Aerial view of Sandy Creek (X.com)
The July Fourth flooding event was tragic. That much has been the focus of national news over the weekend and into this week, with now over 100 deaths reported throughout Central Texas. Nothing more about that needs to be repeated here but here is a quick summary, followed by some ways to help.
- The majority of the deaths were along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County and, where numerous campers were evacuated, several died, and a few are still unaccounted for. 14 inches of rainfall on average hit the river basin.
- The San Gabriel River (including north and south forks) was also hard hit with around 16 inches of rain and the brunt of the infrastructure damage in Georgetown, where a pedestrian bridge was taken out and nearby apartments evacuated. A boil water notice is in effect for areas north of Georgetown.
- Cow Creek on the Burnet-Travis county line near Lago Vista was also devastated, with many trailer homes taken out and the only bridge between Lago and Marble Falls completely taken out.
- The heaviest rainfall of the flooding event was along the area known as Sandy Creek, just west of Leander in far northwestern Travis County. Numerous homes were emaciated, with about as many missing person reports in the wake of the flood. At least one teenager is dead, a student from Tom Glen High School in Leander. The only road into a portion of the Sandy Creek Ranches neighborhood is gone, as rescue workers are using kayaks to deliver relief supplies to homes and properties -- some of which are without utilities at the moment.