KINGSLAND, Texas -- New rainfall is in the forecast for Texas, threatening hundreds more homes with devastating flooding. Several days of rain have swollen rivers and lakes to near-record levels. Flooding swamped homes and businesses, and prompted many rescues. At least two people are dead.

The homeowners were significantly unprepared for how fast the water was moving Wednesday. Most of their furniture and belongings are out on the lawn, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

At Scott Turner's home in Kingsland, the rush of floodwater caught he and his family completely off-guard. "I would say it probably came 5 or 6 feet in a matter of 15 minutes," Turner said.

"We got all this stuff out of my wife's office and moved it into the house and as soon as we got it into the house, then the house started flooding. So we really didn't have a chance to get anything out," Turner said. "You're just going through your head just thinking of what you can get out. You know, at that point, there was nothing, there was nothing we could do."

His story is similar to ones seen across central Texas, as rising floodwaters have become increasingly dangerous. Crews have conducted several rescues – including one we came across Wednesday with two men in an SUV trapped in a ditch after they tried to cross a flooded road.

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Now authorities are doing what they can to limit the damage. At Mansfield Dam, four floodgates are open to drain water from the overflowing Lake Travis. Four more are expected to open Thursday.

The current water level of Lake Travis is about 700 feet, which has already caused flooding in dozens of homes. If it rises another 14 feet, the water will flow uncontrolled from the dam, submerging entire communities.

Back upstream, Turner is just trying to pick up the pieces. He said he hopes he's seen the worst of it.

"I don't think it could get any worse," Turner said.

</s>Texan Governor Greg Abbot declared a state of disaster in 18 state counties swamped by severe weather and major flooding on Tuesday.



In a statement, he said: “Texas is taking immediate action to respond to the threat of recent severe weather and flooding across the state.



“We have made available all necessary resources to respond as quickly and effectively as possible to this disaster, and to assist those in harm’s way.“



The Llano River level rose above record levels to 12.61m (39.91ft) in Central Texas because of the flash flooding.





Water currents were so powerful they pulled down the nearly submerged FM 2900 bridge.



At least two people are known to have died.



One body was pulled from the Colorado River in Burnet County while Llano County officials confirmed the discovery of a second body on Tuesday.



Where are the Texas flash floods? 



Torrential rain has fallen across central Texas for two days with Llano County being deluged by 30.5cm (12 inches) of water.

Nearby houses were evacuated before becoming flooded.



Kingsland, where the bridge collapsed, sits in Llano County, and is the meeting point between the Llano Rove and Colorado River.



Llano County is located about 65 miles northwest of Austin, the state capital of Texas.



Major flooding in Marble Falls forced people from their homes as massive amounts of water poured over the Starcke Dam, dragging large debris.





Marble Falls, home to more than 7,000 people, spans part of the Texas Highland Lakes in central Texas.



The city is located about 58 miles northwest of Austin and 85 miles north of San Antonio Where are the flash flood declarations?



The flash flood declarations are in a total of 18 counties.

They are Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Llano, Burnet, Colorado, Fayette, Hood, Jim Wells, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Live Oak, Mason, McMullen, Nueces, Real and San Patricio. Meteorologist Avery Tomasco warned on Twitter: “We are near the beginning of what could be a long-duration flood event in Central Texas. 



"Flooding is already severe, and more rain Thurs & Fri will make it that much worse."</s>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  School districts and authorities are bracing for the possibility of a severe weather outbreak that could produce powerful, long-track tornadoes and large hail Tuesday in some central and southern Plains states.

The most dangerous weather  heavy winds, tornadoes and hail as large as baseballs or softballs will likely take aim at a 69,000-square-mile area stretching from southern Oklahoma to southern Nebraska, including the Oklahoma City area, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman.

In all, 25 million people from the Rio Grande River in south Texas to Omaha, Nebraska, and the western regions of Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa are at a slight risk or higher of experiencing severe weather Tuesday. In the east, a separate storm system could bring thunderstorms, strong winds and hail to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., but the risk of severe outbreaks is low.

“We shouldn”t assume that we”re going to have a lot of information  you know, a lot of lead time,” Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Matt Mosier said. “We may or we may not.”

Administrators for Oklahoma City Public Schools, the state”s largest school district, planned to meet early Tuesday morning to assess the weather and determine whether to cancel classes, spokesman Mark Myers said in an emailed statement.

