A teenage girl who was witnessed being washed away is among those missing, the chief of Travis County Emergency Services District 1 confirmed.
AUSTIN, Texas — At least seven people are confirmed dead and many more are missing in Travis and Burnet counties – including a teenage girl who was witnessed being washed away – as heavy rain continues to fall throughout Central Texas on Saturday.
Travis County spokesperson Hector Nieto confirmed that a body was discovered in the Briarcliff area of western Travis County. According to Chief Donnie Norman with Travis County Emergency Services District 1, two others were found dead as crews responded to dozens of rescues in northwest Travis County, mostly along Big Sandy Creek and Cow Creek.
Nieto confirmed at around 6:50 p.m. that a fourth person in Travis County had died.
In Burnet County, two people were killed by the floods, both from RV parks – one near the city of Burnet and another near Faith Academy. Two people in Burnet County are missing as of 3:30 p.m.
Burnet County officials told KVUE Saturday evening that a third person had also died the county, although the circumstances surrounding their death are unclear.
It comes as first responders across Central Texas spent Saturday scrambling to rescue dozens of people from rising floodwaters, including in Burnet County and Williamson counties.
Emergency Management Coordinator for Burnet County Derek Marchio told KVUE first responders had conducted more than 40 water rescues by 3:30 p.m. Saturday. That included people rescued by boat and people able to walk out on their own.
Emergency officials in Burnet County are also searching for a fire official who appears to have been swept away by floodwaters early Saturday. The man was responding to a call when he drove into water and his vehicle was washed away.
The emergency vehicle was since recovered but the man was not inside.
Williamson County has issued a disaster declaration in response to the flooding on Saturday. As of 7 p.m., the county said there were no confirmed deaths, but three people are still missing.
The Office of Emergency Management activated its Emergency Operations Center at 5 a.m. on Saturday in order to coordinate resources and request assistance from the state. Additional personnel have been called in to respond to the flooding.
Up to 25 people have been rescued in the county, the majority from homes.
Austin-Travis County EMS officials also reported dozens of water rescues, many of which were along Cow Creek, west of Lago Vista. Crews have found remnants of mobile homes that appear to have been carried downstream, but they are uncertain whether the homes were occupied when they were swept away.
The flash flood threat will continue through the day Saturday as rain continues to fall over Central Texas.