SAN MARCOS, Texas — Three years ago, over Memorial Day weekend, the Blanco River rose to a record 40.21 feet before it washed out a huge portion of Central Texas Hill Country.

In Hays County alone, 11 people died. Among them were members of three families from Corpus Christi vacationing together in a house in Wimberley that was swept away. Two children from their party, to this day, were never recovered.

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Between 6 to 8 inches of rain fell in the Hill Country beginning on Saturday, May 23. Southern Blanco County saw 10 to 13 inches that day.

The San Marcos River increased from a volume of 700 cubic feet per second to over 70,000 CFS in less than 4 hours, giving residents near the rivers little time to react. The cities of Wimberley, San Marcos and Martindale were left in ruins. 

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Over 2,000 homes in Hays County were wiped out or damaged as well as thousands trees and river crossings between Blanco and San Marcos.

Even three years later, the area is still rebuilding.

The Blanco River Regional Recovery Team was estblished to assist Blanco, Hays, Caldwell and Guadalupe counties, and still exists in case of a natural disaster striking again. You can visit br3t.org to make a tax-deductible donation or call 512-677-9701.