North, Central Texas inundated by floods

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (left) visited the Marble Falls area Thursday afternoon to view the destruction caused by the floodwaters. Dewhurst said that although he had seen both photographs and video footage of the area, he was surprised when he visited in person and saw the damages first-hand. "To sit here and see this level of violence and destruction…I can't imagine this much water going through a small community," he said.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (right) of Texas will tour the affected areas this weekend. He said Thursday that he and fellow Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison have urged the president to expedite a request for a federal disaster declaration in parts of the state affected by the flooding. "We'll be working with Gov. (Rick) Perry's office and the White House to expedite the emergency disaster declaration so we get the assistance to those who need it as soon as possible," he said.

As of Thursday, the Division of Emergency Management's State Operations Center reported 17 Texas counties impacted by the heavy rains and floodwaters. Texas Task Force One has four swiftwater rescue teams in Marble Falls and three teams in Austin to provide an immediate response if necessary. Three rescue-capable helicopters are also on standby in Austin. Voluntary organizations are providing food, water, shelter and other relief to victims of the floods.

Much of the flooding has been caused by a stagnant weather pattern between two areas of high pressure. This type weather pattern is conducive to thunderstorm development that officials say could last through the weekend. The stronger thunderstorms could carry 1-2 inches of rainfall, while others could experience 4-5 inches. The Division of Emergency Management predicts rainfall totals of 10-12 inches could fall in the next five to seven days.

The Lower Colorado River Authority is continuing floodgate operations today. As of this morning, four gates were open at the Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis, the Wirtz Dam on Lake LBJ had one full floodgate open and one partial floodgate open, and the Max Starcke Dam, which forms Lake Marble Falls, had four gates open. Buchanan Dam had a fourth gate opened Thursday and Tom Mills Dam had three gates open. Residents in areas around the lakes are bracing for possible flooding as water rushes through the dams.

LCRA officials say the release of water through Buchanan Dam, coupled with rain runoff, will cause Lake Travis to rise to 697-699 feet above mean sea level this weekend and that floodgate operations could continue for several weeks.

The LCRA has temporarily closed Inks Lake and lakes Travis, Marble Falls and LBJ to recreational boating because significant debris makes boating unsafe. The City of Austin has closed recreational activities on Lake Austin, Town Lake and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam in the city limits.

North of Austin, some Georgetown-area residents were evacuated overnight and south of Austin in San Antonio, which bore the brunt of heavy rainfall on Thursday, numerous road closings were reported.

In North Texas, although some of the rain has let up, officials are still keeping an eye on the swollen Brazos River. Three of the nine gates of the Morris Sheppard Dam already are open, and officials could have to open a fourth today, which would likely spawn even more flooding downstream in Parker County, where some 2,000 residents have been evacuated. Not opening a fourth gate could cause water to flow over the dam, with the potential for destroying the structure.

As during any emergency in Texas, staff from numerous state agencies are responding. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has 22 Game Wardens and five boats available for water rescues and a helicopter on standby. The Texas Department of Transportation's road maintenance resources include heavy equipment, water trucks, message signs and more than 400 TxDOT personnel assisting during and in the aftermath of the storms. The Public Utility Commission is monitoring the state's utility infrastructure while the Texas Department of State Health Services is monitoring health issues. Other state agencies are also standing by if they are needed.