1972 — May 11-12, downpour and flash flooding, South Central TX, esp. New Braunfels-18

–18 Cox, Mike. Texas Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. 2006, p. 225.
–18 Environmental Data Service (Asheville, NC), Storm Data, Vol. 14, No. 6, June 1972, 104.
–17 New Braunfels area, Comal and Guadalupe counties.
— 1 McQueeney. Guadalupe County.
–18 NWS. Flash Flood Disaster in South Central Texas, May 11-12, 1972. P. 1.

Narrative Information

EDS/NOAA Storm Data: “South Central Texas…11-12 [May dates]…18 [killed]…Floods.

“An extensive are of South Central Texas was struck by heavy rains and flooding on the 11th and 12th. The high waters took their heaviest toll in New Braunfels where 17 deaths occurred. One additional person drowned at McQueeney. Total property damage due to flooding was estimated at 17.5 million dollars. Heavy damage, but no deaths, resulted in San Marcos, Sequin, Gonzales, Cuero, Victoria and other cities, as up to 16 inches of rain drove the Comal, Guadalupe and San Marcos Rivers out of their banks.

“On the night of the 11th, heavy rainfall from Northeast of San Antonio, in the vicinity of Bulverde, to Sequin and San Marcos, caused severe flash flooding. The heaviest rains, up to 16 inches, were centered just north of New Braunfels, but below Canyon Dam. Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches were general with most of this falling within a tw0-hour period. The heavy rains that fell on the evening of the 11th ended about 10 p.m., c.s.t.

“The peak stage of 36.55 feet observed on the Comal River at New Braunfels (drainage area, 130 square miles) at 10:30 p.m., c.s.t., on the 11th was caused by Blieders Creek runoff. The corresponding peak discharge (estimated) of 35,000 c.f.s. has a recurrence interval of about 25 years. A second crest of 35.45 feet occurred on the Comal at 4:30 a.m., c.s.t., on the 12th, from flood waters on Dry Comal Creek. The Guadalupe River rose from three feet at about 9:00 p.m. to 31 feet at 11:00 p.m., c.s.t. The peak stage of 31.65 feet on the Guadalupe River at New Braunfels (drainage area, 86 square miles below Canyon Dam) occurred at 11:30 p.m., on the 11th, and is the 4th highest since records began in 1869. Flood stages greater than 31.65 feet were observed at this site in 1869, 1913, and 1935. A peak discharge of 2,630 c.f.s. on Trough Creek, near New Braunfels (drainage area, 0.48 square mile), was equivalent to 8.49 inches of rainfall per hour, and the highest runoff rate ever recorded in Texas. At Cuero, on the Guadalupe River, about 180 river miles downstream from New Braunfels (drainage area 4,934 square miles), the flood crested at a stage of 36.88 feet and a discharge of 63,000 c.f.s. on May 14th. The recurrence interval of the flood peak at the point also is about 25 years.

“Plunging down the Comal and Guadalupe River channels in two separate waves, waters from the torrential downpours washed humans, livestock, cars and houses into the current. Property damage began about one mile below Canyon Dam, but it was New Braunfels that caught the devastating force of the flood. Over 3,000 persons were routed out of their homes during the night of the 11th, and 250 families were left homeless. A guard rail gave way on Loop 337 above Blieders Creek, and automobiles were washed off into the creek. Six helicopters airlifted people marooned on rooftops. Between 150 and 200 persons were treated for flood injuries at New Braunfels Hospital. Seventeen persons at New Braunfels were swept to their deaths. Sixteen bodies were recovered and identified. When this report was written (June 26, 1972), Mrs. Leslie Engler was still missing, but presumed dead. All property bordering creeks and rivers were heavily damaged or destroyed. Hardest hit were the Landa Park Estates, Guada-Coma, Sleepy Hollow, and Rio Villa additions. The Heidelberg Lodges, homes on Rivercrest Drive, and others in the Rio Villa and Landa Park Estates addition were completely washed away from their foundations. Many homes were in the 35 to 50 thousand dollar bracket. Damage in Comal County alone was estimated at over 10 million dollars.

