Even before record rainfall stopped falling across Boerne on Monday morning, City crews were already responding throughout the community to protect residents, monitor conditions, and address hazards created by rapidly rising water.
“Monday’s response highlighted the City’s ongoing commitment to public safety, service excellence, and coordinated emergency response efforts,” Mayor Frank Ritchie said. “They worked around the clock to keep the community safe during rapidly changing weather conditions.”
By the end of the day, portions of the City had received between 2.5 to more than 5 inches of rain, with much of the precipitation falling within a two-hour period. The intense rainfall led to flooded roads, significant rises in several creeks, and impacts at parks and public facilities across town.
According to the City’s engineers, rain gauge data from local monitoring stations within the city was analyzed for the June 15 storm and compared against NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data, which is the standard the City of Boerne uses for stormwater planning.
Based on that comparison, the June 15 event was roughly equivalent to a 5-year storm, meaning there’s about a 1-in-5 chance (or 20 percent) of a storm that size occurring in any given year. However, areas neighboring the city did receive more rainfall for this event.
Throughout the event, employees from multiple City departments worked together to maintain public safety, respond to ever-changing impacts, and keep residents informed.
Streets Department
The Streets Department monitored roadway conditions throughout the storm and closed several flood-prone areas, including Herff Road at River Road, the West Theissen low-water crossing, the Cibolo Creek Bridge, and other low-water crossings as water levels rose.
Crews continued monitoring conditions throughout the day and reopened roadways once they were deemed safe for travel. By mid-morning they were out at various low water crossings removing debris from the road. In the days since, they have deployed the street sweeper to pick up smaller dirt and rocks that washed onto roads across the City.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation staff responded to flooding impacts at several parks and trail systems. At River Road Park, crews secured hazardous areas near the dam, trail connections, and recently acquired property along River Road, preventing public access until conditions could be assessed.
At Boerne City Lake, staff worked to reposition and secure floating piers displaced by rising water and recovered submerged trash receptacles to help protect water quality and prevent debris from entering the lake.
Parks crews also inspected trails throughout the community, removing debris and identifying areas requiring additional maintenance.
Public Safety
The Boerne Police Department assisted with roadway closures and responded to a stalled vehicle on Plant Street caused by high water conditions.
Meanwhile, the Boerne Fire Department conducted two high-water rescues in the predawn hours of Monday morning. Firefighters safely rescued occupants from separate vehicles stranded by floodwaters near FM 1376 and Wasp Creek and along Old Fredericksburg Road near the Kendall and Bexar County line.
Communications and Civic Engagement
In addition to field operations, the City’s Communications and Civic Engagement Department worked throughout the event to keep residents informed.
Following notification from the National Weather Service that a Flash Flood Watch would be issued, the City began sharing weather information on Sunday afternoon. Beginning around 2 a.m. Monday, staff provided continuous updates through the City’s news website and social media channels regarding weather warnings, flood conditions, road closures, and other safety information as conditions evolved.
The City reminded residents that floodwaters can rise quickly and create dangerous conditions, particularly at low-water crossings and near creeks and waterways. Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring official City communication channels and heed all road closure signs and public safety warnings during high-impact weather events.
