LLANO, Texas (KXAN) — Wednesday marks six years since devastating flooding inundated parts of Texas’ Hill Country. The water roared through places like Llano and Kingsland, flooding homes and destroying everything in its path.
“I got stranded at our house. A creek split and we had water that was running in part of the creek that hadn’t run since the 1950s,” Autumn Sagabiel said.
She’s one of many longtime Llano-area residents who were reminiscing Wednesday about the powerful display of Mother Nature.
“As fast as the water came up, the water receded and we were able to get out. It was scary,” Sagabiel explained.
The water left many people stuck, like Peggy Nadeau.
“Everyone on the south side had to go to work,” Nadeau said. “But those of us on the north side, there was no way. We could not get across the river. Period.”
The powerful waters ended up wiping out the RM 2900 bridge, along with many lakeside homes. A new RM 2900 bridge opened in May 2019 — seven months after the flooding.
The city of Llano is slowly working to fix drainage channels to help improve water flow.
But in 2018, the water was no match for whatever was in front of it.
“It took out a lot of stuff, you know. It did a lot of damage, but it’s sort of a cleansing,” Nadeau said.
The flooding left at least one person dead. Near Kingsland, there were at least a dozen water rescues.