when he went outside, he heard the young girl yelling for help - so he jumped in and saved her.

An elderly New Braunfels couple survived the storm after waking up Wednesday morning to find 2 feet of water in their home.

Austin police were sending a five-person rescue crew to help on Wednesday afternoon.

New Braunfels Mayor Bruce Boyer and Lt. John Wells of the NB Police Department gave the following updates in a noon news conference Wednesday:

• Emergency Declaration has been issued for Guadalupe and Comal Rivers. Area rivers have been closed.
• Crews are getting help from San Marcos and San Antonio Fire Departments.
• More than 800 emergency dispatch calls received, and about 100 were for evacuation or rescue.
• Reverse 911 reached 368 homes asking people to evacuate, though most already had evacuated.
• The waters are starting to recede, but the area is still in an emergency situation due to down power lines and debris.
• Officials are asking people to stay home unless it is necessary for them to venture out.
• City asks that only serious emergencies be used for 911 to keep the lines open for people needing rescues
• STARFlight and the Texas Department of Public Safety are in helicopters looking for people needing help
• The city began preparing crews on Tuesday in anticipation of the floods
• Teams of city employees will be sent out to do damage assessment as soon as possible

Heavy thunderstorms continued early Wednesday, hitting New Braunfels particularly hard - with flooding, water and tree rescues, and mobile homes washing out in the rains.

Among the businesses wiped out by rushing water was Rockin' R River Rides. The building that houses the main headquarters was designed to withstand a flood and it worked. The structure was not compromised, but water rose six feet on the bottom floor and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

The metal raft and tube rental structure near the banks of the Guadalupe River collapsed. Dozens of old school buses, used to shuttle customers, were wrapped around trees and scattered across the 10-acre piece of property. Manager Shane Wolf said the goal is to get the business back up and running in ten to fifteen days.

A section of Schlitterbahn Waterpark was underwater. A spokesperson said a portion of the park would be back open Thursday at 10 a.m. and cost of admission will be reduced.

Flash flood warnings and watches continued through the afternoon.

STARFlight has helicopters in that area helping local crews with rescues. The Comal County Red Cross opened a shelter at New Braunfels Middle School for residents who are flooded out by the rising water at the Dry Comal Creek.

Texas park wardens rescued one man who had been trapped in his truck at a low water crossing, as well as several others in the Lake Dunlap area, said Capt. Danny Villalobos of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Villalobos said numerous recreational vehicles had washed downstream from the New Braunfels area, and that wardens would be working with Comal County deputies and other officers to make sure no one had been trapped in any of those trailers.

A team of Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens participated in rescue efforts with local authorities. Gov. Rick Perry also has directed the activation of state search and rescue capabilities due to the heavy flooding. State resources being activated included five Texas military forces high-profile vehicles in San Antonio;  two Texas military forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters; and three swift water rescue teams based in New Braunfels .

The State Operations Center remains at an increased readiness level and continues to work with the National Weather Service to monitor the storm system.

In addition, all summer school and student-related activities in the New Braunfels Independent School District will be canceled Wednesday due to the weather. This includes summer school for the elementary and secondary grades.

Parents should check with the district later Wednesday to see if classes will be canceled Thursday.

Meanwhile, 20 miles east of Austin in Elgin, lightning struck the Elgin Police Department just after 6 a.m. - temporarily knocking out some server equipment and their 911 console. While the 911 server was down, calls were diverted to Bastrop. The service was working again Wednesday morning.

Multiple low water crossings closed in Austin, including several along Spicewood Springs Road. Bull Creek at Loop 360 is above flood stage. And officials were reminding people to use an alternate route and to remember to Turn Around Don’t Drown.

Law enforcement reported closed roads in Kyle. Several roads are closed in San Marcos and in New Braunfels.

Meanwhile, the low water crossing near CR100 near Georgetown had one foot of water flowing over, it according to law enforcement and was barricaded.

High water also swept over the roadway along State Highway 79 just outside Gause, Texas, which is about 63 miles northeast of Round Rock.

In San Marcos, there are reports of a house in a foot of water at 4913 Red Wood Road.

The Comal County Sheriff's Office said they have had a couple of calls for high-water rescues, citing there has been 12 inches of water. Officials said State Highway 46 is open but suggest travel only if it is to escape high water.

In the meantime, the New Braunfels Fire Department opened shelters for people along the Comal River.

And 10 inches of rain was reported near Smithson Valley.

In Austin, police officials said there were 25 vehicle accidents between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday.

For traffic-related incidents in the Austin area, you can check the City of Austin website. You can do the same for road closures in the area during emergency conditions.