Home Care In Junction, TX

Authorities found the bodies of two people swept away by floodwaters on Monday at an RV park when nearly a dozen inches of rain pulled several RVs into a nearby river, PEOPLE confirms.

On Thursday, search crews spotted the bodies on the banks of the Llano River near Junction, Texas, around 4:30 p.m. local time and boats moved through the debris in the water to get to the victims. The pair found are two of four people who vanished from the South Llano River RV Park during Monday’s flood.

“When the [flood] occurred, approximately 45 people were evacuated, 19 were actually rescued from the river,” Texas A&M Forest Service spokeswoman Christi Powers tells PEOPLE. “Then of the four we were searching for, two were found yesterday.”

At least 11 inches of rain plagued Junction on Sunday night, causing parts of the South Llano River to rise. Powers says several RVs at the park were swept into the river, and authorities have been searching the damaged vehicles for any survivors.

“Junction and Kimble County have suffered a tragic and totally unexpected flooding,” officials with the RV park wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

“Many homes and campgrounds along the North, South and Main Llano River have suffered losses. We at South Llano River RV Park are among them. Please pray for us and for everyone effected to be found safe, and for the recovery of our community.”

Hurricane Michael Pummels Florida: See the Most Powerful Photos of the Savage Storm

The victims, three men and one woman, were staying at the RV park, and Powers says they were likely in close proximity.

Photos of the damage showed toppled and overturned RVs, and one even partially submerged in the river. Although the river has gone down, it could rise again as more rain is expected in the area, according to the Associated Press.

Emergency crews used ropes, boats, helicopters, and life jackets to make rescues on Monday, the AP reported.

“The problem with the RV park, as far as getting accounting of people and getting information, the main office was also swept away,” Kimble County Sheriff Hilario Cantu said, according to the AP. “So whatever records they had there are not accessible.”

The deadly flood comes after Hurricane Michael touched down in Florida on Wednesday, leaving devastation in its wake. Over the week, Michael — now downgraded to a tropical storm — has left at least 13 dead, thousands of homes without power, and areas of Florida, Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas with severe flooding.

JUNCTION — More anthills than blades of grass are visible in some of the cracked earth around Junction. The year-long drought has plagued the town — as it has the rest of the state — and for a painful, six-week stretch, Junction banned all outdoor watering.

Some 4.5 inches of rain earlier this month increased the flow of the Llano River, two forks of which meet at the town. But the water is still pretty low — and four panelists at the Texas Water Symposium last week brought some unwelcome news to the townspeople: It’s not going to get any better anytime soon.

“As the state climatologist, people ask me, ‘When’s it going to rain?’” said John Nielsen-Gammon, one of the panelists, who is a professor of meteorology at Texas A&M University and the state's climatologist.

The answer, according to Nielsen-Gammon, is “eventually,” but chances are the drought will last another year, possibly even another decade.

The weather, or lack thereof, can be attributed to La Niña, a cyclical weather pattern resulting in cooler waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Meteorologists say that although La Niña had faded by the summer, it has now returned and is strengthening.

In the past 12 months, Texas has seen 11.1 inches of rainfall on average, according to Nielsen-Gammon, and it broke a heat record for the country that was previously set during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Texas AgriLife Extension Service estimates the cost of the drought to be about $5.2 billion, and that estimate — already out of date because it was compiled two months ago — doesn’t include the impact to several kinds of crops and the forestry industry.

Junction, known as the land of living waters, has seen some of its streams dry up. In August, town officials say, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told Junction to cease outdoor water use of any kind when the town of Llano downstream reported it was close to running out of water.

The restrictions have since eased. Joe Robbins, the water and wastewater superintendent at the Junction water plant, said that the TCEQ recently clarified that a blanket ban on outdoor watering was not in fact required, and that Junction residents could go back to watering one day per week and using hand watering as necessary.

However, “we went about six weeks without any type of outdoor water, not even hoses,” said Kimble County Judge Andrew Murr. “People were taking water from their baths and using it to water their lawns.”

When the football field dried up, Murr said, parents and locals concerned children would get hurt on the harder ground put out a call for help and began hauling water from donors who had wells outside of town.

In Texas, water rights are issued by the TCEQ in order of seniority — a sort of first-to-settle, first-in-line system. Entities whose claims were put in relatively recently can be required to reduce their water use when more "senior" users (like the town of Llano) run low.

Bill Neiman, owner of Native American Seed, which grows and sells seeds for plants native to Texas and its surrounding states, said he stopped using outdoor water on his farm July 13, several weeks before TCEQ showed up at his door to impose restrictions.

