Flash Flood in Burnet County, Texas

Slow-moving thunderstorms brought heavy rain for several hours to Burnet on the morning of July 5. Burnet Municipal Airport reported 8.67 inches of rain. An LCRA gauge in Burnet reported 11.67 inches. The torrential rainfall caused the rapid rise of Hamilton Creek. Additional inundation also occurred along Daugherty Branch and Haynie Branch in Burnet. Homes, businesses, and other buildings along Hamilton Creek experienced up to 7 ft of inundation. Oak St. in the northwestern part of the city was especially hard hit by the swollen Hamilton Creek. Around a dozen homes along the road were damaged, primarily near 7th and 8th Street. One house was torn off its foundation and was carried by floodwaters onto the opposite side of the street. Several businesses were flooded along South Water St. A 57 year old man was swept by floodwaters while commuting through Burnet along US 281. His body was recovered about a quarter mile away from his vehicle along Hamilton Creek. Most of the units at the Hamilton Creek Manor housing complex were impacted by floodwaters. Fields at YMCA of the Highland Lakes on the south side of Burnet were damaged by flooding with fences washed out and dugouts damaged. Pafford Place Assisted Living was heavily damaged. An 85 year old man at the facility drowned in the flooding. Seven others were successfully evacuated from Pafford Place. Parts of Burnet Municipal Airport experienced 5 to 7 ft of inundation, resulting in damage to PAPI lighting and the runway. Several homes were inundated along Delaware Creek to the west and southwest of Burnet with washouts on roads. Across the county first responders rescued at least 63 people. The county Emergency Manager estimated more than 400 homes were affected and the damages were at least $6 million.

Precipitable water values over South-Central Texas remained near record levels, and a mid-level anticyclonic circulation continued over Central Texas providing lift to generate thunderstorms. These storms were efficient rain making storms leading to another night of excessive rainfall. Parts of Burnet and Travis Counties received 12-16 inches of rain in approximately six hours that led to deadly flash flooding. Eighteen people died in flood waters: four in Burnet County, ten in Travis, and four in Williamson. The Travis County Emergency Manager estimated the cost of damage to public property and infrastructure at $5 million. The Burnet County Emergency Manager estimated the cost of damage to public property and infrastructure at $6 million. The Williamson County Emergency Manager estimated the cost of damage to public property and infrastructure at $25 million.