A person stranded beneath a bridge along Farm-to-Market Road 170 near Terlingua was rescued Tuesday after flash flooding created dangerous conditions in a creek swollen by recent rains, according to local emergency officials.
The incident occurred June 30 when Terlingua Fire and EMS was dispatched to reports of an individual trapped beneath the bridge as rapidly rising water and swift currents made escape unsafe.
Terlingua Fire and EMS requested assistance from personnel with the Big Bend National Park and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Rangers and game wardens responded to the scene, monitored changing water levels and coordinated efforts to reach the stranded person.
Officials said rescuers waited for conditions to improve before safely retrieving the individual after water levels receded.
No injuries were reported.
Emergency responders used the incident to remind residents and visitors that flash flooding can develop quickly across the Big Bend region, even when rainfall occurs miles away. Arroyos, low-water crossings and creek beds that appear safe can become hazardous within minutes during heavy rain events.
FM 170, also known as the River Road, is a popular scenic route through the Big Bend area and is prone to flooding during seasonal storms.
“Thankfully no one was hurt,” Terlingua Fire and EMS said in a statement, urging the public to remain vigilant around creeks, flood-prone areas and runoff channels during and after rain events.
The rescue involved Terlingua Fire and EMS, Big Bend National Park rangers and Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens. Officials did not release the identity of the stranded individual.
