1921 — Sep 8-10, flooding, esp. San Antonio, Milam & Williamson counties, TX –224-229
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-17-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 229 Blanchard tally from county breakouts below.
— 224 City of Austin. History of Flooding in Austin. (All TX, not just Austin.)
—>224 Ellsworth (USGS). The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921. 1923, p. 1.[1]
–52 Bexar County (San Antonio) (p. 5)
–15 San Pedro Creek near South Flores and Mitchell streets.
–10 San Pedro Creek between West Commerce and mouth of Alazan Creek.
–20 Alazan Creek between West Commerce and mouth of San Pedro Creek.
— 3 Apache Creek between Elmendorf Lake and South Brazos Street ~Tampico.
— 3 San Antonio River at Newell Avenue, four blocks S of Breckenridge Park.
— 1 San Antonio River crossing S of San Jose Mission in southern suburbs.
–66 Milam County[2] (p. 6)
— 7 Robertson County (p. 6)
— 6 Travis County (p. 6)
–93 Williamson County (p. 6)
— 215 Bunnemeyer. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” Monthly Weather Review, Sep 1921, 494
— 5 Bell County
–51 Bexar County
–66 Milam County
–93 Williamson County
— 215 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, 81.
— 215 National Climatic Center. “Losses in Individual Severe Floods…[US] Since…1902, 122.
— 215 NWS WFO, Dallas/Fort Worth. “Hurricanes…Tropical Storms…N. TX…1874-2008.”
— 215 Roth, David (NWS). Texas Hurricane History. Jan 17, 2010 update, p. 40.
— 215 San Antonio College. Department of Geography. Introduction to Meteorology Course.
Bell County ( 5)
— 5 Bunnemeyer. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” MWR, Sep 1921, p. 494.
Bexar County, esp. San Antonio (52)
–52 San Antonio and vicinity. Ellsworth. The Floods in Central Texas…Sep, 1921. 1923, p. 5
–51 Bunnemeyer. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” MWR, Sep 1921, p. 494.
–51 Ellsworth (USGS). The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921. 1923, p. 1.
–51 Roth, David (NWS). Texas Hurricane History. Jan 17, 2010 update, p. 37.
–51 Salinas. “The 1921 flood caused death, destruction, new regulations.” MySA, 4-3-2015.
–49 Sizer. Texas Disasters: Wind, Flood, and Fire. 2005, p. 113. (Another 22 missing; p. 112.)
Milam County (66)
–66 Bunnemeyer. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” MWR, Sep 1921, p. 494.
–66 Ellsworth (USGS). The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921. 1923, p. 6.
Robertson County ( 7)
— 7 Ellsworth (USGS). The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921. 1923, p. 6.
Travis County (Austin) ( 6)
–6 Ellsworth (USGS). The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921. 1923, p. 6.
Williamson County (93)
–93 Bunnemeyer. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” MWR, Sep 1921, p. 494.
–93 Ellsworth (USGS). The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921. 1923, p. 6.
Narrative Information
Bunnemeyer. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” MWR, Sep 1921, p.491:
“Torrential rains in southern and central Texas from September 8 to 10,[3] inclusive, 1921, resulted in phenomenally rapid floods in streams and lowlands, especially in Bexar, Travis, Williamson, Bell, and Milam Counties, and caused the death, so far as is known, of 215 persons and property loss estimated at over $19,000,000. This exceeds the havoc wrought by the record-breaking floods of December, 1913, when 177 persons lost their lives and property valued at nearly $9,000,000 was destroyed. But in December, 1913, there were practically no crops in the fields.
“The heaviest precipitation was reported from Taylor, Williamson County, where 23.11 inches occurred in 24 consecutive hours, September 9-10, which is the greatest 24-hour rainfall of record for the State of Texas, the previous record being 20.60 inches at Montell, Uvalde County, on June 28-29, 1913.
“Throughout the stricken area traffic by railroad, street car, or other conveyances was interrupted by washouts, loss of bridges, and accumulation of debris; telegraph, crippled, and numerous small houses and other structures were carried off by the currents that swept through cities and rural districts, resulting in the loss of many lives. Much other damage was tone, largely to crops, caused by violent thunderstorms and squalls occurring in various localities during the downpour, although it was overshadowed by the havoc due to the flood.
