Rain pounds HillCo, slows drivers

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - Rain the size of pellets pounded parts of Hill Country, washing out a portion of Highway 1431 and leaving drivers to navigate slick, wet roads.

Rainfall totaled more than 3 inches in places like Round Mountain and areas of Gillespie County.

"I've got to go about 15 miles an hour slower, so, time means everything on a route job," said John Alavarez, a route driver slowed by the sporadic downpours that turned U.S. 281 into somewhat of a car Slip n' Slide.

Alavarez said he is likely going to have to work overtime to make all of his deliveries.

"This rain is so bad," Alvarez added while unloading energy drinks from his truck.

Rainfall has been rough on other drivers too.

Many pulled off the road to wait out the downpours and almost white out road conditions.

"When it was raining really hard and they could barely see out in front of them, I guess they didn't want to take a chance so they pulled over, slowed down," Alvarez said.

Area disaster relief coordinators are on standby, ready to open shelters should the rain worsen.

Earlier, they are worried less about flooding and more about fatalities on the road.

"It would be a really good idea to go home or go back to the office or go to Starbucks and have a another cup and wait it out," explained George Barnette, emergency disaster relief coordinator for the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City.

Truck driver like Anthony White, however, did not have the option to wait out the storm. He had to get to Dallas to make a sand bag delivery.

"It is pretty bad out here," explained White while he gassed up his semi.   "Makes it bad for stopping and seeing too. With the weight I got on this truck it makes it real difficult to stop."

White wanted to make it to Dallas in four hours, but increasing wind and rain stalled those plans.

Now, as water starts to accumulate, officials are closing roads and low water crossings.

Still, despite the threat of flash floods, some residents aren't fearing the relentless rain.

"I just got through looking at the creek," said Connie Pell, who lives alongside a creek. "It's just rushing water, but It's low, it would take  a lot of rain to get to the top of the 12th street overpass here, so I am not not really that concerned."

Disaster relief coordinators told KXAN they are continuing to monitor the rainfall and are prepared to open up shelters should homes flood and people need to seek refuge from the rain.