Flood
Flash flooding on the Medina River is a serious hazard in Bandera
The Medina River runs through the town of Bandera and can rise extremely fast during heavy rain — USGS and BCRAGD have built a flood early warning system that lets residents track river levels in real time.
Bandera sits in the Edwards Plateau, where steep terrain and thin soils mean that heavy rain runs off quickly into rivers and creeks. The Medina River flows right through town. Historic floods — including devastating events in 1978, 2002, and 2015 — have caused major damage. The July 2002 flood sent an estimated 159,000 cubic feet of water per second past the Bandera gauge, reaching a stage of nearly 39 feet.
USGS, BCRAGD, and the Texas Water Development Board partnered to create a flood early warning system for Bandera County. It includes real-time streamflow gauges upstream from Bandera and a set of flood-inundation maps for a 23-mile stretch of the Medina River. The maps show, at each river stage, which roads and properties would be affected. You can sign up for text or email alerts through USGS WaterAlert when the river reaches a level you set.
If you own or rent property near any creek or river bottom in Bandera County, look up your flood zone on the FEMA flood map service before you buy or build. Low-water road crossings flood quickly — never drive into moving water.
Source to confirm: USGS — New Flood Preparedness Tools for the Medina River near Bandera