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WilCo Emergency Officials Prepare For The Worst


As potentially severe weather makes its way to Central Texas, Williamson County officials are preparing for the worst and they say their main concern is flooding in low water crossings and the people who attempt to cross over.

Jarred Thomas, Emergency Management Coordinator for Williamson County, says, “We have a couple of problem areas. It doesn’t take a lot of water to go over the low water crossings.”  He says it’s these crossing that can turn deadly if drivers ignore the danger.

“Around here we are prone to flash flooding, so water that may be an inch now, in two or three minutes may be six inches to a foot and a half. You just don’t know, it can rise that quickly,” says Lt. James David with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department.

Lt. David is also part of the Williamson County Swift Water Rescue Team. He says despite the warning some drivers are always willing to take the risk which is why the team has spent the day gearing up and have boats ready to go.

But he says if you decide to take the chance, you could face criminal charges. “If you have passengers in your vehicle and you decide to go through a flooded area where barricades are up you can be filed on criminally for endangering the lives of your passengers and we will be filing those cases,” Lt. David says.

By Lydia Pantazes