The University of Oklahoma has sent messages on social media since last week reminding followers to be aware of conditions, and will announce any potential decisions regarding class cancelations as early as possible, spokeswoman Catherine Bishop said.

The Storm Prediction Center issued a notice last week that severe weather was possible Tuesday in this part of the country and released updated forecasts in the days since. In recent years, authorities have been able to predict storm conditions like these several days in advance with greater confidence, Mosier said, though he noted that the weather doesn”t always pan out as expected.

“It”s never straightforward when you”re sitting here talking about (predicting) large tornadoes,” Mosier said. “We”re trying to be as confident or as accurate as we can.”

Residents of impacted areas should develop a plan to take shelter from a quick-forming storm without driving in severe conditions, Mosier said.</s>More Rain Expected As Flooding Continues In Texas

Near record flooding is moving across central Texas. The fast rising waters have ripped out a large bridge, and taken many residents by surprise.</s>Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A bridge in Texas collapsed Tuesday as heavy rains throughout the state caused severe flooding.

The Texas Department of Transportation shared video of the RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland after heavy floodwaters washed a portion of the bridge away.

"The power of water," the department said.

The bridge collapsed around 9:15 a.m. and no one appeared to be traveling on it at the time and no deaths or injuries were reported.

It spans over the Llano River, which was expected to crest at a record-setting 41 feet amid the heavy rains.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Burnet County, sheriff's officials said a person's body was recovered from Lake Lyndon B. Johnson on Tuesday afternoon.

The body was found in the water near the east bank of the shore and the person wasn't immediately identified.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration for 18 Texas counties affected by the flooding.

"Texas is taking immediate action to respond to the threat of recent severe weather and flooding across the state," Abbott said. "We have made available all necessary resources to respond as quickly and effectively as possible to this disaster, and to assist those in harm's way. I thank all our first responders and local officials on the ground in these communities for their efforts to assist fellow Texans during this dangerous event."

He also ordered increased readiness of the Texas State Operations Center along with a number of state and partner agencies.

"When severe weather strikes, Texas will ensure our responders and local officials have what they need to respond and protect those in harm's way," he said. "I also urge all Texans to take their safety into their own hands by closely monitor changing weather conditions and heeding warnings from local officials."</s>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster in 18 flood-stricken counties in Central and South Texas on Tuesday, with one death reported so far, officials said.

Abbott noted in his proclamation that severe weather and prolonged flooding that began on Oct. 7 "has caused widespread and severe property damage and threatens loss of life."

“Texas is taking immediate action to respond to the threat of recent severe weather and flooding across the state,” Abbott said in a statement, according to Austin's The Statesman. “We have made available all necessary resources to respond as quickly and effectively as possible to this disaster and to assist those in harm’s way. I thank all our first responders and local officials on the ground in these communities for their efforts to assist fellow Texans during this dangerous event.”

The counties covered by the declaration are Bastrop, Burnet, Colorado, Fayette, Hood, Jim Wells, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Live Oak, Llano, Mason, McMullen, Nueces, Real, San Patricio, Travis and Williamson.

A flash flood warning is in effect, and forecasters describe it as a "very dangerous situation."

It's not expected to drop below major flood stage until later Wednesday, with the weather service's Flash Flood Watch in effect for portions south central Texas through Thursday afternoon, according to NWS Austin/San Antonio.

An unidentified body was found near the eastern shore of the rain-swollen Lake Lyndon B. Johnson on Tuesday, officials said.

The lake is situated where the Llano and Colorado rivers meet. The National Weather Service said both rivers are experiencing "major flooding" following several days of rain.

Burnet County Sheriff's Capt. Tom Dillard said there haven't been other reports of deaths or injuries in the county. He also said the body found Tuesday doesn't appear to be that of a person still missing from a flash flood last week in an RV park along the South Llano River, about 90 miles upstream.

Heavy rains continue to swell the Central Texas rivers, sending water over bridges, threatening riverside structures and prompting recommendations for area residents to evacuate.

Evacuations are underway in the cities of Kingsland and Marble Falls, both northwest of Austin.

In addition to the evacuations, several school districts closed for the day and emergency personnel blocked access to more than 150 low-water crossings.

