DALLAS, Texas — On Thursday, a City of Dallas employee had to be escorted out of fast-moving floodwaters by Dallas Fire-Rescue after their truck got stuck at a park where they were making repairs.
The employee, Marcus Williams, told WFAA that he was at Moss Soccer Park along Greenville Ave., making repairs to a restroom, when adjacent White Rock Creek began to swell, putting most of the park underwater.
Williams said he got in his truck and tried to leave, but the vehicle got stuck, so he called for help.
"I saw the water was getting high--so I was trying to come back, but my truck got stuck, and there was nothing I could do," Williams said. "They wanted me to stay in the truck when I called in what was happening. DFR walked out to the truck with a raft and told me to leave the keys in the truck, then brought me back to where it was like a foot of water where I could walk away."
The truck was left in the parking lot until the waters could recede. Williams wasn't hurt, but Dallas Fire Battalion Chief Michael Meador said they didn't want him trying to escape the situation alone when the current was moving so fast.
"Potential for more storms are on the way--and that creek is going to rise more," Meador said. "It's a scary situation when you're out there helpless."
Upstream, the same creek looked like a river beneath I-635 near Hillcrest, submerging roads beneath it. Road signs were seen peeking above the current. Meador said the creek backs up and swells with continuous heavy rainfall.
The Royal Oaks Country Club course is practically a lake across from the park. White Rock Creek runs through it.
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to 15 high-water incidents on Thursday. All involved were disabled after being driven into high water.
The Fort Worth Fire Department didn't respond to high-water incidents but dealt with around 20 motor vehicle accidents.
A spokesperson also said a downed power line landed on the roof of a one-story church at 1911 Yuma, and the structure caught fire. No one was harmed, but significant damage was left behind due to the fire.