Onion Creek: Flash Flood Risk in Southeast Travis County

Onion Creek runs east from Blanco County through Hays County. It passes McKinney Falls and meets the Colorado River in Travis County. Rain far upstream can send water into southeast Austin fast. During the Halloween flood of 2013, water topped a creek gauge. Hundreds of homes across Austin and Travis County were damaged.

Public buyouts later turned parts of the hardest-hit lower creek area into open space. That history is useful. It does not mean every nearby home has an open offer or the same flood risk.

For a home, search both FEMA's map and Austin FloodPro. Ask an insurer to price the exact address. A map shows expected risk, not a full claim history. During a storm, use ATXFloods for known road closures and obey barricades. A road with no pin has not been called safe.