By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com
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Alvarado and Cleburne firefighters pulled the body of a man from moving water near County Road 607 caused by rain about 1 p.m. Wednesday. The man attempted to cross a high-water crossing in his truck and became stuck, Cleburne Fire Chief Clint Ishmael said. According to reports, rescue workers saw the man in the water earlier Wednesday morning but were unable to reach him. The identity of the man has not been released.
Heavy rainfall kept workers throughout Johnson County busy performing water rescues much of the day.
Johnson County Emergency Services District No. 1 Executive Director Joey Reed reported Wednesday morning rescues in progress near Alvarado, Lillian, Briaroaks and Rio Vista. All involved flooded homes or vehicles trapped in water.
Officials closed numerous roads flooded by high water. A situation that at times hampered attempts by rescue workers to reach scenes.
Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon issued a declaration of disaster covering Johnson County at 11 a.m. for damages and injuries resulting from flooding from tropical storm Hermine.
“It’s getting too high in some areas for the fire engines to get to them, so we’re going to have to start using boats,” Reed said.
Cleburne Assistant Fire Chief Keith Scarbrough said things were relatively quite in Cleburne on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
“The county’s been busy though,” Scarbrough said. “We’ve got extra water crew and rescue on duty and ready to roll.”
Cleburne firefighters responded to one early morning call involving a car stuck in high water on Mansfield Road. A truck driver managed to push the car to safety before firefighters arrived.
Several minutes later, firefighters responded to South Robinson Street. A tree, washed into the street by running water, struck and knocked down a cable line. Firefighters alerted city workers to remove the tree.
Firefighters responded to George Street at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday on a report of power out in the neighborhood. They found no power lines down but did discover a blown transformer.
Firefighters responded to Elmo Street a 9:48 p.m. Tuesday on a power line call. Firefighters found two tangled power lines at the scene and contacted power company officials.
