In South Austin on Tuesday morning, firefighters successfully rescued three individuals and a dog from rising floodwaters that had swept away their tent. The incident occurred near South First Street and West Gibson, drawing attention to the persistent issue of homeless encampments in the area.
Captain Chris Throop from the Austin Fire Department described the tense scene, where the individuals were trapped on a small ledge, surrounded by rapidly rising waters. The flash flooding caused a nearby creek to rise almost 6 feet, leaving the group stranded. One person had already been carried away downstream when the rescuers arrived. Throop emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting there was no way for the individuals to escape on their own as the water level continued to rise.
Fire Specialist Chase Ashcroft stated that such rescues have become more frequent in Austin, highlighting the ongoing challenge of addressing homelessness in flood-prone areas. The persistence of homeless encampments, despite a statewide ban, presents significant challenges for local first responders. Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis noted that dealing with such situations is a daily responsibility for the department.
In response to the growing issue, the City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office has been taking action, including relocating nearly 30 unhoused individuals from high-risk flood zones to shelters last week. With more rain anticipated, first responders are urging those experiencing homelessness to seek higher ground during storms. Battalion Chief Pete Constantine from the Austin Fire Department reminded the community that individuals should take shelter away from flood-prone areas when heavy rains occur.
Additionally, the Austin Resource Recovery program has proposed a $1.2 million annual plan to enhance efforts to clear encampments from local parks. The current team, consisting of two full-time and two temporary employees, faces an overwhelming workload as they work to address the growing litter and debris from vacant encampments. To improve this situation, the plan calls for closer collaboration with the Homeless Strategy Office to relocate individuals to safer shelters.
