Life-threatening flash flooding hits Central Texas as the National Weather Service issues multiple flash flood warnings for the Austin area, with water rescues reported in South Austin and on Interstate 35 south of Waco. The flood threat is set to persist and shift eastward, with heavy rain likely across eastern and southern Texas and Louisiana this week and the National Hurricane Center monitoring a disturbance in the northwestern Gulf. Wildfire season is running ahead of average, led by the Bear Fire in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest, now past 6,600 acres with evacuation preparations in Catron County. State coverage also includes a south Louisiana flood watch, the Bee Hive Fire in Colorado, and a passed FEMA Individual Assistance deadline tied to Hawaii’s Kona Low flooding.
EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.
Key Takeaways
· Central Texas flooding: Life-threatening flash flooding struck the Austin area and Interstate 35 near Waco overnight. Water rescues were reported, dozens of low water crossings closed, and state rescue resources are deployed.
· South-wide flood threat: Heavy rain and flash flooding are likely across eastern and southern Texas and Louisiana this week. The Weather Prediction Center carries a slight to level 2 flood risk, and the National Hurricane Center is watching the northwestern Gulf.
· Active wildfire season: Nearly 2.5 million acres have burned year to date, above average. The Bear Fire in New Mexico tops 6,600 acres at 3 percent containment with evacuation prep in Catron County.
· Hawaii FEMA deadline: June 14 was the deadline for Maui, Hawai’i, and Honolulu county residents to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance from the March Kona Low flooding.
The National Weather Service issued multiple flash flood warnings for the Austin area overnight into Monday, with 1 to 5 inches of rain already reported in parts of Central Texas and more expected through the day.
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Officials pushed an imminent threat alert to phones across the Austin area warning of a dangerous and life threatening situation.
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Austin Travis County EMS and the Austin Fire Department conducted a water rescue in south Austin, and the Texas Department of Public Safety reported multiple water rescues on Interstate 35 just south of Waco, where video showed water pouring over the main lanes.
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Dozens of low water crossings are closed across the region and Texas has positioned state response resources including Texas A and m Task Force 1, Swift Water Rescue Squads and Texas Parks and Wildlife and Department of Public Safety rescue teams to support local operations.
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The flooding threat is forecast to persist and shift eastward this week.
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The National Hurricane center is monitoring a trough of low pressure over northeastern Mexico and southern Texas that could reemerge over the northwestern Gulf by midweek, where conditions may support gradual development.
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No tropical cyclone formation is expected over the next seven days, but heavy rain and flash flooding remain likely across eastern and southern Texas and Louisiana.
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Forecasters highlight a slight risk of excessive rainfall across the Southern Plains, lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast, with a damaging wind threat extending from the Ohio and Kentucky region into the Mid Atlantic.
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On the wildfire front, the National Interagency Fire Center's June 14 situation report describes an active early season with 31,511 wildfires having burned nearly 2.5 million acres year to date above the 10 year average.
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Several large fires are burning in the Southwest, led by the Bear Fire in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, which has grown past 6,600 acres at 3% containment.
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With evacuation preparations underway in Catron county, let's run through the states.
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Colorado the Beehive Fire is burning on Bureau of Land management land roughly 15 miles northwest of Naterita within the UNCOMPAGRE Field Office area, according to the National Interagency Fire Center's June 14 situation report.
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Crews are engaged amid active fire behavior.
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Hawaii the deadline for residents of Maui, Hawaii and Honolulu counties to apply for FEMA individual assistance tied to the March Kona low flooding fell on June 14.
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Survivors with questions about applications already submitted are directed to FEMA's helpline and disaster Recovery Resources.
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A flood watch covers most of south Louisiana as a stalling front pulls tropical moisture in from the Gulf.
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Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of rain across the region, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge, with isolated totals up to 10 inches possible.
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The Weather Prediction center has placed the area at a level 2 of 4 flood threat, and the National Hurricane center is watching a western Gulf disturbance that could enhance rainfall by midweek.
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NEW Mexico the lightning caused bear fire burning 18 miles southeast of Kamato in the Gila National Forest has grown to more than 6,600 acres at 3% containment as of June 14.
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Katron County Emergency Management has moved three private land zones east of the fire into set status under the Ready Set Go framework, and the Gila National Forest has issued an area closure.
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About 470 firefighters are assigned, with aircraft drawing water from Kamado Lake.
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TEXAS Central Texas is the focus of today's flooding.
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Flash flood warnings covered Travis, Hays, Williamson, Burnett, Bastrop and Lee counties Monday morning, with parts of Travis county, including Austin under warning until 8am The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Barton Creek at Loop360, forecast to crest near 8.1ft in the afternoon.
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Water rescues were reported in South Austin and on Interstate 35 south of Waco.
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Thousands of Petrnales Electric Cooperative and Encore customers lost power overnight in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties, though outages had dropped significantly by early morning.
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State Swift Water and Rescue resources are deployed in support.
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All other states and territories have no significant updates in the last 24 hours that wraps today's EM Morning Brief.
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