San Gabriel River Floods Georgetown, Forcing Evacuations and Dozens of Rescues

The San Gabriel River overflowed its banks late Saturday, flooding parts of Georgetown and surrounding areas of Williamson County, Texas. Authorities issued an evacuation order for several riverside mobile-home parks and apartment complexes, including Riverside, Shady River, Goodwater, Two Rivers, San Gabriel and Waters Edge. County Judge Steven Snell declared a local disaster and said swift-water teams had rescued 25 people from inundated homes. Emergency crews also moved 16 residents from the Hope House care facility in nearby Liberty Hill as water levels continued to rise. The National Weather Service kept a Flash Flood Warning in effect for western Williamson County until 10 a.m. Sunday and for areas east of Georgetown along the South Fork of the river through early Sunday afternoon. Officials urged residents in low-lying areas to head to higher ground and avoid driving across flooded roads. Popular recreation spots such as Blue Hole Park were underwater as runoff from recent heavy rains pushed the river out of its channel.