In Sonora, the Dry Devils River Comes to Life as Flash Flooding Creates Hellish Conditions

SONORA, TX —The flood waters receded almost as quickly as they rose in Sonora early Saturday as residents there begin the difficult and expensive cleanup after devastating flash flooding inundated the town Friday.

Hundreds of homes and businesses had several feet of water and mud inside them as widespread flooding ran down the Dry Devil’s River through the center of Sonora situated on Interstate 10 and U.S. 277.  The flood waters ran from the north to south submerging the golf course at the north end of town following the Dry Devils River bed as it winds south through businesses and neighborhoods. Homes and businesses on either side of the rain-swollen river rapidly filled with water as the raging torrent pushed down signs and power poles and tore up pavement at low water crossings through town.

The Dry Devils River is one of six watercourses that feed into the Devils River, historically known (and named) for its untamed nature and deep canyons, especially during heavy rainfall. The Devils River forms in southern Sutton County, where Sonora is the county seat, and traverses nearly 100 miles southward before emptying into Lake Amistad north of Del Rio. 

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It was quiet Saturday morning with most of the sounds coming from traffic passing through Sonora heading either north on U.S. 277 toward San Angelo or south on U.S. 277 heading toward Del Rio.  Most businesses were open and there seemed to be power at most homes and businesses.

The travel center on I-10 sits on the banks of the normally dry Dry Devils River.  Saturday morning all the gas pumps had signs on them that said out of order.

Law enforcement officials said they had no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flash flooding.

A flood relief fund has been set up through the San Angelo Area Foundation to assist with the cleanup and repairs from the flooding.  Many people wondered if they needed to wait for insurance adjusters or if they could begin cleaning up immediately. Officials told some residents they should take pictures and begin cleaning up as soon as possible.   

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The devastating flooding began Friday morning as a cold front and moisture from the remnants of a Pacific tropical system collided over West Texas dumping heavy rainfall over vast areas of the center of the state.  The slow moving line of thunderstorms seemed to stall out over Sutton County deluging the normally dry watershed of the Dry Devils River.  The rain fell on already saturated ground and had only one place to go; down the riverbed through Sonora.  

The same system caused the South Concho River at Christoval to overflow its banks Friday night and Saturday morning.  Here's video of the bridge on Main St. in Christoval: 

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The cold front has moved on through the area and has taken the rain chances with it leaving cooler temperatures for the remainder of the weekend.