After drought, heavy rain and crop damage, flooding may be the next devastating blow in Live Oak County
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As floodwaters from the Texas Hill Country continue moving downstream, communities along the Nueces River are preparing for rising water in Live Oak County.
Emergency crews have activated flood response plans, rescue teams from out of state have arrived, and local officials say they are ready if conditions worsen in the coming days.
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Live Oak County Emergency Management Coordinator Kevin Perrenot said there is no immediate danger to residents, but officials are taking precautions well before the Nueces river begins to rise.
“As you can see, we’ve got guys from Nebraska all the way down here to help us out,” Perrenot said. “They’re here to help us with floodwaters if rescues are needed. At this point, all we are doing is preemptively setting everything up getting ready for it. I want the public to understand here in Live Oak County that there is not a danger at this point in time.”
Nebraska Task Force One has established a base at the Live Oak County Fairgrounds, bringing rescue boats, specialized vehicles and communications equipment to support local emergency responders if flooding develops.
Perrenot said he was impressed by the speed and scale of the response.
“It actually blew my mind when I saw the response with all of these vehicles showed up here this morning,” he said. “It was really amazing to see the mobilization that they got out of it. These guys are no strangers to this type of work. The same group was actually in Harvey. So, they have dealt with high water. They have dealt with the swift water rescue. This isn’t just a new group. These guys have been around. They know what they’re doing.”
Just a few miles away in Three Rivers, city leaders say decades of flood protection infrastructure gives them confidence the community is prepared.
Three Rivers City Manager Thomas Salazar said the city’s levee has protected residents since it was built following a devastating flood several decades ago.
“We are standing on top of the levee. The levee wall here on the west side of Three Rivers. This protects the water from entering into the city,” Salazar said. “Back in the ’60s there was a bad flood that flooded everything in town, flooded the town and the school. Then they came back and built this in the ’80s and ever since then we’ve been maintaining it and keeping it up.”
While officials expect homes and businesses to remain protected, farmers along the Nueces River face a much different concern.
Fields of sunflowers, corn and sesame are growing along the river, but rising water could wipe out crops just weeks before the opening of dove season in September.
Farmer and Farm Bureau insurance agent Mark Katzfey said those crops are used to attract the dove. He also told 3 News that this growing season has already brought one challenge after another.
“I had bugs eating up my crop here two weeks ago. And at first there was drought and there was too much rain and now the bugs. I’m wondering what the hell else is the good Lord going to do to us? Send locusts or something or what?”
Emergency officials will continue monitoring river levels around the clock as floodwaters move through the region. They’re urging residents to stay informed, avoid flooded roadways and allow emergency crews to respond safely if conditions deteriorate.