Water Rescue Teams Prepare for Hermine

The threat of heavy rains over the next 36 hours over parts of Central Texas has Austin water rescue teams on alert. While some are preparing for a dash down to the South Texas coast to help, others are here keeping an eye on low water crossings and creeks.

Monday morning there was more foot-traffic moving up and down Bull Creek than water. Anthony Passeur and Kelly Sanford were among those taking a morning walk. They spend a lot of time hiking the greenbelt with their dogs.

’As soon as it rains it’s clean again and it feels fresh,’ said Passeur.

However, they also know the natural beauty here can quickly turn ugly if there is too much rain.

"Yeah be careful, because even a little bit of water flowing really fast can catch you off guard,’ said Passeur.

During the last big storm transport buses were pushed and sank into a swollen Guadalupe River. The flooding in June caught many by surprise. One man was killed.

The high water closed down Schlitterbahn, smashed RVs, and swamped river homes. A father and daughter were even swept several miles downstream from a camping area.

All it takes is about six inches of fast moving water to sweep you off your feet. Riding on four wheels is not much safer. According to the most recent data, 75% of flood deaths involve vehicles.

Austin Fire Fighters and their wet weather gear are ready for a quick call out. If one happens, Battalion Chief Palmer Buck is hoping for a daylight run.

"People dying in flood events in cars usually happen at night because they can’t see the road, and they go right through, and the next thing they know they're into a low water crossing and they're swept away,’ said Buck.

The city and LCRA monitor flood prone areas. Signal and barricade warning systems are also in place at several locations. But they can offer a false sense of security.

"The water can come up so quickly the barricades might not have come down just at the time you're trying to cross,’ said Buck.

Not only will creeks will be watched, other areas are also at risk. Within the city limits there are about 400 miles of drainage pipes and concrete channels. They could become overwhelmed and cause localized flooding. According to the city watershed office, as many as 7,000 homes in Austin are located in a flood plain.