Evacuations spread across parts of South Texas on Wednesday as relentless rain swelled rivers, forced residents from their homes, and prompted dozens of water rescues while a tornado damaged apartments and businesses in San Antonio.
The Uvalde Police Department ordered evacuations in flooded areas of the city, with first responders going door-to-door to notify affected residents. Officials warned of additional evacuations as water levels continued to rise. Officials also urged residents along the Leona River to move to higher ground.
Police used a color-coded Ready, Set, Go system, with green signaling residents to prepare, yellow to be ready to leave, and red ordering immediate evacuation.
Flooding also forced evacuations in Boerne after Cibolo Creek surged to a record 22.47 feet Wednesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Residents in several neighborhoods were told to evacuate voluntarily or prepare to shelter in place as rapidly rising water inundated roads and stranded vehicles. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency for parts of Kendall County.
"This is a life-threatening weather event. I don't want to mince words about how serious this situation is," Boerne spokesman Chris Shadrock said in a Facebook video, adding that floodwaters were rising even in areas that do not normally flood.
Texas Game Wardens and other emergency crews rescued over 40 people, most in the Uvalde area, after motorists became stranded and floodwaters threatened homes.
In Boerne, first responders rescued a woman after her vehicle was swept off River Road by the fast-rising Cibolo Creek. About 20 vehicles also became trapped in a nearby gas station parking lot as surrounding streets quickly flooded.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued disaster declarations for dozens of counties as state and local agencies continued rescue operations. Officials urged residents to avoid flooded roadways and follow evacuation instructions as rivers and creeks continued rising.
The storms also spawned a tornado in northwest San Antonio around 7:50 a.m. The National Weather Service said the tornado crossed Interstate 10 near The Dominion and Shavano Park, damaging apartment buildings and the Palladium IMAX theater. The San Antonio Fire Department said no injuries had been reported.
Apartment resident William Hodges told NEWS4SA he did not realize a tornado had struck until he received an emergency alert.
"I honestly didn't even know it was a tornado until after I got the alert like 10 minutes later," Hodges said. "We didn't know it at the time, but the roof was gone."
Flood watches remained in effect across much of South Texas Wednesday, and forecasters warned additional rainfall could prolong dangerous flooding before conditions begin improving later this week.