Water Rescues in Schulenburg, Flatonia
Heavy rains in the Flatonia and Schulenburg area necessitated several water rescues Tuesday evening, May 18.
Flatonia Fire and Rescue saved several people from rising water, including rescues at the Interstate 10 exit ramp in Flatonia, FM 609 under the I-10 overpass, the 700 block of South Main St. in Flatonia, Flatonia Dairy Queen and FM 1295 at Hwy. 90 near Praha, according to a report from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
Flatonia Fire Chief John Burleson said water inundated many areas around the City of Flatonia.
“We had two feet of water come up against the back side of our fire station,” Burleson said. “(The storm) just sat on top of us and dumped.”
One family called the fire department for rescue from their home after floodwaters crept dangerously close to the residence. The family decided to stay home when firefighters arrived and the rain eased up.
Burleson said no one they rescued required medical treat-ment.
Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department rescued a family from rising floodwaters on Smith-Marek Road near the Lavaca-Fayette County Line. SVFD used their 2 ½ ton 4x4 converted military truck to reach the family. At one point, the truck drove through four feet of water, according to Schulenburg Fire Chief Jeff Proske.
The home was located near Mulberry Creek.
“The water was rushing like a river through there, about 200 yards wide,” Proske said. “It was a couple and two kids stranded in their house. The water was at their doorstep and still rising. They had no way to get out.”
Firefighters loaded the family into the military truck and drove them to higher ground. Proske said the family stayed with relatives Tuesday night.
Then on Wednesday morning, SVFD used the big military truck to deliver some oxygen bottles to an elderly couple in the country.
“Fayette County EMS called and asked if we could deliver some oxygen because they would have gotten stuck,” Proske said. “This truck is coming in handy. We couldn’t have done either of those calls with out it.”