“Here we are thinking, ‘Sure was a dry winter last year, but at least we have water,’ but spring comes around and we’re like, this is super serious,” Neiman said. “As the drought became more and more obvious, we realized the impact of the bigger picture and began to voluntarily reduce our consumption.”

Neiman showed TCEQ officials around his property, kicking up dust from the dry ground. While manicured lawns in big cities were dying, his native plants were still alive, he said, adding that native plants can survive droughts, although they do not produce fruit. The plants provide an alternative to grasses such as St. Augustine that consume a lot of water. Neiman said that a majority of water consumption in cities goes toward watering lawns.

“The strangest thing about this whole deal was here we are trying to provide alternatives, but we get our water cut,” Neiman said.

Although the drought cost ranchers and landowners heavily in livestock and lost income, there are some opportunities to come of it, said John Baccus, a wildlife ecologist and professor with Texas State University.

“We can change the way we manage land,” Baccus said. “Since droughts are somewhat common, we need to manage for drought instead of managing for a maximum number of animals.”

Learning to reduce to what is necessary to survive is important if droughts become the “new normal” in Texas, as Nielsen-Gammon expects may happen.

In Junction, handheld watering resumed on a schedule, but the issue of water rights still leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of some — and worries about the continuation of the drought run even deeper.

“If we continue to take away from the agriculture producer, when are we going to get to that point where we’re importing more food supplies than we’re producing ourselves?” said Roland Trees, a rancher in Real County who raises livestock and game.

Trees, who is on the water board of his county, says he lost some exotic game in the drought.

“It’s kind of worrisome, especially in our business, where we rely on the land,” he said. “Without any [water], we’re not able to grow anything.”

As the drought continues, Junction officials say they are looking for other water options. "We draw our water from the South Llano [River], so we know that we’re not really in the same situation as people are downstream from us, but we do have plans," said Vivian Saiz, Junction's secretary. "We’re testing a couple of wells, so that’s kind of our backup plan. We're researching groundwater."

Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?

Yes, I'll donate today

Read More

Junction, Pop. 2,574. It's where the Texas Hill Country overlaps the rugged beginnings of West Texas. Where the North and South Llano Rivers meet, giving the town its name. Northwest of Kerrville, right up Interstate 10.

One of Junction's longtime, best-known residents is a petite, perky, hardworking redhead named Helen Wallace. Anyone here who doesn't know her doesn't get out enough.

My family had spent two days tent camping at South Llano River State Park just outside town. We fawned over more deer than we've ever seen (cacti and yucca, too), trekked trails and saw scenic vistas both lush and desertlike. We gazed upon the flitting beauty of nature in the park's bird-watching blinds and enjoyed an afternoon of river tubing — all while doing our best to sidestep legions of red harvester ants.

We decided to drive into town last Wednesday morning and check out Isaack Restaurant (a.k.a. Isaack's) before packing our U-Haul trailer for the five-hour trip back home to Arlington. As we walked up to the diner on Main Street/U.S. Highway 83, Helen was out front on a smoke break.

A few minutes later, she dropped by our table next to one of the front windows and asked the four of us what she could get us to drink.

We knew from the restaurant's huge throwback neon sign, touting air-conditioned comfort, that the place was a treasure for residents and travelers alike. Before Helen came back with our drinks, I knew she was, too. I asked her what she could tell us about Isaack's history.

Breaking News

Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.

Or with:

Google

Facebook

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

"I've been here 50 years, so I know pretty much everything," she said, proudly.

Helen has worked on and off — mostly on — at Isaack's since 1967, two years after marrying a fellow from Junction and moving here from East Texas. This go-round, she's been waiting on patrons for 27 years. A sprightly 74, Helen raised her three kids in Junction.

Jabo Isaack, who was from Louisiana, opened his cafe in 1950 but sold it after a couple of years. Since Helen started, she's worked for five owners — including one of the former waitresses, Jennifer Sides, who bought the restaurant 11 years ago. It's full of vintage metal signs, antiques and knickknacks that give it personality. But I figure a good bit of that really comes from Helen, all 5-foot-2 of her, tops.

The menu is packed with a mix of dishes, including enchiladas, tacos and fajitas, plus sandwiches, salads, seafood and chicken fried steak. Breakfast is served all day starting at 6 a.m.

Helen, with a food stain or two on her white blouse and red apron, took our orders: grilled ham and cheese, turkey/bacon club sandwich, Western omelet, open-face hot roast beef sandwich. And she shared more history with us.

