KENDALL COUNTY, Texas – Despite a “wider footprint” compared to last year’s Hill Country floods, Kendall County officials reported no significant injuries connected to this week’s flooding.
Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk and Kendall County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Constantine provided an update on the county’s flood response during a Thursday morning news conference at the Kendall County Road and Bridge Building.
So far, Stolarczyk said the county has “taken on (a) significant amount more water than last year’s flood,” which has caused extensive damage to properties, roads and bridges.
“Fortunately, like last year, we suffered no loss of life and no significant injuries,” Stolarczyk said.
In all, the county judge said first responders conducted two high-water rescues across the county. Other crews assisted residents to a county evacuation center.
While he believes the area is through the worst of the heavy rain, Stolarczyk continued to ask residents to remain vigilant for more rain later today.
“We’re expecting a second wave coming down the pipe sometime this afternoon,” Stolarczyk said. “It’s nothing (that’s) going to be remotely close to what we’ve seen.”
Planning for rain
Constantine said he and other county leaders held a meeting Tuesday to map out a planned response to this week’s rain with law enforcement agencies and emergency services across the county.
After Boerne experienced severe weather, county officials notified the Comfort Fire Department of its plans for Thursday. According to Constantine, flood sirens were “triggered manually” by Comfort FD. Constantine could not confirm the exact times those sirens were activated.
Constantine said a 37-foot crest was reported in the area of U.S. Highway 87 at the Guadalupe River. Water from the river was flowing toward the Comal County line.
The National Weather Service had issued a Flash Flood Warning for portions of the county until 1 p.m., but the warning has since expired.
However, the NWS said a Flash Flood Emergency remained in place for Comfort, which is located northwest of Boerne, until 3:30 p.m.
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