“While creeks and other tributaries rose to appalling heights, the trunk streams were much less seriously affected than was anticipated from the deluge, the redeeming features being a previously dry soil and low streamflow. The run-off was swift and much of the back water did not return to the streams, resulting in a rapid diminution of the volume of water rushing toward the Gulf of Mexico. The subsidence of the flood wave on the Brazos River was so rapid that flood stage was below Rosenberg, while at Valley Junction, where the water poured. in from the Little River, the stream was 14.2 feet above flood stage and only 0.8 foot below the record high watermark of the December, 1913, flood.
“Cause of the rains.–Evidence is strong that the precipitation was the result of the breaking-up in Texas of the disturbance that moved westward toward the Mexican coast south of Tampico on September 7, 1921. Although the distribution of the pressure was such that the storm could not be charted, the shifting winds, the progressive northeastward extension of the rainfall area, and the profound agitation of the atmosphere as evidenced by violent squalls and thunderstorms over the
Stricken sections, can hardly be ascribed to any other cause. The storm apparently moved in from Mexico over Webb County and passed in a northeasterly direction over Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis Counties into Williamson, Bell, and Milam Counties where it abruptly dissipated. Milam County borders on the west bank of the Brazos River, and there was very little precipitation along the east bunk of that stream. An area of high pressure of apparent1 feeble energy backing in over easter Texas was probably a contributory cause of the record breaking rains and their abrupt termination near the Brazos River. While the rains were disastrous to life and property over a large area, there were many localities in Southern Texas where they proved beneficial by relieving the drought, reviving ranges, and providing stock water. [p. 491]
….
“Flood of the Rio Grande.–On September 9, Laredo reported a rainfall of 6 inches for the preceding 24 hours with river 8.6. feet and rising, and points below were warned accordingly. The flood wave moved downstream at a rapid rate, Rio Grande City having a rise of 17l8 feet in 24 hours to a stage of 18 feet, or 3 feet above flood stage, by the morning of September 10, which was the maximum stage reported. On the morning of September 11 the stream was within banks. The crest of the rise passed Mission on September 11 with a maximum stage of 17.5 feet, which is well below flood stage. There was no damage from the rise.
“Flood of the Guadalupe. – Unusually heavy rains over the San Marcos and upper Guadalupe drainage basins resulted in a rapid rise of the stream at Gonzales. Blanco reported a total precipitation of 7.85 inches, San Marcos of 11.50, and New Braunfels of 9.56 inches, while several other stations reported amounts ranging from 2 to 3 inches. The initial rise at Gonzales amounted to 21.9 feet from 1.3 feet at 7 a. m. September 10 to 33.2 feet at 7 a. m. September 11. (Flood stage, 22 feet.) The crest of the flood occurred at 7 p.m. of that date, with a stage of 31.4 feet and stream approximately one-fourth mile wide. The stream fell rapidly during September 13, and by 7 a. m. next morning was down to 7.1 feet. The damage from the high water consisted principally of the loss of low valley corn. There was no loss of live-stock. County authorities estimate the damage for the entire county of Gonzales at $3,500.
“The flood wave reached Victoria September 13 with an initial rise of 13 feet in 24 hours and to a stage of 14.7 feet. Thereafter the rise was much slower and continued until September 16, when the gage showed 30.5 feet, or 4.5 feet above flood stage, which was the maximum stage reported. The subsidence of the high water was rapid and by the morning of September 17 the stream was down to 8.1 feet. There was only a slight overflow at Victoria from water backing into low places and no damage.
“While the flood loss on the Guadalupe from Gonzales to its mouth was insignificant, considerable damage occurred from the rains in Blanco, Hays, Comal, and Guadalupe counties, the total being estimated at $218,500.
“Flood of the Colorado.-Terrific rains on September 9 and 10 in Burnet and Travis counties caused a rapid flooding of the Colorado River below Austin. Fairland in Burnet County reported 8.70 inches for the two days, Marble Falls in the same county, 16.50 inches, and Austin in Travis County, 19.03 inches. During the 24 hours ending 7 a. m. September 10 the rainfall at Austin was
18.25 inches. Notwithstanding the heavy rains in Burnett County, the maximum stage reported from Marble Falls was only 3.2 feet. At Austin, however, the stream rose rapidly from 0.8 foot at 7 a. m. September 9 to 19.0 feet, or 1 foot above flood stage, by midnight of September 10, which was the maximum stage attained. The overflow of the Colorado caused no damage at Austin, all losses being caused by the floods of creeks and lowlands before the waters reached the main stream. The damage to highways and bridges was $600,000, to crops in the fields $225,000, and to live stock $25,000. Violent thunderstorms and squalls caused an additional damage of $30,000 at Creedmoor and Austin.
