San Gabriel River Floods Bring Chaos to Central Texas Towns
Torrential rains have pushed the San Gabriel River flood to crisis levels, sending shockwaves through Georgetown and Liberty Hill in Central Texas. What started as a deluge on a summer night rapidly turned into an emergency, with water surging past homes and escaping storm drains. The sheer volume staggered residents and officials alike, with rainfall totals in some spots exceeding a staggering 15 inches.
For families living near the river, the experience was terrifyingly abrupt. Authorities scrambled to issue evacuation orders late into the night. Riverside, Shady River, Goodwater, and Heritage Hollow home parks all faced orders to leave. Even sturdy apartment complexes like Two Rivers, San Gabriel Apartments, and Waters Edge couldn’t escape the danger, their residents were roused from sleep and packed into shelters just in time.
Shelter locations sprung up across Georgetown, each offering a safe haven from the swirling floodwaters and the chaos outside. The Georgetown Animal Shelter welcomed evacuees and their pets, VFW Post and San Gabriel Masonic Lodge became gathering points, while Holly Street Village and the San Gabriel Crisis Center opened their doors to dozens seeking refuge.
Swift Water Rescues and Widespread Damage
Liberty Hill’s situation was just as grim, especially near Bear Creek, County Road 200, and the Rio Bonita RV Park. Flash floodwaters swirled around low-lying homes, prompting urgent alerts and immediate action. At Hope House, a local group home, sixteen residents had to be rushed to safety as the water rose perilously. Swift water rescue teams worked through the night, ultimately saving at least 25 people from trapped vehicles and flooded residences, most barely making it out before conditions worsened.
Meanwhile, the damage spread well past homes. Roads crumbled and washed out under the force of the river. FM 963 in Burnet County was reduced to a broken path, impassable for cars or rescue trucks. The relentless water tested emergency crews, forcing a constant shuffling of resources to meet the growing list of urgent calls.
Williamson County Judge Steven Snell saw enough, and quickly declared a local disaster as the scope of the event became clear. Rescue operations were far from finished, and with rivers and creeks still running high, every plan had to be flexible, ready for the next call for help.
Amid this flooding, everyday needs quickly turned into new emergencies. Ten neighborhoods in Georgetown woke up to a boil water notice, with floodwaters contaminating or threatening the drinking supply. For families already displaced and worried about property damage, unsafe water just fueled the uncertainty.
The National Weather Service didn’t offer much comfort, as fresh flash flood warnings swept through Blanco and Burnet counties. Thunderstorms rolled back in, threatening to dump even more rain on an already soaked landscape. With every passing hour, local authorities and residents braced for new rounds of high water and more roads disappearing under the raging river.
As the San Gabriel River flood crisis continues in Georgetown and Liberty Hill, neighbors rely on rescue crews, emergency shelters, and each other, waiting for water to recede and the slow work of recovery to begin.