Heavy Rainfall Causes Severe Flooding in San Antonio, Texas - East Idaho News
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Heavy Rainfall Causes Severe Flooding in San Antonio, Texas

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Getty W 070812 FloodingJPG?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1369507561055iStockphoto/ThinkStock(SAN ANTONIO, Tex.) — Record rainfall hitting the city of San Antonio, Texas, in the past 24 hours is causing widespread flooding, with at least one confirmed death.

The National Weather Service says the city airport recorded about 10 inches of rain in 12 hours, breaking several records.

“It set a new daily record, not only a daily record, monthly record but it’s the second all time record for the city of San Antonio for rainfall in a 24 hour period of time,”  Pat McDonald of the National Weather Service.

The rain has caused significant flooding in some areas, closing roadways and stranding motorists, and leaving thousands of homes without power. Five rivers are overflowing their banks as well.

ABC’s Matt Rivers, reporting from San Antonio, says at least 40 homes have had to be evacuated.  “It’s just like the scenes you see during hurricanes with people being taken out of their homes on rafts with first responders guiding them to safety,” Rivers said.

Larry Trevino, the emergency manager for San Antonio, says there have been a significant number of high water rescues.

“We’ve performed probably 20 to 25 actual rescues out in high water intersections so we are urging people to please do not leave their homes,” Trevino said. “There’s about 160 calls right now for high water related or water related rescues and incidents.”

One woman is confirmed to have died during the flooding. Few details have been revealed, but authorities believe her car became stuck, and the woman was swept away when she got out of her car.

Despite the tragedy, some are hoping that a little good can be salvaged from the flood. The heavy rain comes on the heels of a multi-year drought in the area.

“This will definitely help,” McDonald said. “Will it break the drought? No one can tell right now because the rain came in at a very fast rate.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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