Kaufman County officials identified two people who died during the showers and storms that generated flash floods in different parts of North Texas in late October.
The precipitation was certainly needed in drought-ridden North Texas, but the consequent flash foods caused issues around the metroplex. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth predicted as much before the downpours, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The NWS reported that some areas received between 10 and 12 inches of rain in the evening hours of October 27 and the morning hours of the following day. Cities like Combine in Dallas County and Crandall in Kaufman County reportedly received over 12 inches.
The Kaufman County Emergency Management office said the storms had caused “most streets” in and around the county to be flooded, resulting in multiple road closures. The agency warned residents to stay off the roads at the time.
The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office released the identities of two people who died during the flooding. They were 70-year-old Shiela Butler and 23-year-old Angel McKnight, according to Fox 4 KDFW. Butler had been driving on FM 1390 near FM 4096, and McKnight was driving on FM 1390 near FM 4090. Their cars were swept away by high water.
The emergency management department rescued residents from 26 homes that were flooded. Walter Rivers and his son Tristian Barnett, both residents of Kaufman County who had been rescued from their flooded homes, said they had to wade through water to reach rescue personnel.
“Just glad to be here. We’re going to have to start over again,” said Barnett, per Fox 4.
Steve Howie, Kaufman County’s emergency management coordinator, told the news outlet that this flood was particularly extraordinary and “unexpected.”
“This is what we call a probably 1 in 100-year flood,” said Howie, per Fox 4. “Maybe 1 in 1,000, but it’s just one that exceeded all of our abilities at this point.”
Recovery and cleanup in the area after the storms are still underway. Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in a damage assessment survey to allow officials to understand the full scale of the damage done.
