AUSTIN, Texas — With potentially 6 to 12 inches of rain in the forecast for parts of Central Texas and the Hill Country, local officials are urging residents to prepare now as the threat of flash flooding grows over the next two days.
Martin Ritchey, homeland security director for the Capital Area Council of Governments, said people should treat the threat seriously. “I think that we should always be at a higher state of readiness,” Ritchey said.
Ritchey said one of the first steps is paying attention to early alerts, including flash flood watches. “Flash flood watches happen often. So sometimes people disregard that, thinking that that’s not important. But it’s the first step, it’s the first part of the warning process to say,” Ritchey said, “the elements are coming together for the potential of life-threatening flooding.”
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The National Weather Service’s Austin-San Antonio office said 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall across the Austin area, Central Texas and the Hill Country, with up to 6 inches in some isolated pockets over the next 48 hours.
“That could lead to some localized flooding anywhere to the Hill Country and Austin metro region,” said Jason Runyen, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin-San Antonio office.
Officials said people in low-lying and flood-prone areas should be ready before severe weather arrives. “You should be aware of the fact that your safety could become at risk,” Ritchey said. He also urged residents in trailers, “Be prepared to remove your trailer and drive to high ground to go somewhere else.”
Travis County Judge Andy Brown also shared preparedness advice online, encouraging residents to have emergency food, water, medication and documents ready in case of flooding. Brown also reminded residents not to drive on flooded roads.
Runyen warned that flooded roadways can be especially dangerous at night. “If you do come across a flooded road at night and you’re not sure how deep the water may be, assume it’s too deep to get through,” he said.
For overnight safety, Runyen recommended signing up for alerts and ensuring phones can receive emergency notifications. “One, sign up for warncentraltexas.org,” he said. “The second thing to make sure you have enabled on your phones is wireless emergency alerts.”
The Texas Division of Emergency Management said state resources have been staged and are ready to support local officials as severe weather and flash flooding threaten parts of Texas.