LA SALLE COUNTY, TEXAS — La Salle County officials activated an emergency response ahead of expected flooding along the Nueces River. Approximately 350 personnel from agencies across Texas and neighboring states were deployed in La Salle County to prepare for Nueces River flooding.

Texas Task Force One is leading the response effort. Personnel from Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are assisting in the response. Texas Game Wardens, the Texas Department of Public Safety, constable’s offices, and sheriff’s offices are assisting in the response.

La Salle County Judge Leodoro Martinez III held a news conference on Monday night. "We wanted to be proactive and get the community notified and start getting way ahead of the ball," Martinez said. "You know, just don’t want to be the next victims, especially in our small hometown."

Officials identified the Mustang Creek area as the most flood-prone part of the county based on history. Agencies have been going door to door to notify residents, particularly in the Mustang Creek area. "Anybody living in the Mustang Creek area will be the first ones notified," he said. The county has a population of approximately 3,500 within city limits and approximately 7,500 throughout the county.

Officials have implemented a color-coded alert system in La Salle County. As of Monday night, La Salle County moved to a yellow alert. The yellow alert urges residents to prepare an emergency bag and be ready to evacuate if needed.

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter for displaced residents in La Salle County. A separate pet shelter is available at the La Salle County fairgrounds.

"These agencies are going door to door, notifying the people, especially in the areas that we know we’re going to have issues," he said. Officials have a list of residents who may need help evacuating and will prioritize reaching them first. Residents who need assistance during flooding are encouraged to call the county’s local emergency line or 911.

"It’s been dry, but the information we’re putting out — we’re constantly putting out information," he said. The flooding along the Nueces River is not being caused by local rainfall. La Salle County last experienced flooding of this magnitude in 2013.

The response involves 350 personnel and 100 vehicles, compared to 200 personnel and 50 vehicles deployed during the county's 2013 flood response. The Nueces River near Brackettville reached a crest of 24.3 feet on July 19, 2026, exceeding the flood stage of 18 feet by 6.3 feet and marking the second-highest recorded level in the river's history for that section. The river's floodplain in the county includes 12,000 acres of designated flood-prone land, with Mustang Creek occupying 3,500 of those acres.