Flood — Wilson, Texas

1998-10-17 to 1998-10-19 · Wilson, Texas

Wider weather episode

Flooding along the San Antonio River, Cibolo Creek and Geronimo CreekIn Bexar County, the San Antonio River begins just below Olmos Dam where it merges with spring flow. Two new flood tunnels on the San Antonio River and Apache Creek respectively saved downtown San Antonio and homes and businesses below Brackenridge Golf Course to the old Lone Star Brewery from very serious flooding. At Loop 410 in San Antonio, the San Antonio River crested at 36.2 feet, where flood stage is 20 feet. Several homes just below Loop 410 had 10 feet of water over the slabs. At Elmendorf, the San Antonio crested at 64.6 feet, with flood stage at 35 feet. Flow escaped out of the deep canyon of the channel and flowed over the prevailing very flat flood plain, severely flooding homes. In Wilson County at Floresville, the San Antonio flooded several houses, but residential flooding was not nearly as severe as other areas. In Karnes County near Falls City, the gauge flooded early in the event as the San Antonio flooded five homes in the southwest section of the city.In Bexar County, Cibolo Creek at Selma was gauged at 22' and rising, with flood stage at 17 feet. At Schertz, the crest was well above the 26 foot crest of June 22, 1997. Here the flood stage is at 13 feet. This crest in excess of 30 feet put over 17 feet of water above the tops of mobile homes. Mobile homes were floating like boats, and moved downstream until they hit something permanent.. Farther up on the right flood plain, another community of mobile homes, permanent homes, and RVs were completely destroyed, moving downstream until they encountered something. Many homes above the city park, upstream, left bank from the Highway 78 bridge flooded. The railroad bridge trestle had water just to the tracks. Downstream, in Wilson County, near Lavernia, Cibolo Creek produced a sheet flow that surged over the flood plain in an area well over a mile wide and up to six feet deep. Many homes were flooded in this area. Lavernia volunteer firemen performed rescues in fire trucks where they could, then commandeered high powered boats. The boats were destroyed in the rescue attempts. Several businesses in Lavernia were flooded. At one point, a fire truck stalled in Lavernia for hours until the firemen themselves could be rescued. Downstream, below Sutherland Springs, Highway 87 was flooded with several feet of water for miles. Debris formed dams in the trees beside the highway as a mute testimony to remnants of houses, boats, cars, and items that flowed across the road. At Falls City in Karnes County, the Cibolo Creek crested at 39.9 feet, where flood stage is 20 feet. It accounted for a very heavy loss of livestock.Geronimo Creek in Guadalupe County put several feet of water into homes in Geronimo, just east of Highway 123 below the bridge. In Seguin, Geronimo Creek crested near 26 feet, below Highway 90A, flooding many homes severely. The lowest home about 1/4 mile below Highway 90A, has a slab at 15 gauge height, and had water on the roof. Flow was over the Highway 90A bridge, and estimated near 26 feet.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5672613. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.