Tragedy Along With The Good

Over the past few days we have received nearly ten inches of rain here in the Austin area. This is wonderful for the lakes and our drought-ridden central Texas countryside. It's not news that Lake Travis has been extremely low the past couple of years. The lake has been down about 41 feet, which has hurt property and business owners that surround it. It's also the water supply for the City of Austin, and its shrinking has placed restrictions on water usage. We welcomed the recent rains, but we sometimes suffer from bad with the good. This good rain brought tragedy to our community.

I have mentioned that I live in Travis County, not far below the Mansfield Dam, which controls water from Lake Travis into Lake Austin (the Colorado River). I am about a city block from the water. About three blocks the other direction from my house is what is known as a low-water crossing. In the nearly two years I have lived here we have not had enough rain to make that a dangerous crossing. Until night before last, when we got several inches of rain in a short period of time. I was awakened by a loud crunching sound in the wee hours of the morning. I got out of bed, and walked through the house listening.. I thought perhaps an animal got under the house to escape the downpour of rain. I went back to bed only to be awakened again around 3:40 am by the sounds of helicopters. They appeared to be right over my house, and continued for the next several hours.

(Photo: Jay Janner, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman via AP)

Finally, on an early morning newscast I discovered that the sound that first awakened me must have been the Sheriff Deputy's car being swept over the low-water crossing bridge and onto the rocks of the creek. The deputy was checking the crossing to see if a barricade was needed. This creek is normally just a trickle, but after the deputy radioed for assistance, the other Sheriff's Department Deputies arrived and found her car submerged from a sudden flash flood. It wasn't until the water receded that they discovered the car was empty. Both front windows were down, and her colleagues held out hope all day yesterday that they would find her clinging to a tree somewhere along the banks of the creek before it emptied into the Colorado River.

Travis County Sheriff Deputy's Car
(Fox7  News)

Unfortunately, as I write this, they have found no trace of the female, seven-year veteran deputy, who, ironically, was a member of the Sheriff's Dive Team. My son Matthew came for breakfast this morning, and watched the rescue dive efforts along the banks of Lake Austin near my house. He returned to tell me there were only two divers working, and that the water was extremely murky so that the divers had to search by feel. The belts that deputies wear weigh 22 pounds, so it is likely that if she is in the water, her body will remain submerged. Matthew and I have both been very saddened by this. Matthew was a certified rescue diver in the past, and I'm hoping his empathy doesn't push him to volunteer to help with the search. A discovery like that would be traumatic to anyone -- especially to a sensitive soul like Matt.

Search and Rescue Team on Fritz Hughes Park Road
(Fox7 News)

There have been several high water rescues in the Austin area, and more rain is predicted. As the ground is very saturated, it means we may see more flooding. A Texas police officer in the area is in ICU, after being swept away by flood waters as he attempted to help a woman driver caught in the flood. Because of the Travis County rescue efforts for the Sheriff's Deputy, they were longer getting to him as he clung to a tree. 

We are so fortunate to not have any of the frequent, disastrous floods we see in other parts of our country.. and other countries in the world. And when we do, we have so much help -- help not often available to others. As tragic news occurs all over the world, it is very different when it is in one's own backyard. Prayers somehow don't seem to be enough. But pray we must. For the missing deputy, for her family and loved ones, her colleagues, and for all those good people who have arrived to help in any way they can. And especially, prayers for those who put their lives on the line daily to assist the citizens of this country. We are blessed. And we are grateful. 

Peace and Love,
Marilyn

Update 4:15 pm
They have found the body of Senior Officer Jessica Hollis, age 35, in Lake Austin. May she rest in peace.