Flash Flood — Bexar, Texas

2007-08-16 to 2007-08-17 · near Elmendorf, Bexar, Texas

Event narrative

The area of extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin continued to spread northwestward across Bexar County, with a general 4 to 5 inch rain over the county. Totals of up to 8 inches were reported at several locations in the south and west parts of San Antonio as well as between Helotes and Leon Springs. By 1400 CST, most roads in the northwest part of the county were closed. By 1530 CST that afternoon, more than 39 high water rescues were reportedly underway in San Antonio. Water was almost waist-deep at Southcross Boulevard in San Antonio. Floodwaters were so deep and running so swiftly at the San Antonio High School West Campus that they collapsed a masonry wall and filled the school with almost five feet of muddy water. Hallways were flooded, and desks, computers and boxes were tossed and thrown together. The students were moved to classrooms in another building across the district. A young man was driving to work in the mid afternoon of August 16 when his vehicle struck a guardrail on Southwest Military Drive and was knocked into Six Mile Creek near South Flores Street. The young man called his family to say he had had an accident, then exited the vehicle but drowned as he attempted to move to higher ground. Near midnight a young woman was driving with three friends and a baby near North Star Mall when she accidentally drove her sport utility vehicle into deeper water where it was slammed against a bridge and then was swept into a drainage ditch. The three other adults in the vehicle were able to get baby out of the vehicle through the window and escape. But when the three looked back for the driver, she was gone. Her body was found later by emergency responders when the water receded.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Erin moved inland near Port Aransas on the morning of August 16 and continued toward the northwest, in the general direction of San Antonio. By noon, the remnants of Erin were located near Pleasanton in Atascosa County with winds near 30 mph, and moving toward the northwest near 14 mph. What was left of Erin was estimated to be in the Rocksprings area by midnight that night and just south of Ozona on the morning of August 17. The track of highest rain totals associated with Erin over South Central Texas began in Karnes County and streamed northwestward across Wilson, Bexar, Kendall, Bandera, Medina, Gillespie and Kerr Counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (29.2500, -98.3300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 51439. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.