I wanted to know about the cool roadway sign. Classic, old-timey signs, which often long outlast their businesses, have always fascinated me. When you drive through small Texas towns, where folks still work overtime to keep some of their nostalgia intact, you can't miss 'em on the main drag.

Helen told us that Isaack's sign landed a $5,000 makeover a few years back. Its mustachioed chef even got a mechanical left arm so he could beckon to passing motorists. Sadly, his arm stopped moving after two months, our historian/waitress declared, trying to keep from laughing at the thought of it.

We weren't the only ones asking questions — Helen wanted to know about us, too. When we told her we live in Arlington, she brought back a memory of the time years ago when she took her 13-year-old daughter, Brenda, to Six Flags Over Texas.

Helen made us feel far more welcome than the ants working furiously only feet from our cramped, lopsided tent at the state park. She's the face of the warmth and hospitality you'll find in towns off and on the beaten path all over Texas.

While we were waiting for Helen to bring us lunch, I noticed an older fellow slowly riding a motorcycle past the restaurant. I didn't see him turn into the parking lot. Quickly, Helen was behind the register, helping him pick out a new Isaack's coffee mug — because all the words had faded off the one he bought during a ride through Junction some years back.

We've camped at several state parks in Texas and Oklahoma, but this was our first time at South Llano River. As we left the restaurant, I told Helen we enjoyed our short adventure so much, we'll probably be back next year and would see her then.

"If I'm still here," she said, smiling as I gave her a hug.

Something tells me Helen will be right where we left her. If your travels happen to take you through Junction, you oughta stop by and see her.

One of the subtle beauties of the Texas Hill Country is the transition to more drought-tolerant trees and plants as travelers progress from east to west. To me, the Llano River feels like the first West Texas river San Antonio residents can reach within a day’s drive of the city.

For weeks, the river’s flow has been meager, but recent rains across Central Texas have busted the worsening drought and left many rivers flowing strong again. A group of us decided to paddle the Upper Llano River upstream of Junction on Memorial Day.

The Llano often has a braided channel more akin to the Pecos or the Devils rivers than the nearby Guadalupe River. It forms countless mini-channels and islands of sun-bleached limestone rocks, held together by small trees and native grasses and flowers.

Upriver from Junction, the Llano is basically a series of long, flat pools with short sections of shallow, fast-water riffles where it’s easy to take a wrong turn. In the shallows, the river flows clear enough to watch fish and turtles swimming along its rocky bottom.

Upper Llano River – First Highway 377 bridge to Junction

Offers: Paddling Location: First bridge on Highway 377 upriver from Junction (30.362014, -99.889150) to Highway 481 bridge, shortly before dam (30.487478, -99.762308). Camping and access with overnight or day use fee at South Llano River State Park (1927 Park Road 73, Junction, TX 76849). Trail miles: 17 river miles. Restrooms: Toilets and potable water at Schreiner Park and state park.

Another difference between the Llano and other Hill Country rivers is the wide-open sky arcing overhead. The bald cypress trees that cast shade over the Guadalupe, the Frio, and the Medina rivers are absent from the Llano, replaced by sparser sycamores and pecans.

In between the trees, we noticed fields of wildflowers, especially the red and yellow Mexican hats that seem to be thriving this year. We also for the first time this season found ripe, purple dewberries growing along the banks.

We had cool, cloudy weather on our Memorial Day paddle, with occasional squalls blowing through. But beware an afternoon on the Llano River during a hot summer day, when the sun can beat down relentlessly. Even if temperatures are low, sunscreen, a hat, and long sleeves are a good idea on this stretch.

Southwest Paddler, generally a good starting place for Texas river info, recommends a minimum flow of at least 65 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Junction river gauge. Having done this section a few times, I would recommend a more enjoyable flow of at least around 100 cfs to avoid any dragging. We paddled on May 31 with the river at 180 cfs.

The plan was to meet at 9 a.m. under the Highway 481 bridge near Schreiner City Park in Junction, which offers public parking with easy river access. We would then put in at the first Highway 377 bridge 17 river miles north. We figured it would the five of us about eight hours to paddle back to Junction.

Sometimes, these trips don’t go as planned. One of our crew had a small hole in the hull of his boat, which was steadily filling up with water at about nine or 10 miles into the journey. It kept dragging lower and lower in the water, slowing him down.

Fortunately, he and the other experienced paddlers had brought along a piece of sophisticated, high-tech leak prevention technology: bubble gum.

I had never heard this before, but apparently, you can actually make a decent impromptu patch for your plastic kayak by shoving as big a wad of chewed bubble gum as possible into the leak. It worked well enough that our friend was able to mostly plug his leaky kayak, at least well enough to get him through the last two miles.