“Residences along the Guadalupe River from Lake McQueeney to Lake Placid were filled with slimy muck. On the early morning of the 12th, flood waters rose as high as five feet in some 75 fashionable homes and resort cottages in the Treasure Island area of Lake McQueeney. An estimated 90 homes on Lake Placid suffered heavy water damage. Boat houses were smashed by trees and huge logs. At least three homes on Lake Placid collapsed. One person, James Spencer, 68, drowned at McQueeney, the 18th victim of the flood.

“Most heavily damaged in the Seguin area was the Glen Cove subdivision. Fifty-five of 65 homes, valued at 25 thousand to 80 thousand dollars were damaged. Water reached the second story of some homes and only the tops of some one-story residences were visible at the height of the flood. Also damaged were homes in the Elmwood and Parkview additions. There were no deaths at Sequin.

“Flood waters damaged about 200 homes in San Marcos, on the San Marcos River. The high water exceeded in intensity but not in area, the May 15, 1970 flood. Most water came from Purgatory Creek where the peak discharge was 38,800 c.f.s. (drainage area, 34.6 square miles), highest on record from this drainage area. Peak discharge from Purgatory Creek during the 170 flood was 28,700 c.f.s. Normally a dry bed area, Purgatory Creek stretches from west San Marcos northeastward along I.H. 35. The San Marcos River also backed up and flooded ht6e city park area. Cheatam Street Homes and Guapultapec Apartments, two low rent housing projects, were hit hard, as they were in May 1970. Also flooded was the bottom level of the two-story 50-unity, Manor House Motel. Total property damage in San Marcos was estimated at 400 thousand dollars.

“Downstream at Gonzales, just below the confluence of the Guadalupe and San Marcos Rivers, water spread out everywhere. The Guadalupe River crested at 34.6 feet on the morning of the 13th, and damaged riverfront homes. No lives were lost and flood control dams curtailed much of the flood waters.

“West of New Braunfels, severe flash flooding occurred on Cibolo Creek. A peak crest of 24.34 feet occurred at Selman, which equaled the peak crest recorded in the September 1952 flood. At Bulverde, near the western edge of the rainstorm, 4.42 inches fell within one hour and 10 minutes. Flooding from Indian Creek, just west of Bulverde washed automobiles downstream and out into fields.” (Environmental Data Service/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 14, No. 6, June 1972, pp. 104-105.).

NWS. Report to Administrator, NOAA: “The Hill Country of Texas has a long history of flash flooding during the spring tornado season and from occasional fall hurricanes. On May 11, 1972, the folly of man’s encroachment upon the flood plain and dismissal of flood risks set the stage for the significant flash flood disaster which occurred late that night and early on the 12th in the small ranch and resort city of New Braunfels… Flash flood waters crashed through the city from Blieders Creek, Comal and Guadalupe Rivers in minutes to only a few hours after rains up to 16.5 inches in two hours fell over the local drainage area below Canyon Dam. Eighteen persons were drowned; property damage has been estimated at $20 million for the area. No deaths but heavy property damage resulted from flooding in Sequin and San Marcos.”

“The survey team believes many other persons would have lost their lives if it were not for the alertness of the staffs at WSFO San Antonio and WSO Austin in recognizing the imminence and danger of the flash flooding, and by the positive steps taken by the two offices to disseminate warnings to officials having responsibility for public safety and rescue operations. The loss of life could have been much higher if the summer youth camps along the river were in full operation of if weekend campers were at campsites on the River Road upstream from New Braunfels on the Guadalupe River….” [p. 1]

“Seventeen people drowned in New Braunfels, one in McQueeney.” [p. 5.]

(NWS/NOAA. A Report to Administrator, NOAA. Flash Flood Disaster in South Central Texas, May 11-12, 1972. Pp. 1 and 5.)

Sources

Cox, Mike. Texas Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press, 2006.

Environmental Data Service (Asheville, NC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 14, No. 6, June 1972. Accessed 9-20-2014 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-0455912B-EEAB-4614-9184-06848ECFA796.pdf

National Weather Service. A Report to Administrator, NOAA. Flash Flood Disaster in South Central Texas, May 11-12, 1972. No date. Accessed 7-4-2018 at: https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/Flash%20Flood%20Disaster%20in%20South%20Central%20Texas%20May%201972.pdf

Additional Reference

Burnett, Jonathan. “May 1972 New Braunfels Flood.” Pp. 199-204 in Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008.