Raging floodwaters bloated the Llano River, overrunning a bridge in Kingsland, about 65 miles northwest of Austin.

The National Weather Service said the river at nearby Llano is expected to crest at near-record levels near 41 feet, which is 18 feet above major flood stage on Tuesday morning.

Last week, four people were swept away in floodwaters along the South Llano River in Junction. The bodies of three were recovered and one person remains missing.</s>All the rain this week has brought flash flood warnings and watches throughout South Texas this week.

There are flood warnings for the Llano River at Llano. There’s also a flood warning for the Nueces River at Cotulla and near Tilden.

There’s also a flash flood watch for several counties in South Texas, which now includes Bexar County. The other counties that are affected are Comal, Hays, Travis, and Williamson. The flash flood watch will last through 7 a.m. Friday.

The areas are expecting additional rain of one to two inches, with some spots getting as much as four inches of rain. The areas have all been saturated by rain from last week, so it won’t take much for flooding to be possible.</s>More heavy rain is expected over flood weary Texas today.

The threat for rain will shift towards west and south Texas this weekend.

Scattered rain and isolated thunderstorms will pop up along a front that extends from the Northeast down into the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Temperatures remain below average for much of the East while warmer weather is the story across the West.

Because of the warm weather, low humidity and breezy conditions, fire weather is critical for southern California.</s>Transcript for Torrential rain continues in Central Texas after days of flooding

Let's go to Texas now where residents are again dealing with a deadly flood situation. Flood watches are in effect and there's more rain on the way Victor can do is an Austin with more on that Victor. Diane the rain continues to come down here in Austin this is the last thing that central Texas needs we are right in front. Of the Mansfield dam just take a look at that right now four of the floodgates are open. You can see that water is raging right now just gushing out of those floodgates officials closely monitoring the water levels right now they do not want to have to open. Any more of those floodgates here with all the rain that continues to come down across central Texas you've got dams just like this one that are open we have seen. High water rescues people stranded in their vehicles or their Holmes. Lake Travis has taken on more water in the past week that this city of Austin uses in four. Years again there are heavy downpours on the radar with much of that all the way those residents who live along lakes and rivers they're bracing for the worst. They will have to watch because there is a flash flood watch in effect. Throughout the day Diane.</s>JUNCTION, Texas (AP) — The Latest on flooding in the small West Texas city of Junction (all times local):

Weather officials say that more rain is expected in an area where river flooding swept away a recreational vehicle park, prompting rescues by helicopters and boats.

National Weather Service meteorologist Aaron Woodward said that after a lull in rain Monday afternoon, more was expected late Monday night and into the overnight hours in the area of Junction, where four people are still missing. Junction is about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Austin.

Woodward said estimates show up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain fall in the area since Sunday evening. He said that not counting recent rain amount, almost 19 inches (48 centimeters) of rain has fallen there so far this year.

He says the heavy rain fell over a several-hour period “and it just lined up perfectly that all that fell into that river canyon and it built up and pushed a giant wall downstream.”

Emergency responders say they are actively searching for four missing workers who were in the same recreational vehicle when they were swept away by flood waters in West Texas.

Texas Game Warden Rachel Kellner says the four men worked together and were swept away before daybreak by the South Llano River in the small city of Junction. She reports that authorities have rescued 19 people in total. Fifteen people were rescued by boat while the other four were rescued by helicopter. Two of the people rescued by air were in a tree with a family dog.

She says all those rescued have been checked out by medical emergency personnel, but it’s unclear if any required hospitalization. The river has gone down, but it is expected to rise again later.

Rescue crews in boats and helicopters are searching for at least four people missing since heavy rain washed away a recreational vehicle park in a small West Texas city.

Kimble County Sheriff Hilario Cantu said Monday morning that no fatalities have been confirmed in the floods in Junction, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Austin, but that “all the RVs, everything, got swept away.”

Cantu says state and local agencies are helping with the rescues. Police say the city of about 2,500 people has no electricity.

National Weather Service meteorologist Aaron Woodward says the main flooding is along the South Llano River, next to the RV park. Woodward says radar estimates show that up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain has fallen in the area since Sunday evening.

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Severe flooding in Texas kills at least two people and damages dozens of houses. Weather forecasters predict that more rain will come and possibly flood hundreds more houses.