AFD: 700+ emergency calls made during first few hours of severe weather Wednesday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department said it received more than 700 calls during the first hours of Wednesday’s severe weather.

Many of those calls were for fallen trees and arcing electrical lines, and for water rescues of people being swept away.

One water rescue call started near Hancock Creek after witnesses reported several people were washed away. • Flood waters rush downstream near Hancock Branch/Shoal Creek (Credit: Slim Zimmerman) • Shoal Creek overflowing at NW Beverly Sheffield Park (Credit: Daren Brabham) • Shoal Creek overflowing at NW Beverly Sheffield Park (Credit: Daren Brabham)

AFD said that Austin Police Department officers rescued one person while another safely escaped on their own.

A third person who was swept away at that location died. Emergency perso