Storm Soaks Fayette, But Does a Lot of Damage Too

The storm that passed over Fayette County on Sunday brought some much needed rain. However, strong winds and lightning caused some property damage in the southern part of the County.

Rainfall reports ranged from eight-plus inches in the Schulenburg area to just sixtenths of an inch in Warda. Most areas of the County received at least an inch of rain.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said about an inch of rain fell in Raabs Prairie, and just six-tenths of an inch fell in Warda. McBroom said he received one call about a tree that fell down. Other than that, he didn’t know of any major storm damage in Pct. 1.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Clint Sternadel said about 2.5 inches of rain fell in the Round Top-Carmine on Saturday and then another eight-tenths of an inch on Sunday. He said the Waldeck and Nechanitz area received between 2.2 and 2.5 inches of rain over the weekend. Sternadel reported no major damage in his precinct.

“I had more calls from people asking if they can burn,” Sternadel said.

The Fayette County Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet this Friday, April 17, at 10 a.m., to consider lifting the burn ban.

In Pct. 3, Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff said he heard reports of five to six inches of rain in the southwest part of the County and up to eight inches in some places. Berckenhoff said stormwater runoff created a massive washout next to Kainer Rd. The washout is on private property, but he said the County will need to fill it because it is impacting the integrity of the road. Berckenhoff said it would likely take several hundred yards of material to fill the hole.

The storm destroyed a barn in Freyburg belonging to Jonathan Kalich. Kalich said he was away from his property when the storm passed through, around 5:30-6 p.m.

“There were big pieces of metal laying 1,000 ft. from the shop,” Kalich said. “You kind of wonder. I almost think it was a little twister.”

Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn said the National Weather Service did not detect any tornadic activity in Fayette County. She believes the storm damage across the County was due to straightline winds.

Kalich said there was no damage to a nearby house, which he described as “a miracle.” Kalich said 5.5 inches of rain fell on his property.

The most rain fell in the south and southeast part of the County. Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann reported more than eight inches of rain fell in some parts of his precinct. Brossmann said many stock ponds in the St. John area, where he lives, were dry or almost dry before the storm.

“After about two hours, they were completely full and running over,” he said.

Lightning struck a house in Schulenburg and started an attic fire above the garage. Brossmann, who also serves as an assistant chief in the Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters pulled a vehicle out of the garage and began attacking the fire. They were able to keep it contained to the area above the garage. The main part of the house was not damaged.

Brossmann said several large trees and limbs fell on roadways in his precinct, and some low-water crossings briefly flooded.

Heavy rains flooded the US 77 underpass in Schulenburg with about two feet of water.

It was closed to traffic for about an hour to allow the water to drain.

Farther south, the big news out of Lavaca County was that so much rain fell that the Lavaca River had water in it for a change and was actually flowing through Moulton.