The City of Brownwood is preparing for flooding following torrential rains over the past two days. According to the National Weather Service, the gage at Pecan Bayou at Lake Brownwood is nearing flood stage. It has risen nearly four feet, from its normal 1424.5’ to 1428.14’ since yesterday’s rains. Water is already a few feet over the dam, spilling into Pecan Bayou.
NWS reported that, since midnight Wednesday, rain gauges in the area measured as much as 8.49 inches in Bangs due east of Brownwood, 7.76 inches at Lake Brownwood north of Brownwood, and 6.49 inches northeast of Brownwood in Blanket.
Pecan Bayou meanders south from the dam on Lake Brownwood to the City of Brownwood via the airport. There is a US 67 highway bridge over the bayou in the middle of the city. “We expect the river to crest over the bridge early tomorrow morning,” said City of Brownwood City Manager Emily Crawford late Wednesday afternoon.
The City has closed parks, including Ben Lednicky Park at 500 E. Commerce Dr. and Riverside Park.
City crews have also closed several roads in Brownwood, including C.C. Woodson Dr. and Market Place Dr. One small apartment complex was evacuated, Crawford said.
[[{"fid":"13659","view_mode":"preview","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Rapidly-rising waters approach the roadway of C.C. Woodson Dr. in Brownwood on July 8, 2015. (Contributed/Will Stewart)","title":"Rapidly-rising waters approach the roadway of C.C. Woodson Dr. at Broadway in Brownwood on July 8, 2015. (Contributed/Will Stewart)","class":"media-element file-preview imgbody"}}]]
Above: Rapidly-rising waters approach the roadway of C.C. Woodson Dr. in Brownwood on July 8, 2015. (Contributed/Will Stewart)
Crawford spoke from an emergency operations center set up to coordinate the forecast flooding. She said they are staging Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Brown County, and City crews to react quickly to rising water and potential road closures. Wednesday evening, the EOC personnel were busy notifying residents and business owners and managers along Commerce Dr. in particular to prepare for rising waters. Commerce is U.S. 67, the east-west corridor through Brownwood.
Sand Bags
Cities of Brownwood and Early will be stockpiling sand and sand bags for citizens to pick up. The limit is 20 bags per person. Bags are self-help, so be prepared to bag and load your own. It is encouraged to bring shovels. Sand and bags will be available at the following locations:
Brownwood:
Monroe Overpass – Brady and Ave.
Former Higginbotham Brothers - 1500 Center Ave.
Early:
Early City Park – 201 Trailer Drive
Shelters
The Brownwood Coliseum (500 E. Baker) is opening as an emergency shelter for those evacuated from their homes.
In Early, the emergency shelter will be First Baptist Church at 103 Gorman Dr.
South of Brownwood, the Colorado River rose to a very high level. The San Angelo NWS reports that the gauge at the Colorado River shows water peaking at 29.94 feet, up from just three feet before the rains. The major flooding level is 34 feet.
TxDOT warns of travel through this area of Texas. "Flooding conditions continue throughout parts of Brown, Coleman, McCulloch, Eastland, and Comanche Counties," they said in a statement.
Update 10:45 p.m.
The City of Brownwood Emergency Management is recommending all businesses in the areas listed below take precautionary measures for flooding and close.
- Commerce Street from the Pecan Bayou bridge west to Walmart
- Riverside Drive
- North Broadway to Main Street
- Main Street from the intersection of 377/67/84 to North Broadway
- Main Street to North Broadway
Road closures in the City of Brownwood currently are:
- C.C. Woodson
- Market Place Blvd.
- Riverside Dr.
- Fisk at Adam's Branch
- Fay
- Trapp
- South Broadway
- Pecan
- Baker at Victoria
- Vine Street Underpass
Please avoid travel in these impacted areas.
Update July 9, 7 a.m.
TxDOT has closed the following roadways around Brownwood:
- US 67/84 at the Pecan Bayou (E. Commerce St.)
- FM 3100 at Salt Creek
- FM 2525 or Williams Ranch Road
Crawford said that Pecan Bayou is cresting at 7 a.m. this morning and water is over the roadway on E. Commerce St./US 67. The main street through Brownwood is closed to traffic.
For emergency assistance, call 911. For updates, visit the Brownwood/Brown County Facebook Page and sign up for Code Red updates by going to the City of Brownwood website: www.ci.brownwood.tx.us
FM 765 in McCulloch Co. If the water can do that to a tractor trailer, imagine what it would do to a car or pick-up! pic.twitter.com/9Bus0ar3b8
— Brownwood District (@TxDOTBWD) July 8, 2015
Lake Brownwood spillway. pic.twitter.com/aWcg3l2xSm
— Ron Erdrich (@RonsBigCountry) July 8, 2015
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: