KERRVILLE, Texas – While Gov. Greg Abbott provided new information Monday on the local and state response to flooding in Comal, Kendall and Kerr counties, several other South Central Texas cities are bracing for high floodwaters downstream.
Officials are now focusing their attention on the Nueces River, which Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said reached approximately 9 feet Monday morning.
Kidd said he expected the river could rise an additional five feet.
Watch the full news conference below:
Over the next few days, officials’ top concerns are on areas including Cotulla, Tilden and Carrizo Springs. Abbott said evacuations in Uvalde are continuing, as well.
“Remember this: Just because the skies may be clear here right now doesn’t mean that the aggregation of water that’s flowing downstream has peaked,” Abbott said during a Monday news conference in Kerrville.
Damage figures in Comal, Kendall and Kerr counties
To date, Kerr County has taken the brunt of the rain and damage during this year’s flooding.
Abbott said approximately 490 single-family residences and 100 businesses sustained some level of damage in the flooding. One hundred thirty-five homes out of 490 took on major damage or were destroyed completely. Residents requested voluntary cleanup help at more than 200 homes (219) in the county.
In Kendall County, around 100 single-family homes have been damaged. Abbott warned that number will likely rise when damage in Boerne is fully assessed. Residents in 23 homes requested cleanup help.
According to the governor, at least two homes in Comal County suffered minor damage during the flooding.
Road updates
In total, 52 state-maintained roadways were impacted by floodwaters. As of Monday, that figure is down to nine.
All 13 state-maintained roadways in Kerr County affected by the flooding are now open to traffic, but Texas Department of Transportation officials said repairs are still needed in spots including State Highway 39 and State Highway 16 at the Sidney Baker Bridge.
Elsewhere, in Uvalde, FM 481 remains closed after a portion of the bridge collapsed late last week. TxDOT said it hopes to have a repair design ready by the end of this week.
Background
During a Friday news conference, Abbott issued a major disaster declaration for at least 28 counties after historic rainfall caused widespread flooding.
Bexar County was among the counties listed in the declaration.
First responders from state and local counties rescued more than 500 people last week during the floods. As of Monday, two people died as a result of the flooding last week.
The governor also said Monday that state first responders have rescued at least 530 people. Texas Game Warden officials said Saturday that they have conducted 153 rescues, 92 evacuations and five pet evacuations.
A 74-year-old man was found dead Thursday in Uvalde after floods swept away his vehicle, the city’s police department said in a news release.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed John Mark Steward also died in the floods. His body was recovered near Center Point after he was swept away approximately 20 miles while in an RV.
Kidd said residents can report damage to their homes or business here. For more information on statewide flood response help, click here.
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