Area reels from Hermine

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Central Texas and the Austin metro area saw major flooding in the metro and outlying areas, including devastated neighborhoods, overflowing creeks, flooded streets and even Lady Bird Lake cresting over its banks.

• While emergency crews searched for a woman whose SUV had been caught in a low water crossing overnight, another local resident was ticketed for being in Lady Bird Lake Wednesday afternoon - after emergency crews had to pull him from the water. Swimming had been banned during the flood, and the man jumped in to swim, officials said.
• CapMetro was forced to close its rail service for the day, but was scheduled to pick it back up on Thursday - with the exception of the Leander station. Rail ties in that section came loose after the ground washed away beneath the tracks.
• Seven people were stranded on the gazebo at Auditorium Shores. As water levels rose they were cut off from land. Austin firefighters reached them by boat.
• Driving over the Pennybacker Bridge was particularly treacherous as the rain sent rocks rolling onto Highway 360 from the hills above, witnesses reported.
   
• Thousands were without power, hundreds of thousands of gallons of sewage spewed into swollen creeks, more than a dozen people were rescued, and dozens more evacuated. Roads closed all over Central Texas, and at least three people died.
• Anywhere from 6 to 15 inches of rain were reported in many locations from San Antonio to Killeen, including most of Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
• Austin Fire Department and other emergency officials responded to responded to more 500 calls and10 water rescues.
• Businesses that back up to Shoal Creek were cleaning up after the creek swelled over its banks and onto Lamar overnight. Water reached the gas pumps at the 7-11 on 10th street. It also crept up into the Shoal Creek Saloon but the owner says it looked worse than it was. "We're getting it cleaned up pretty fast," said owner Raymond Canfield. "You know we only took a couple of inches of water inside and I'm thinking that we'll be open for suppertime."
   

  Video coverage of area flooding

• Some 35 homes were evacuated early Wednesday morning near Florence because of the incredible flash flooding that developed in Central Texas as Tropical Depression Hermine lifted slowly northward from the Hill Country into the Big Country. Torrential rain caused water to rise in the Hunter's Point, Lake Creek, Beck Street and several other neighborhoods. Several residents needed help from emergency services to leave their homes and get to safety. The Red Cross was also on hand in the area, setting up the emergency shelter at the First Baptist Church in Florence. About a dozen people spent the night on cots and had breakfast. One family KXAN Austin News spoke with said the water was just six inches from their front door.
• The American Red Cross of Central Texas has opened three shelters in Williamson County to house people whose homes have been affected by the heavy rainfall:

1. 401 Cr 970 in Florence
2. 1600 Gattis School Road in Round Rock
3. 1003 North Austin Ave. in Georgetown

• Round Rock Police and Fire departments evacuated several dozen homes along the Brushy Creek flood plain, an area extending eastward from Hairy Man Road near Sam Bass to Red Bud Lane. Round Rock police activated the reverse-911 system to warn affected residents. Officers and firefighters also went door-to-door to assist with the evacuations. No serious injuries were reported.
• A number of streets remained closed due to high water, primarily along the Brushy Creek plain.
• Georgetown Fire Department crews rescued people from 10 vehicles in floodwaters and people in 10 flooded homes. No injuries have been reported, and there are no confirmed missing persons.
• Due to flood waters that have entered homes in many areas of Georgetown, City emergency staff opened the emergency shelter in the Recreation Center at 1003 N. Austin Avenue . Georgetown area residents needing shelter due to flooding conditions should call (512) 930-3510 for more information.
• A car was crushed and one person received minor injuries after a rock slide on Robert E. Lee near Barton Springs Road in Austin.
• Two damaged sewage pumps sent more than 200,000 gallons of wastewater flowing two Northwest Austin creeks today.  The first happened when a lift station near Spicewood Springs Rd. and 183 was hit by lighting and lost power Tuesday night. The pumps inside the station, failed sending more than 100,000 gallons of water flowing into Bull Creek. T he second happened when rising water from Lake Creek flooded the lift station at Anderson Mill Rd. and West Parmer Ln. About 100,000 gallons flowed into the creek when that station failed.
• Numerous water rescues were reported overnight. Many roads were closed, and some evacuations were ordered, particularly in Williamson County. In Kyle, three people were rescue late Tuesday after being stranded