….
“Flood of the Brazos.-This flood was remarkable from the fact that it was caused by tremendous rains over a single tributary, the Little River, which empties into the Brazos just above Valley Junction, and that the large volume of water spread out at an exceedingly rapid rate as it rushed downstream.
“The Little River with its tributaries drains an area of probably 7,000 square miles, but in this case only the lower portions of this area, comprising Williamson, Bell, and Milam Counties, were flooded from the terrific downpour. The total rainfall for two days amounted to 23.98 inches at Taylor and to 14.43 inches at Georgetown, both located in Williamson County; while Temple, in Bell County, recorded for the same period 11.55 inches, and Cameron, in Milam County, 13.30 inches. The Little River and tributaries rose to unprecedented heights. At Georgetown the San Gabriel River and Berrys Creek were reported over 7 feet higher than ever known before. The damage was great and two deaths occurred. Some houses and much corn and cotton were washed away, but the pastures were benefited.
“At Taylor at the height of the flood the water ran from 1 to 3, and in some places 4 feet deep through the streets, washing up pavements and flooding cellars and basements. Bridges and culverts were carried away, and many small houses in the Mexican section south of the business district were washed from their foundations. The greatest damage and loss of life occurred along the San Gabriel River and Brushy Creek, which rose so rapidly that the people were trapped and perished in their own homes. The waters of Brushy and Mustang Creeks, both passing south of Taylor, met and formed a current 10 miles wide. Violent thunderstorms with squalls occurred during the downpour. The property loss in the vicinity of Taylor amounted to $93,000 and 87 persons, mostly Mexicans, perished in the flood. The total loss in Williamson County is estimated at $2,205,000 with a death list of 93, including the losses and deaths at Taylor.
“Bell Count reported a property loss of $3,700,000, principally of crips, roads, and bridges and 5 deaths.
“Milam County, which receives the run-off from Williamson and Bell Counties, was probably the greatest sufferer from the deluge. The Little River at Cameron stood 4.5 feet higher on September 10, 1921, than it did during the record flood of December, 1913. Measurements were made by Mr. C. W. Lawrence, superintendent of the water works at Cameron. The total damage in Milam County is estimated at about $6,000,000, and 66 deaths were reported, mostly of Mexicans in the vicinity of Thorndale.
“Burleson County, which is just south of Milam County, suffered damage to the extent of $785,000, but Lee County, which joins both Williamson and Milam Counties, reported practically no loss. [end of [pp. 492-493]
“The flood waters from the Little River began to pour into the Brazos just above Valle Junction on Saturday, September 10. The gage at Valley Junction Showed a stage of 3.5 feet at 7 a. m. of that date. At 4.30 p. m. the river was up to 25 feet, rising fast, and at 6.30 p. m. bank full. The observer then warned all residents to leave. No gage readings were taken September 11, 12, and 13, but measurements made from marks left by the flood showed that the maximum height was 58.2 feet, only 0.8 foot below the record flood of December, 1913, but 4.2 feet higher than flood of the spring of 1915. The flooded area was approximately 4 miles wide. Cotton and corn were ruined, and railroad tracks and bridges washed out for a distance of 3 miles, suspending travel for six days. There were no deaths. flood stage at Valley Junction is at 44 feet.” [p. 494]
….”
City of Austin: “This storm event, known as “The Great Thrall/Taylor Storm”, still stands in the record books as the greatest of all continental U.S. rainstorms during 18 consecutive hours. The storm entered Mexico as a hurricane from the Gulf and then drifted northward dropping six inches on Laredo before unleashing on Central Texas. Like the storms of 1998, 1991, and 1981, this storm followed a pattern that ran along the Balcones Escarpment, then centered over Williamson and Travis Counties. At Taylor, 23.11 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. Thrall reported approximately 36 inches in 18 hours and 40 inches of rain in total. There were 224 fatalities across the seven counties that were affected.” (City of Austin, History of Flooding in Austin)
Ellsworth (USGS): “Heavy rainfall over a large area in south-central Texas from September 8 to September 10, 1921, produced great floods which caused the loss of at least 224 lives and damage to property amounting to more than $10,000,000. The most destructive flood in Texas prior to 1921 occurred in December, 1913. That flood…caused the loss of 177 lives and destroyed property valued at more than $8,500,000.
