Tarrant County in flood advisory as storms drop heavy rainfall in Fort Worth area
Several rounds of heavy rain led to flood warnings and multiple calls about cars stuck in high water in North Texas on Monday and Tuesday, and more rain is in the forecast later this week.
By noon Tuesday, much of the region had received between 1 and 4 inches of rain. A 30% chance of more rain was forecast Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, then it’s expected to dry out before rain returns Friday and Saturday with about a 50% chance.
Fort Worth firefighters responded to several vehicles stalled in deep water, but no injuries were reported.
On Monday night, a woman was rescued by Fort Worth firefighters when she was swept away by flood waters at Wagley Robertson Road and Bent Oak Drive in far north Fort Worth.
Firefighters arrived at the scene about 7 p.m., found an abandoned vehicle in the water and started a search for the driver as the department’s dive team was called to the scene, said Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Mike Drivdahl on Tuesday.
The woman was found by firefighters about 400 yards from her car, hanging on to a branch, Drivdahl said.
“Dive team members used a rope system to get to her,” Drivdahl said. “The water was too deep and too fast for anyone to walk in it.”
Once they reached her, firefighters provided her a lifejacket and a second rope system was used, Drivdahl said. Other firefighters then pulled her to safety.
“She was very tired,” Drivdahl said. “She had been holding on for some time.”
No other drivers needed to be rescued, but several streets and highways in Fort Worth had reports of high water Tuesday morning, according to the Fort Worth police call log. Fort Worth police said on social media about 10:30 a.m. that the 287 southbound on-ramp from Lancaster was closed.
A flood warning was put in effect until Wednesday morning for parts of Tarrant and Johnson counties. The warning was for areas near Walnut Creek close to Mansfield, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
The creek was expected to rise above flood stage late Tuesday morning. Minor flooding will occur along the creek through Mansfield, downstream to Joe Pool Lake.
Phones were down briefly at the Parker County Sheriff’s Office on Monday due to flooding, the sheriff’s office said on Facebook. The department posted photos of standing water that rose quickly in its parking lot and hallways.
Drivers are advised to slow down in the rain and not drive through flooded areas.
If you find yourself in a sinking car, MedStar officials offered these safety tips:
▪ Do not open doors, it’s typically very difficult and may cause the car to sink more quickly.
▪ Unbuckle your seatbelts, and the seatbelts for all passengers.
▪ Try to lower windows to allow for escape for all passengers.
▪ If the windows will not lower, try breaking the window to escape..
MedStar officials said most 911 dispatchers have protocols and training on how to help you get out safely.
More rain later this week means there may be additional threats of flooding in North Texas neighborhoods.
Daytime temperatures will be in the 80s the rest of the week and morning temperatures will in the upper 60s and lower 70s.
This story was originally published May 25, 2021 at 10:25 AM.
