USA14 July, 20263 min read
National Weather Service Issues Flash Flood Emergency for Boerne, Texas Hill Country
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National Weather Service declares flash flood emergency for Boerne and Kendall County through 8:15 p.m. Emergency response active with high-water calls; residents urged to shelter or evacuate.
Boerne flash flood emergency
A flash flood emergency was issued for Boerne, Texas, in Texas Hill Country, with the National Weather Service warning residents to "SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!" as dangerous flooding developed along Cibolo Creek. The Kendall County Office of Emergency Management & Fire Marshal told residents living along Cibolo Creek in the Heart of Boerne, Evergreen, Yolana, and West San Antonio Avenue areas to voluntarily evacuate now or prepare to shelter in place as water levels continued to rise. In Boerne, a rain gauge near the city measured 3.5 inches of rain within one hour Wednesday morning, and the Cibolo Creek rose 10 feet in just 90 minutes between 9:45 and 11:15 a.m. local time.
The National Weather Service said the Cibolo Creek measured at a record-high level of more than 22 feet, and the emergency warning was issued as crews closed River Road in all directions. As of 12:30 p.m., the City of Boerne responded to 20 high water calls, and first responders were able to assist people to shelter in place.
Rescues, calls, and alerts
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency warning for Kendall County, which includes Boerne, and the service said in a post on X that this was a "particularly dangerous situation" urging those near Cibolo Creek to move to higher ground.
As of 12:30 p.m., the City of Boerne said it had responded to 20 high water calls, and the Boerne Fire Department assisted three rescues where they helped walk people to safety and one boat rescue at Herff Road and River Road.
In a later update, KSAT reported that the Boerne Police Department received 109 calls for service during the storms, including 36 calls for water rescues, and that there were no reported fatalities as of Wednesday afternoon.
Boerne Police Chief Steve Perez said there were no reported fatalities in the city as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, while the city’s disaster declaration was signed by Mayor Frank Ritchie due to severe weather and flooding.
City officials also canceled a Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, and Boerne Utilities customers with service through WM were told to expect delays in trash and recycling collections.
What comes next
Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference on Wednesday that disaster declarations have been made for 59 counties, with the possibility of more being added, and he said more than 75 people have been rescued so far.
The National Weather Service said the current round of heavy rain is expected to continue in the region until 8 p.m., and a flash flood watch across Texas Hill Country remains in effect through Thursday.
ABC News reported that the expected rainfall from this storm could exceed 30 inches, and it said the NWS had previously issued a high risk for flash flooding, a level 4 out of 4, for the same region on Wednesday due to a forecast of an additional 6 to 12 inches of rain.
In Boerne, the City of Boerne said it would be requesting additional resources from the state during and after this flooding event, and it urged residents to stay off closed roads and avoid driving past barricades.
The Texas Tribune said federal forecasters predicted imminent major flooding on Seco Creek near D’Hanis on Wednesday afternoon, with water levels rising so high that homes could flood with up to 5 feet of water, or 6 feet if Parker Creek also floods.