“The most densely populated and most highly developed community affected by the flood of 1921 was the city of San Antonio, where 51 lives were lost and property worth more than $3,000,000 was destroyed. It was the disaster at San Antonio that received the most widespread notice in the press, though the aggregate loss of both life and property in other areas far exceeded that at San Antonio. The total rainfall and the run-off per square mile of drainage area were much less in the basin of San Antonio River than in the basins of many other streams in the path of the storm. If the rainfall in the basin of San Antonio River had been as heavy as it was in much of the basin of Little River, in Bell, Milam, and Williamson counties, the destruction at San Antonio would have been so great as to make that actually suffered there seem insignificant…. [p. 1]
“The rainfall that caused the flood covered an elliptical area that includes nearly 10,000 square miles, whose longer axis extends southwestward along the Balcones escarpment from Temple beyond San Antonio, a distance of more than 150 miles. The larger streams that cross this area, all flowing southeastward, are Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, and San Antonio rivers. The counties within the storm area are Bell, Milam, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Bexar…. [p. 2.]
“The total number of lives lost will never be known, but the best estimates available indicate that at least 224 people were drowned, most of whom were Mexicans who lived in poorly constructed
houses, built along the low banks of the streams. Undoubtedly many others were drowned who were never reported missing. Many bodies were carried miles and buried in sand, mud, and debris along the river bottoms. Along Little and San Gabriel rivers bodies were found six months or more after the flood.
“A total of 52 lives were lost in San Antonio and vicinity, as follows: On San Pedro Creek, near South Flores and Mitchell streets, 15; on San Pedro Creek between West Commerce Street and the mouth of Alazan Creek, 10; on Alazan Creek between West Commerce Street and the mouth of San Pedro Creek, 20; on Apache Creek between Elmendorf Lake and South Brazos Street, near Tampico Street, 3; on San Antonio River at Newell Avenue, four blocks south of Breckenridge Park, 3; and at San Antonio River crossing, south of San Jose Mission, in the southern suburbs of the city, 1.
“The greatest loss of life in Williamson and Milam counties occurred on Little River and its chief tributary, San Gabriel River and its branches. At least 159 bodies were recovered, and undoubtedly many others were never found. Maynard Robinson, division master mechanic, and F. W. Leatherbury, division engineer, of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, were drowned near Cameron by the capsizing of a boat from which they were inspecting the railroad bridge over Little River. At or near Thorndale and Rockdale 45 bodies were recovered; at Lanesport, on San Gabriel River near the east line of Williamson County, 23; at San Gabriel, 10; on Alligator Creek, 5; at Robyland farm, near Taylor, 4; at Elm Grove, 7 miles southeast of Taylor, 29; in immediate vicinity of Taylor, 6; at Lawrence Creek, 2; at Redville gin, 2. Along the Brazos River bottoms between Gause and Valley Junction 20 negroes were drowned, 7 of them in Robertson County. In Travis County 6 negroes were drowned on the farm of George Begg near the mouth of Onion Creek…. [pp. 5-6]
“In the storm of September 9 and 10, which originated in an area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico and passed inland to central Texas, the rainfall was the greatest recorded in the United States for an equal length of time…. [p. 7]
(Ellsworth, C. E. The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921 (Water-Supply Paper 488). USGS, Department of the Interior, 1923, 72 pages.)
NWS WFO Dallas/Fort Worth: “September 8-10, 1921: A weak hurricane moved onshore near Tampico, Mexico, and mixed with a weak cold front, over south central Texas, bringing a United States record of 36.4 inches of rain in 18 hours to Thrall. The floods killed 215 people and caused 19 million dollars in damage over central Texas. About six tornadoes occurred.”
(NWS WFO, Dallas/Fort Worth. “Hurricanes…Tropical Storms…N. TX…1874-2008.”)
Roth: “September 7-11th, 1921…a tropical storm rapidly spun up in the Bay of Campeche. It progressed northwest into Mexico and crossed the Rio Grande. After passing inland into Texas on the 8th, it could barely be identified as a cyclone, except for its associated deluge that drifted northward through Texas. At Taylor, 23.11″ of rain fell in 24 hours. A new 18 hour rainfall record for the United States was set in Williamson County when 36.40″ fell. Thrall reported nearly 40 inches of rain in total, 38.2″ in a 24 hour period…..
