Rising water from Cibolo Creek had Schertz officials sounding the alarm Wednesday, as they ordered mandatory evacuations for residents of the Pecan Grove RV Park and urged nearby neighborhoods to consider leaving before dark. The city issued a local disaster declaration while the National Weather Service warned that creek levels could become dangerous overnight. Limited shelter space was opened for people who had nowhere else to go.
City issues evacuation and posts maps
According to the city's emergency release, mandatory evacuations apply to all residents of the Pecan Grove RV Park, with voluntary evacuations recommended for Lone Oak, Rio Vista, Buffalo Valley South and areas along southern FM 78 and FM 1518 to Lisa Meadows, per the City of Schertz. The release points residents to evacuation maps and an FAQ on the city website, and notes that Public Safety teams were going door to door at addresses considered most at risk.
NWS warned of rapid rises on Cibolo Creek
The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio issued flood warnings for the Cibolo Creek basin and forecast rapid overnight rises at the Selma gauge, levels that can inundate trailer and RV parks downstream, urging people to “take the shortest path to higher ground,” according to the National Weather Service. Local coverage from KSAT reported that the most dangerous water was expected between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Shelter and local resources
The Schertz Civic Center was opened with limited shelter space for people who had no other options, and the city said water and light snacks would be available for evacuees, according to the facility information at Schertz Civic Center. The Civic Center’s listed address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Bldg. 5, and officials asked residents who could safely stay with friends or family to do so, so the emergency shelter could focus on those without alternatives.
How residents can keep tabs
Officials urged residents to sign up for CivicReady alerts, follow city social media channels and comply with road-closure notices. They repeated the familiar “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” warning for drivers who encounter high water. Real-time gauge pages from the USGS were being monitored and can show rapidly rising stages near Schertz, and residents were told to check official NWS and USGS pages for updates as conditions evolve.
