Body recovered in Llano as county reels from devastating floods

By Fares Sabawi, mySanAntonio.com

Published 10:26 am CDT, Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Water pours over the Max Starcke Dam as waters continue to rise on Tuesday Oct. 16, 2018, in Marble Falls, TX. [Amanda Voisard/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Water pours over the Max Starcke Dam as waters continue to rise on Tuesday Oct. 16, 2018, in Marble Falls, TX. [Amanda Voisard/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Photo: Amanda Voisard, [Amanda Voisard/AMERICAN-STATESM
The Llano River flows between to sides of Ranch Road 2900 after the bridge was washed out due to flooding Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

The Llano River flows between to sides of Ranch Road 2900 after the bridge was washed out due to flooding Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press
Water from the Colorado River pours over the Max Starcke Dam, Tuesday Oct. 16, 2018, in Marble Falls, Texas. The Llano and Colorado rivers meet at Kingsland and the National Weather Service said both were experiencing “major flooding.” A flash flood warning was in effect. (Amanda Voisard/Austin American-Statesman via AP) less

Water from the Colorado River pours over the Max Starcke Dam, Tuesday Oct. 16, 2018, in Marble Falls, Texas. The Llano and Colorado rivers meet at Kingsland and the National Weather Service said both were … more

Photo: Amanda Voisard, Associated Press
The Llano River flows between the washed out Ranch Road 2900 bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

The Llano River flows between the washed out Ranch Road 2900 bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press
The Llano River flows past one sides of Ranch Road 2900 bridge after the bridge was washed out due to flooding Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

The Llano River flows past one sides of Ranch Road 2900 bridge after the bridge was washed out due to flooding Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press
The Llano River overflows its banks into neighboring property as the swollen river flows between the washed out Ranch Road 2900 bridge, background, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) less

The Llano River overflows its banks into neighboring property as the swollen river flows between the washed out Ranch Road 2900 bridge, background, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Kingsland, Texas. (Jay … more

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press
Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Photo: Texas Parks And Wildlife Department
Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Photo: Texas Parks And Wildlife Department
Texas game wardens search and rescue teams were involved in air and water rescues along the Llano River Tuesday morning, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The department reported that calls were coming in fast and asked for people to heed local warnings as “flooding will continue.”

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Texas game wardens search and rescue teams were involved in air and water rescues along the Llano River Tuesday morning, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The department reported that calls were coming in

… more

Photo: TX Parks & Wildlife
Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Photo: Texas Parks And Wildlife Department
Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Texas Game Wardens have search and rescue teams conducting operations along the Llano River on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.

Photo: Texas Parks And Wildlife Department

Photo: Amanda Voisard, [Amanda Voisard/AMERICAN-STATESM

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Caption

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Water pours over the Max Starcke Dam as waters continue to rise on Tuesday Oct. 16, 2018, in Marble Falls, TX. [Amanda Voisard/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Photo: Amanda Voisard, [Amanda Voisard/AMERICAN-STATESM

The body of a woman was recovered and at least 24 people were rescued from floodwaters that ravaged Llano County Tuesday, according to county officials.

More than 10 inches of rain have fallen in the area since Monday, where the ground was already saturated from previous stormy weeks. The Llano River crested at near-record levels Tuesday and flooding reached the towns of Llano and Kingsland, affecting phones, internet and water treatment facilities.

Boil water notices have been issued in the area, and the county is setting up distribution centers to hand out water and ice that were donated by H-E-B. One is set up at Llano Junior High School, while the other will be at the First Baptist Church in Kingsland.

The Texas Game Warden Search and Rescue team had a busy day, answering 40 calls for service resulting in 24 rescues and 5 evacuations as of Tuesday night.

One high-water rescue captured on camera in Kingsland showed a woman climbing into a game warden boat from the second story of a home.

One woman was found dead in near West Sandstone and Flag streets, Llano County officials said. Though the woman’s family has been notified, officials declined to release the woman’s identity Wednesday.

Earlier in the day a body was removed from the floodwaters of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson near Kingsland.

The situation appears to be improving, however.

Ron Anderson, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the Llano River did not crest again Wednesday morning as was expected. Instead, the river levels receded to about 12.5 feet, which is still in the moderate flood stage.

“That doesn’t mean it’s not hazardous out there still,” Anderson said.

Light rain is expected Wednesday, but the main concern comes Thursday and Friday, when the National Weather Service is predicting up to four additional inches of rain in isolated areas throughout the region.

County officials are monitoring the forecast and plan to notify residents if flash flooding occurs again.

Several other waterways and lakes were affected as a result of all the rain. Flooding was reported in the Nueces, Colorado and Guadalupe river basins.

The runoff inundated Central Texas lakes. Lake Travis, for example, was above the major flood stage Wednesday morning, reaching 696 feet.

Officials are opening up dams and releasing water to alleviate the issue, which will likely result in minor floods in surrounding river basins.

Closer to San Antonio, officials said Canyon Lake also reached maximum capacity. Water will be released from there beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday until about Friday.

Property owners in that area are urged to keep an eye on river flows and take caution as the water gets released.

Llano County officials plan to update the public about recovery efforts again at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA

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