“Torrential rains accompanying the decaying system caused one of the most destructive floods in San Antonio’s history. The waters rose so rapidly (a flash flood) that automobiles were deserted and the occupants sought safety in high buildings. Nearly seven feet of water stood in the large hotels, theaters, and stores. In San Antonio alone, 51 lives were lost in the flooding and damage was estimated at $5 million. The largest floods occurred on the Little and San Gabriel Rivers north of Austin and south of Temple. Along the Little River, at least 159 drowned. Total damages were estimated near $19 million. In all, 215 died due to the flood in the five county area around San Antonio.” (Roth, David (NWS). Texas Hurricane History. Jan 17, 2010 update, pp. 39-40.)
Salinas: “In 1921, the deadliest and most destructive flood in San Antonio history swallowed the streets of downtown. Along with $5 million in damage, the flash flood that barreled through San Antonio caused 51 deaths locally.
“The flood began on Sept. 7, 1921, after remnants from a hurricane traveled to Williamson County, mainly the towns of Taylor and Thrill, and dropped 23.11 inches of rain in less than a day, according to “The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921,” report by the U.S. Geological Survey.
San Antonio College: “Perhaps the greatest rainstorm in Texas history covering most of Central and East-Central Texas with 20 to 40 inches of rain. It was actually the remnants of a hurricane which moved northward from Mexico after landfall on the Mexican Gulf coast. Taylor Texas reported 23.11 inches in 24 hours and Austin received 19.03 inches in 24 hours. At Thrall Texas near Cameron Texas, 38 inches of rain was measured in 24 hours, and 36.4 inches in 18 hours, causing record flood heights on the Little River and Brazos River. Record flood stages occurred on the Colorado, Guadeloupe and San Antonio Rivers. The downtown section of San Antonio was completely inundated which was the rational for construction of the Riverwalk flood control project. 215 deaths.” (San Antonio College)
Sources
Bunnemeyer. B., Meteorologist, Weather Bureau, Houston, TX. “The Texas Floods of September, 1921.” Monthly Weather Review, Sep 1921, pp. 491-493. Accessed 5-16-2025 at: https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/49/9/1520-0493_1921_49_491_gd_2_0_co_2.xml
City of Austin. History of Flooding in Austin. Accessed 11-19-2008 at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/floodhistory.htm
Ellsworth, C. E. The Floods in Central Texas in September, 1921 (Water-Supply Paper 488). Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior (Government Printing Office), 1923, 72 pages. Accessed 11-22-2017 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/0488/report.pdf
Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.
National Climatic Center. “Late Reports. Losses in Individual Severe Floods in the United States Since July 1902,” page 122 in Climatological Data National Summary, Vol. 27, No. 1, Jan 1976. Asheville, NC: NCC, Environmental Data Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Google digitized. Accessed 12-3-2014 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=UyMIAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms that have Affected North Texas From 1874 to 2008. Fort Worth, TX: NWS, Sep 11, 2009 modification. Accessed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=texashurricane
Roth, David (National Weather Service). Texas Hurricane History. Camp Springs, MD: NWS. 1-17-2010 update. Accessed 11-22-2017 at: http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf
Salinas, Rebecca. “The 1921 flood caused death, destruction, new regulations.” San Antonio Express-News, 4-3-2015. Accessed 11-22-2017 at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/150years/major-stories/article/The-1921-flood-caused-death-destruction-new-6177194.php
San Antonio College, Geography Department. “Lecture 7, Texas Weather,” Introduction to Meteorology Course. Accessed 2-2-2009 at: http://www.accd.edu/sac/earthsci/sgirhard/1370.090/chap7.htm
Sizer, Mona D. Texas Disasters: Wind, Flood, and Fire. Lanham: A Republic of Texas Press Book, 2005.
[1] Makes clear that the number of 224 lives lost is a minimum and that “Undoubtedly many others were drowned who were never reported missing.”
[2] “The greatest loss of life in Williamson and Milam counties occurred on Little River and its chief tributary, San Gabriel River and its branches. At least 159 bodies were recovered, and undoubtedly many others were never found.”
[3] Note that Bunnemeyer is describing follow-on rainfall subsequent to September 7, which he does discuss.