In the end, we cut our trip about 5 miles short by pulling out at the entrance road to South Llano River State Park. If you plan on a 12-mile trip that involves putting in or taking out at the park, make sure to make day-use reservations ahead of time because the access road and bridge over the river fall within park boundaries.

From there, two of the group walked the roughly 5 miles back to the car, while the other three waited with the gear at the park, finishing all the snacks we had packed for the rest of the journey. It took the walkers about two hours to make it back to the car and reunite with the loungers.

Sometimes, it’s more fun to quit a little early, rather than spend your afternoon struggling with a hull full of bubblegum.

This story has been updated to accurately reference Highway 377 as the road with Llano River access.

Multimedia Reporter

Experts from Texas Tech University are working with landowners near Junction to get a better idea of how many invasive axis deer are in the area and how the species can be better managed to reduce the impact on agriculture and native white-tailed deer.

The research is an extension of Dr. Matthew Buchholz’s dissertation on axis deer.

“In Junction, they go right up to the edge of town. They are a significant issue,” Buchholz said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “Herds of several hundred are not that uncommon in the area. Near South Llano River State Park, I’ve personally seen a herd that was probably 300 to 350 individuals.”

Junction isn’t the only area impacted by the growing axis deer population.

“We did record changes in the vegetation communities that could have impacts on the health of the ecosystem primarily along the river,” Buchholz said. “South Llano River is considered ecologically significant by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department because it holds a number of endemic species, including Guadalupe Bass.”

Buchholz said any negative impacts on the health of the ecosystem near the river impacts land use around Junction and likely downstream.

“With the impacts we recorded from axis deer, they do have some potential substantial impacts that could have major concerns going downstream,” Buchholz said.

Axis deer can also displace native white-tailed deer.

“Axis are socially dominant to white-tail and will displace them from high value sets, such as optimal habitat. This could include supplemental feeders anywhere that basically has any kind of high value to the two species,” Buchholz said.

Displaced white-tailed deer are then pushed into areas with fewer, or lower quality, food sources.

“As axis densities continue to increase, they could have substantial impacts on keeping white-tail densities and also producing these quality white-tail that a lot of landowners and hunters are trying to get,” Buchholz said.

As axis deer take over areas with better resources for deer, they can also destroy a habitat.

“One axis eats about as much as one-and-a-half white-tail,” Blake Leslie, research coordinator at the Llano River Field Station, said. “With these exploding numbers that we’re seeing, it puts a piece of property at a very high risk for habitat destruction as far as good availability and quality of forage.”

Axis deer also negatively impact agriculture.

“Axis are probably closer in competition with sheep and goats than anything else, and particularly along these river systems where axis primarily occur, there is some sheep and goat agriculture in those riparian habitats,” Buchholz said. “Axis come in, and they can wipe out a hayfield relatively easy.”

Axis deer are not native to Texas. They were brought here from India by a landowner.

“Axis were introduced in 1932 into a high fence property in Kerr County,” Buchholz said. “Via intentional releases—both to high fence properties and low fence—and also escapes, there’s been a large increase in the free-ranging population.”

Although there have been prior surveys, researchers don’t really know how many free-ranging axis deer there are in Texas.

“Axis have a really high reproductive ability,” Buchholz said. “They can have a fawn every nine months. Fawn survival is through to be very high—potentially in the 70 to 80% range.”

In comparison, white-tailed fawn survival is heavily dependent on precipitation.

“In a good year, white-tail survival may be 40%,” Buchholz said. “So, axis fawn survival could be twice what white-tail is. It allows for their population to grow very quickly.”

Axis deer also tend to live longer. The oldest doe recorded was 15 years old.

With hunting, an old white-tailed doe in the area may be seven to eight years old.

To get a better idea of axis deer numbers in the area, so they can better be managed, the team is looking for ranch owners who are willing to allow spotlight surveys on their property.

“As part of his (Buchholz’s) research project, he created some very detailed protocols for how we’re going to be doing these spotlight surveys,” Leslie said. “Initially, nearly all of them were conducted on county roads. Now, we’re looking to transition from county roads to surveying on ranches.”

Leslie said there have been surveys in the past, but those likely drastically underestimated the number of axis deer.

“We are actively looking for people who own ranches in the Junction areas,” Leslie said. “Getting support from local people is going to become more and more important to what we’re trying to do out here with the spotlight surveys and a number of the other projects that we’re going to be starting soon or have already started.”

Interested landowners from the Junction area can contact Leslie at the Texas Tech University campus in Junction or by emailing [email protected].