Rollingwood Police Chief Dayne Pryor said the city's officers are prepared for flooding that Hurricane Harvey could bring to the Westlake area over the weekend.
“The forecasts are still all over the place, but models are pointing to at least eight inches through Sunday,” he said. “We are going to be prepared for it.”
Pryor said additional officers will be on duty through the weekend to monitor areas that have historically been prone to flooding, such as the low-water crossing near the corner of Edgegrove Drive and Bee Caves Road, as well as the 3000 and 2600 blocks of Bee Caves Road.
The department has prepared sandbags and barricades that will be used if floodwaters force road closures, and officers will be stationed near flooded areas to prevent motorists from crossing running water, he said. All police vehicles are equipped with water rescue gear officers can use if an individual is caught in dangerous water, he said.
“One of the problems with storms like this is that first responders can be stretched thin if rescues are needed all over the area,” Pryor said. “Our officers have gone through swift water training and can help if fire fighters can’t get there.”
Ashby Grundman, West Lake Hills city planner, said West Lake Hills Police Department will also have extra officers on duty over the weekend. The city does not anticipate closing roads ahead of the storm, but will be updating
atxfloods.com, which lists the status of all low-water crossings in the area, as conditions worsen, he said.
According to ATX Floods, low water crossings are located on Laurel Valley Road between Westlake Drive and Yaupon Valley Road; Redbud Trail, just east of Westlake Drive; the corner of Terrace Mountain Drive and Westlake Drive; the corner of Terrace Mountain Drive and Spurlock Valley; and near Eanes Creek on Camp Craft Road and Eanes School Road.
Rollingwood Police Department will be updating residents through its
Facebook page,
twitter account and on Nextdoor, Pryor said.