Flooding in Texas, Oklahoma prompts rescues, evacuations

Up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) 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 today, bringing a threat of flooding to some western Arkansas counties, which could see as much as 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) 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 (12 meters), more than double the flood stage of 13 feet (3.9 meters) 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. The city is imposing a curfew starting at 9 p.M. Sunday.

San Marcos is in Hays County, a fast-growing area between San Antonio and Austin. Some 1,000 homes are damaged in the county, Wyatt said. Hays County Sheriff's Lt. Jeri Skrocki said numerous rescues were conducted in the community of Wimberley, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Austin. No serious injuries were reported.
Near Houston, high winds damaged rooftops, blew out windows, damaged at least 50 apartments and injured two people at an apartment complex. Two people who were injured were taken to hospitals, though the severity of their injuries weren't yet known, the Houston Fire Department said in a news release.