Cotulla flood updates: La Salle County shelter-in-place guidance through Wed

The Nueces River flood threat for Cotulla remains elevated, and La Salle County officials have been updating resident safety guidance. The National Weather Service says major flooding is in effect for the Nueces River at Cotulla and is expected to continue until Wednesday evening.

What the National Weather Service says for Cotulla

The National Weather Service’s flood warning for the Nueces River at Cotulla says major flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast and will continue until Wednesday evening. The warning’s preparedness steps emphasize safety for drivers and people near the river.

Among the key precautions: turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads, and motorists should not try to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. The NWS also urges caution when walking near riverbanks.

In the warning issued Friday, July 24 at 8:19 p.m. CDT, the NWS said the river stage at Cotulla was 24.0 feet at 8:00 p.m. CDT, with the river expected to fall below flood stage early Wednesday morning and continue falling to 13.4 feet Wednesday evening. The flood stage is listed as 15.0 feet.

La Salle County: shelter-in-place guidance and where recommendations applied

In a July 22 update, La Salle County said residents were “electing to shelter in place” as flooding continued to affect Cotulla. KSAT reported the Nueces River was measured at 28.96 feet during that update.

KSAT also reported that as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, 599 La Salle County residents had chosen to shelter in place. Over the course of the flooding so far, Mendez said there were two voluntary evacuations, 122 self-evacuations, and three water rescues. Officials emphasized residents should stay off flooded roadways and respect barricades.

Evacuation recommendations mentioned in the KSAT report were tied to specific road segments at the time:

• Jay Street between Martinez Street and Copp Street
• Martinez Street between Jay Street and Guadalupe Street

The KSAT report also said the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Alexander Convention Center for displaced residents and those choosing to evacuate voluntarily, and that a separate pet shelter was set up at the county fairgrounds. Officials encouraged residents to monitor local authority updates and be prepared to leave if recommendations become mandatory or if flood conditions worsen.

Use the county/city emergency tools to confirm your area

Because flood guidance can be area-specific, residents should verify instructions for their location rather than assuming citywide direction. La Salle County’s Emergency Management page describes a City of Cotulla smartphone app (Android and iPhone) that includes GPS functionality to locate your evacuation zone.

According to the county page, the app also provides the current Emergency (EOC) Activation Level and links to special-needs registration for people with special medical needs during an evacuation, plus local weather/fire updates and related maps.

Driver and commuter cautions near Cotulla

Flooding can affect more than the river itself. Laredo Morning Times reported that while I-35 remains open, authorities are warning motorists to watch for flooded secondary roads and low-water crossings that may still be impassable.

In a public safety advisory referenced by the report, the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office urged people not to drive around barricades or enter flooded roadways. The advisory warns that high water can conceal strong currents, washed-out pavement, and debris. If you encounter a flooded area, the advice is to turn around and find an alternate route and to respect road closures and barricades.

Checklist for the next 24–72 hours

• Check the National Weather Service flood warning for updated timing and stage information.
• Confirm your evacuation zone using the City of Cotulla emergency smartphone app.
• Follow area-specific recommendations—don’t assume one road segment’s guidance applies everywhere in Cotulla.
• Avoid flooded roadways, and do not drive around barricades.
• If you must travel, slow down and be prepared for changing conditions, especially on secondary routes and low-water crossings.

Sources

• KSAT — La Salle County flooding update for Cotulla (shelter-in-place / evacuations guidance)
• National Weather Service — Flood Warning/Message for Nueces River at Cotulla
• La Salle County Emergency Management — Emergency update tools & smartphone app
• Laredo Morning Times — Travel/road-impact context near Cotulla (Nueces River flooding)

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