Tornado Hits Austin and other Texas Counties

NWS ^ | 11/15/01 | Lucas

[Lucas1]

Tornado reporting in Austin, Texas. There have been other tornadoes reported throughout Texas this afternoon.

Anyone in that area have any reports for us on damage?

[austingirl]

I saw some incredible video of the Schoal Creek area along Lamar - so many cars just floating, some sinking, some almost totally submerged and the video was an hour old.

They are evacuating homes along Onion Creek, a couple of subdivisions there. And the rain is still coming at the rate of 3-4 inches per hour!

[Gracey]

Glad to be of help to our precious FReeper buddies.

[Gracey]

Not good news. Was going to the Hill Country Republican club meeting tonight but it was postponed because our speaker, Rick Green's house is flooding. He's the same Texas Rep who gave the dynamic speech at the Rally for America Tuesday.

Stay warm and dry dear friend.

[Endeavor]

Hey, that wasn't nice about the Cowboys and no "touchdowns." But you're right (I've been a Dallas fan since birth. My brother and I used to decorate the old practice field on Forest Lane when the 'boys would make it into the playoffs).

The Cowboys' biggest problem is the owner. Maybe we could recommend him as ambassador to the Taliban?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

As A FReeper and as someone who lived in Austin in the early 70's I'm saying some prayers for all.

[Gracey]

Thanks FRiend, for the kind words. Actually, this too shall pass, in about an hour, at least in Austin area. Watch out those Northwest of us...it's heading your way.

[CommiesOut]

Thanks for a good advise.
At that memorable time (May 1987) I drove from Dallas to El Paso with my relative who just came from old country to visit us. We stopped in Odessa to eat. It was perfect, blue sky West Texas weather, windy though. An hour later I noticed a lot of flying papers and other stuff in a window. Finally there was tornado warning on TV screen.
When we left restaurant the sky was black with white/yellow band on the horizon. No rain yet but heavy wind and lightning all around. I turned the radio on and sure enough there were reports about funnel clouds here, there and over there plus heavy rain and hail.
Because it was so dark and there was no way to tell what's going on around, and when finally extremely heavy rain hit us I decided to stop under the bridge, opened the window (to hear incoming baby) and instructed my relative: "When I tell you, we're gonna climb this here rough concrete and hold tight to the girders, kapish?" Poor EU girl was shaken to the core, but promissed to follow the orders. By that time several cars and a bike stopped next to us and we all were ready to hug the girders. Fortunately the real hell missed us.
And yes, I was prepared to lose my vehicle and maybe life but we didn't have too many choices in this total darkness and unknown terrain.

Exactly a week later tornado destroyed Saragosa, TX and killed a lot of people.
http://www.pecos.net/news/arch87/sarpix1.htm
http://glenn.humphries.com/saragosa.htm

[Gracey]

....NorthEAST of us. Sorry.

[austingirl]

Thank you for your prayers. There are a lot of folks who will have property damage and perhaps loss of their homes after the flooding.

[Greenpointer]

Yes you can. Go here and browse around.

Hey, Pretty cool site. Thanks Gracey! *blush*

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Earlier this year I was living right around I-35 and 290 -- is it still there??

[lavrenti]

This sounds like 1981. Horrible. I really feel for you guys.

How are things in the Bull Creek Road area? That was where the worst of the flooding in 1981 occurred.

I'm trying to get ahold of my niece. She lives near Bastrop. Just moved into new house.

[lavrenti]

Ugh. I just remembered a friend lives off of Anderson by I-35.

Any word on Travis Heights?

[Gracey]

Wasn't sure if you'd seen this site ;-) Not bad, hey??? LOL

[Gracey]

Any word on Travis Heights?

Check out post #94

[LaGrone]

I certainly remember the severe floods along shoal creek when so many cars ended up in Town Lake afer being washed from the lots and car dealorships.

After the flood there was a great deal of money spent in widening and reinforcing shoal creek especially in north Austin.

If cars are floating around sixth to fifteenth st. they must have received several inches of rain. I lived there thirty years but now have retired and live in Tyler.

[lavrenti]

I remember they found the bones of one unfortunate in a storm drain months after the flood.

Interesting you live in Tyler. I was there only a couple of months ago. A lot of my kin live, and are buried there. I was baptized at what is now the Cathedral.

[ken in texas]

The flood of 1981? Yeah... I remember. We were camping at one of the lakes around Austin and had to bail out of there around 10 o'clock that night. Very scary.

My wife and I have had a lot more respect for moving water since then.

[umbagi]

Thanks, y'all, for the concern and advice.

I made it home in about 1:15 (took nearly that to get there this morning). I went Oak Knoll, Jollyville, Great Hills, and 360. The only snag was the north end of 360 -- the lights at both Spicewoods were on blink. Past that, everything was a breeze.

Anyone else trying to get south, 360's in good shape, and the south end of Mopac is nearly empty. Wm. Cannon EB is closed between Brodie and Manchaca, though, and power's out on Brodie south of there.