Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center Activates For Heavy Rainfall

The joint Austin and Travis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) initiated a Level 3 Limited Activation today at 7 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, in response to anticipated heavy rainfall impacting the Central Texas region. 

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for Travis County from 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 through 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. The forecast calls for 2-3 inches of rain through Friday morning in the Austin area with the heaviest rain expected Thursday. Isolated pockets up to 8 inches are possible. More rain is expected overnight into Friday. 

Austin Watershed Protection is operating at increased readiness and will have barricade crews on-call until 6 a.m. Monday, October 5.  

Transportation and Public Works reported only one traffic signal outage today at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway. Crews are monitoring conditions and prepared to respond. Additional on-call staff have been added to assist with the response. Teams are monitoring the status of the city’s 1,100+ traffic signals, readying to assist Austin Watershed Protection with barricades for low water crossings and poised to assist with debris removal. 

Austin Fire has boat crews on standby if water rescues become necessary.  

Austin Police reported 24 total vehicle crashes as of 4 p.m. Thursday and zero major flooding calls. That crash total is not considered an influx, and APD encourages Austinites to continue practicing safe driving in rainy conditions and avoid driving through low water crossings. 

Multiple City and County departments will have representatives in the EOC overnight to continue monitoring the situation and ready to deploy resources where needed.  

Travis County Closures

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, Travis County Parks closed Hamilton Pool due to flooding threats. Visitors with reservations for Thursday were notified. Visitors who have reservations for Friday, October 2, 2026, are asked to check the Parks website for updates. If a closure is necessary for safety reasons, visitors with reservations will be notified.  

Preparedness

Please stay weather aware. Portions of the I-35 corridor are experiencing flooding. 

Community members who live or work in flood-prone areas are encouraged to take steps to protect their property. Have more than one way out of your home and neighborhood should you need to move to higher ground or evacuate.  

Stay away from creeks, trails, culverts, ponds, and other drainage infrastructure. Drive safely in the rain.  Reduce speed and turn on headlights and taillights. Do not walk, bike, or drive through high water or go around barricades. You could be swept away. Not only is it unsafe, it is also a Class B misdemeanor. As little as six inches of water can sweep an adult off their feet and a foot of water can carry away most vehicles. If you must be out on the roads, visit ATXFloods.com for real-time status of low water crossings to plan a safe route. 

Stay Informed

Have a plan in place and multiple ways to receive emergency information and updates on the weather. Follow official City and County accounts on social media as well as your preferred, trusted local media outlet.  

Turn on emergency alerts in your mobile device notifications setting and register to receive emergency notifications from WarnCentralTexas.org, and keep your cell phone charged. 

Learn more about flood and severe weather preparedness at ReadyCentralTexas.org and ATXFloodSafety.com. 

The City will post updates on its Alerts webpage at AustinTexas.gov/alerts. 

You can monitor low-water crossings at ATXfloods.com. 

Special Event Preparedness

Stay weather aware before and throughout any outdoor activities this weekend. Check the forecast, dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and be prepared for changing weather. 

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