Family IDs Westlake grad in flash flooding Texas deaths
Mark Steward, a 1979 Westlake High School graduate, has been identified by his family as one of two people killed when flash flooding Texas Hill Country communities overnight Thursday swept his Kerrville-area home down a creek while he was inside, KXAN reported.
Key Takeaways
- Family confirmed Mark Steward, Westlake Class of 1979, among two flood deaths.
- A neighbor said Steward’s home floated away with him still inside.
- Kerr County saw more than 25 inches of rain; warnings remain on major rivers.
- Gov. Greg Abbott sought a presidential disaster declaration as recovery began.
The identification answers the central question after deadly overnight storms: who was lost as flash flooding Texas rivers and creeks rose with little time to escape. Steward’s relatives spoke with KXAN investigators after the disaster tore through the Hill Country and other parts of the state.
Who was the Westlake graduate killed in the floods?
Steward graduated from Westlake High School in 1979. His brother, Stephen Steward, traveled from Alabama to be with the family. Stephen said a neighbor told him that by the time help reached the property, the house was halfway gone and floating down the creek—with Mark still inside.
Stephen said Mark had been home alone while his wife was out of town. Former classmate Lane Lolley, who played football and ran track with Steward, remembered him as kind, giving, and popular beyond his athletic and singing talents.
A Westlake Athletics tribute called Steward a “Lifetime Chap,” noting he played football, ran track, and sang with the Madrigals. His father, Jack, served as president of the Eanes School Board in the 1970s.
How severe was the flash flooding across Texas?
By 11 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service reported 25.36 inches of rain in Kerr County. Kerr County officials described flooding reports from Ingram and confirmed multiple swift-water rescues. Statewide, Abbott said about 1,300 responders were deployed and more than 80 rescues had been completed.
According to KUT, a 74-year-old man also died about four miles north of Uvalde after his vehicle was swept away. Flooding drove evacuations, hundreds of rescues, and damage to roads and buildings, including part of the FM 481 bridge southwest of Uvalde.
Ingram, Uvalde, and Kerrville each saw more than 20 inches of rain between Monday and Thursday, preliminary NWS data showed. The Guadalupe, Pedernales, Nueces, Rio Grande, San Antonio, Llano, and Frio rivers remained under flood warnings as rains pushed west.
What happens next for recovery and flood risk?
Gov. Abbott requested a presidential disaster declaration for dozens of Southwest Texas counties to speed aid. The Lower Colorado River Authority expected Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan to reach full capacity for the first time since 2019 and planned Mansfield Dam floodgate releases.
The NWS urged people to stay out of floodwaters, which can hide chemicals, live wires, sewage, and debris. The deadly week came a little more than a year after Fourth of July weekend floods that killed more than 130 people in Texas.
For more extreme-weather and resilience coverage, see BlasterPost’s Future Tech & AI Wonders section. Central Texas, including Kerrville and Uvalde, was forecast to turn hot and dry in the week ahead.