SAN MARCOS: Up to 10 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in parts of Texas, prompting numerous evacuations and rescues overnight and into Sunday, while a firefighter in northeast Oklahoma died after being swept away in floodwaters.

The storm system that moved across central and North Texas and most of Oklahoma pushed northeast on Sunday, bringing a threat of flooding to some western Arkansas counties, which could see as much as 3 inches of rain. And the National Weather Service says the region could see more rainfall in the coming week.

About 1,000 people were evacuated in Central Texas communities, which saw dozens of high-water rescues overnight as the Blanco River and other swollen waterways breached their banks.

The river — which crested Sunday above 40 feet, more than double the flood stage of 13 feet — swamped sections of Interstate 35, forcing parts of the busy north-south highway to close.

Rescue personnel used pontoon boats and a helicopter to evacuate people overnight as floodwaters quickly surrounded their homes, said 62-year-old San Marcos resident Rudy Olivo.

Water came to the top of the steps leading to his home in the town that’s about halfway between San Antonio and Austin.

Other homes in his neighborhood were flooded and many roads in the area were underwater.Olivo has lived in the area for more than 50 years and said he’s never witnessed such severe storms.

“This is the worst I’ve seen it because the water rose so fast,” he said. Five San Marcos police cars were washed away and a fire station was flooded, city spokeswoman Kristi Wyatt said.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015

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