–13 Burnett. Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008, p. 255.

–13 USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.

–12 UPI. “Death Toll From Austin’s Weekend Flooding Reaches 12.” 5-29-1981, p. 2A.

— 0 National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 5, May 1981.

Narrative Information

USGS: “A deadly flash flood struck Austin, Texas, during the night of May 24. A short, intense rainfall produced as much as 10 in. of rain in 4 hours (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1981[1]). Streams rose rapidly, beginning about 10:00 p.m. and peaking about midnight. The floods receded just as quickly, so most streams were at preflood levels by 3:00 a.m. The flood resulted in 13 deaths and $40 million in damages (Paulson and others, 1991[2]). The speed at which the streams rose to flood levels contributed to the number of deaths as the floods probably caught many people unaware of the danger.” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

Burnett: “Of the thirteen people who drowned in the flood, six died in cars that were swept off low-water crossings, five were in cars swept off bridges, and two perished in a house when they failed to evacuate after being warned. The U.S. National Research Council’s report on the flood stated, ‘The high mortality rate was almost certainly due to th fact that nothing in recent experience had prepared people to anticipate and respect the violence of the rapidly rising waters.’[3]” (Burnett. Flash Floods in Texas. 2008, p. 255.)

Newspapers

May 25: “Austin, Texas (AP) — At least seven persons drowned and several others were missing in the wake of flash flooding here early today that left heavy property damage. Austin Police Sgt. Larry Walker said officers have confirmed that seven persons drowned when a line of heavy thunderstorms brought as much as 7 inches of rainfall. Police said at one time flood waters lapped at the bottom of signal lights at an intersection in the western part of downtown Austin, where businesses were heavily damaged. Walker said only one of the victims was identified immediately. He was Mark Villarreal [18], a truck driver trapped in his vehicle in a flooded intersection on Austin’s north side. Another victim drowned in Northwest Austin and two others drowned along Shoal Creek….

“The heavy rains sent Shoal Creek, normally a placid small stream that runs from north to south through the middle of Austin, out of its banks and into hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses. Flood water was reported to be 20-30 feet deep in some low areas before it began to subside before dawn.

“The rainfall total at Austin Municipal Airport was only 4.13 inches, but there were numerous unofficial reports of 6-7 inches of rain at various locations. Damage was widespread in an area along Lamar Boulevard in the west end of Austin’s business district….” (Associated Press. “Seven Austin residents die in flash flooding.” Del Rio News-Herald, TX, 5-25-1981, p. 1.)

May 26: “Austin (AP)….Austin Police Sgt. Ernest Shugart said authorities had recovered nine bodies, including a man whose pickup truck swirled into a drainage ditch [Mark Villarreal] whirlpool and a woman whose car was found 12 feet off the ground in trees. Shugart said four others were listed as missing, including a mother who was swept away with her baby as her husband watched….Shugart said the body of an unidentified woman was found early Monday morning in the back seat of her Cadillac, which was tangled in branches 12 feet off the ground….

“Other fatalities reported by police and sheriff’s deputies included:

— Jeffrey Grove, 27, and his mother Carolyn Grove. The bodies were found two blocks

apart on Shoal Creek Boulevard.

— Michael John Martin, 17, found near his car near Shoal Creek.

— Cao Chin Lu, 44, who was driving home from work when the water began to rise. Her

husband was following in another car and was able to stop in time. Her body was

found a quarter-mile from her car.

— Sally Dexter, 52, was found dead near the western side of Zilker Park.

— Phyllis Millner, 23, whose body was found at 11 a.m. Monday by police near Shoal

Creek….”

(Associated Press. “Austin cleans up after devastating flood.” Herald-Zeitung, New Braunfels, TX, 5-26-1981, p. 1.)

May 27: “Austin, Texas (UPI) — Firefighters dragged parts of Lake Austin Tuesday, searching for four people missing and presumed dead from a raging storm that killed 10 others and left a trail of destruction through the state capital. Search teams were dragging for Helen Durio, 49, of Austin and Bruce Engman, age unknown, both last seen near the lake. Police recovered Engman’s car Monday. Also missing were Arthur Raiford, 35, and Roy Presley, 31, both last seen near the lake. Austin fire chief Doug Palmer said a mother and her 8-month old infant earlier reported swept away in the flood had been located, alive and well, in Arkansas. Police said the woman’s husband made the report but admitted Monday that it was false….

“The 10^th confirmed victim was found in nearby Burnet County, which also suffered heavy rains.[4] Most were killed when their autos were swept into Shoal Creek….” (UPI. “Search for drowning victims continues.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A.)

May 29: “Austin, Texas (UPI) — The death toll from devastating weekend flooding now stands at 12 with the recovery of two bodies from Lake Austin. The search continued today for the remaining two people who were missing and presumed drowned following the seven inches of rain that turned normally placid streams into raging killers late Sunday night. Fire department squads Thursday found two bodies in Lake Austin. The dead were identified as Roy Presley, 31, of California and Bruce Engman, 36, of Austin….Engman’s body was found at 3:05 p.m. near Walsh’s boat landing at the mouth of Bee Creek. Presley’s body was found an hour later near the Bull Creek lodges.

“Engman was senior vice president of Kallestad Laboratories. The baby sitter he was driving home managed to cling to a tree and was saved Sunday night when their car was swept down Bee Creek. Pressley was riding in a car hit by a wall of water roaring down Bull Creek. Two other men in the car also died. Their bodies were recovered Monday….

“The remaining two people on the missing list were Arthur Raiford, 42, a state agriculture department inspector from Houston, and Helen Durio, 49, a research psychologist at the University of Texas….” (UPI. “Death Toll From Austin’s Weekend Flooding Reaches 12.” Brownsville Herald, TX, 5-29-1981, p. 2A.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Austin cleans up after devastating flood.” Herald-Zeitung, New Braunfels, TX, 5-26-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-braunfels-herald-zeitung-may-26-1981?tag

Associated Press. “Seven Austin residents die in flash flooding.” Del Rio News-Herald, TX, 5-25-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/del-rio-news-herald-may-25-1981-p-1/?tag

Burnett, Jonathan. Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008.

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 5, May 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 21 pages. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html

Perry, Charles A. (USGS). Summary of Significant Floods in the United States and Puerto Rico, 1994 Through 1998 Water Years (Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5194). Reston, VA: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2005. Prepared in USGS, Lawrence, KS. Accessed 2-26-2016 at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5194/pdf/sir2005-5194.pdf

United Press International. “Death Toll From Austin’s Weekend Flooding Reaches 12.” Brownsville Herald, TX, 5-29-1981, p. 2A. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brownsville-herald-may-29-1981-p-2/?tag

United Press International. “Search for drowning victims continues.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-may-27-1981-p-14/?tag

United Press International. “Weekend flood nets 10 lives.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-may-27-1981-p-14/?tag

[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1981, Climatological data (by State): Ashville, North Carolina, National Climatic Data Center, (various months).

[2] Paulson, R.W., Chase, E.B., Roberts, R.S., and Moody, D.W., compilers, 1991, National water summary, 1988-89-Hydrologic events and floods and droughts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, 591 p.

[3] U.S. National Research Council. The Austin, Texas,, Flood of May 24-25, 1981.

[4] Identified as Morris Graves, 66, whose body “was found early Monday in his pickup truck about 100 yards off the road beside Bear Creek.” (UPI. “Weekend flood nets 10 lives.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A.)

1981 — May 24, Intense Rain, Flash Flood, esp. along Shoal Creek, Austin, TX — 13