The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Central and South Texas on Tues. Here’s how to stay safe during flash flooding.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued flash flood warnings for Central and South Texas as heavy rains are expected in those areas over the next few days. Shortly after, Governor Greg Abbott released a disaster declaration to prepare 59 counties for a potential emergency situation.
Gov. Abbott said, “As severe storms and the threat of dangerous flash flooding continue across the state, this disaster declaration ensures we can rapidly deploy state resources to support local communities.”
A warning coordination meteorologist at Austin/San Antonio’s NWS office, Jason Runyen, told Texas Public Radio, “When we issue a flash flood warning, that means that conditions are imminent for flash flooding.” The only other instance in which this warning would be issued is if those floods have already started.
New warning systems have been installed in Hill Country following the devastating July 4, 2025 flood along the Guadalupe River; this alert will serve as a test for that new system to determine its effectiveness. For cities like Ingram, flood sirens have yet to be tested as there hasn’t been enough rain to warrant their usage.
The primary regions impacted by these flash flood warnings are Hill Country and Comal and Bexar counties. The Rio Grande Plains, Kerrville, southern Edwards Plateau, and Interstate 35 corridor are all under a general flood watch until the end of the day on Thursday, as is the city of Austin.
Anywhere between two to six inches of rain is projected to fall between now and then, with 10-15 inches possible in western Hill Country, southern Edwards Plateau, and the Rio Grande Plains.
When issuing the disaster declaration, Gov. Abbott said, “Texas is positioned to respond quickly and effectively.” Below, we’ll go over the best ways you can personally prepare to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency.
Prepare in advance
According to NPR, flash floods are typically caused by heavy rainfall from thunderstorms and hurricanes and begin within three to six hours of the initial storm. Sometimes conditions worsen rapidly and without warning. Crucial safety steps must be taken in advance to prevent you and your loved ones from getting caught in the path of destruction.
Within Columbia University’s Climate School is the National Center for Disaster Preparedness. A senior staff associate there, Jonathan Sury, gave NPR some helpful advice regarding household emergency preparedness plans and what residents can do before and during flash floods.
Something you can do well in advance is use First Street Foundation or FEMA’s flood zones and map to determine where your home is located. This will help you figure out where you need to go when evacuations begin. Sury says the primary thing to keep in mind is that you must get to higher ground as quickly and safely as possible. Part of your preparedness plan should be finding the highest ground near you and mapping out a direct route there.
Look around your home to see if there’s either an upper floor or attic for you and your family to head to if flash floods are happening in your neighborhood and you can’t get out in time. The key here is to avoid going outside, so this space must be within the house itself. If absolutely necessary and you have no other option, you may wait on the roof for the floods to pass.
Next, pick a specific spot for your loved ones to meet if you happen to get separated. That way if cell phone services are down, you’ll know where to go and how to find each other again.
Equally important is packing a go bag and leaving it in an easily accessible area to grab once the flash flood alert is issued. This should contain things like water, food, first-aid supplies, necessary medications, contact information and important documents, and signaling devices (flares, alarms).
Sury recommends keeping a similar bag in your car. “Doing that preparedness well before something happens is what’s really going to make people more at ease. These events are very stressful and people are able to make better decisions in a time of crisis when they aren’t fumbling around to find X, Y or Z,” he told the outlet.
Stay alert and move to higher ground
Setting up more than one way to receive weather alerts is an important factor in staying safe during flash floods. The nationwide emergency warning system will send an alert directly to your phone. If you’re unsure as to whether your device is currently set up to receive those, click here to follow a step-by-step guide on how to turn them on.
Local weather stations have alerts you can sign up for as a secondary form of warning. The NOAA weather radio is a physical device you can buy that broadcasts ongoing warnings and forecasts issued by the National Weather Service—this is equally handy.
In terms of the alerts themselves, a flash flood watch means the current conditions are favorable for this type of natural disaster to occur. A flash flood warning means it is either already taking place or it’s going to start immediately.
As Jonathan Sury explained to NPR, “The flash flood warning, when you see that, that’s the time to really think about: How can I get to higher ground?” If you have enough time before evacuating your house, it’s recommended to put your valuable items somewhere safe (think: high floor) and turn off the utilities (gas, electric, etc.).
You should never drive, walk, or swim through flash flood waters. Jennifer Horney works at the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center, and she told NPR’s Morning Edition, “It only takes 6 inches of water to sweep away a person who’s walking and only 1 to 2 feet to push away a car or a truck. So even if you have that big SUV, don’t try to drive through a flood.”
The National Weather Service said if you’re in your car when flash flooding starts, the safest motto to live by is, “Turn around, don’t drown.” The Kerrville Police Department issued a similar warning on Facebook following Tuesday’s NWS alert. In it, the department wrote, “We can’t stress this enough: do not drive around barricades, and do not drive into high water on the roadway even if no barricades are present. Low riding vehicles will flood out.”
What to do if you’re stuck in a car when flash flooding starts
If you’re already in the car when rapid flash flooding begins and the vehicle is taking on water, you must get out of the car as quickly as you possibly can. Unbuckle everyone in the car’s seatbelt and exit through the windows. It is important to open the windows before flood waters rise past the bottom of them.
Part of your preparedness plan can and should involve buying something to keep in your car to break windows and cut seatbelts. Vehicle escape tools can be found here. When breaking car windows, aim for the corner as this is the weakest area.
Northeastern University associate professor Stephen Wood told NPR that if you’re in water once you exit the vehicle, float on your back feet-first, as this will prevent your head and face from taking the brunt of debris that will likely be floating nearby. If you pass something or hit something while you’re floating, like a tree or telephone pole, grab onto it and try to climb upwards.
As soon as you reach higher ground, call 911. Remember, emergency services will be bombarded with an influx of calls during a natural disaster, so you may not be able to get through right away. Regardless of whether you can contact 911 directly or not, try to make yourself as visible as possible so first responders can easily see you and grab you when they arrive.
Jennifer Horney issued a reassuring piece of advice during her time on NPR’s Morning Edition, saying, “The good thing about the flash floods is that they tend to dissipate quickly, and there are special teams trained to rescue people in swift water situations.”
Do your best to stay safe and remember help is on the way.
