Buda started in 1881 as Du Pre, a townsite Cornelia Trimble platted beside a new International-Great Northern Railroad depot. Postal officials found another Texas town already using that name, and by 1887 it had become Buda. The old Main Street downtown still anchors the town, but most of today's 15,108 residents (2020 census, more than double the 2010 count) live in neighborhoods built in the last two decades along the I-35 corridor in northeastern Hays County.
Onion Creek runs through the northwest side of town, and the surrounding hills can produce some of the heaviest rainfall totals in Central Texas. The Restoration Job is a free referral line that connects callers with independent restoration providers. Call (888) 317-9980 at any hour and we'll put you in touch with a provider that serves Buda.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Buda. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Onion Creek and the 2013 Halloween Flood
Onion Creek starts in the Hill Country southeast of Johnson City and runs about 79 miles, passing near Driftwood and through the northwest side of Buda, before meeting the Colorado River below Austin. On October 31, 2013, roughly 9 to 10 inches of rain fell over its watershed in about four hours. The creek crested at 40.15 feet downstream, a level not seen since 1921, with flow topping 120,000 cubic feet per second. Five people died, and more than 500 homes were damaged, most of them in southeast Austin, where the city later bought out hundreds of floodplain homes.
The water that caused that damage passed through Buda first. Homes on low ground near the creek and its tributaries have the most exposure, and low-water crossings in the area can become dangerous within minutes.
An 18-Inch Rain Total Near Town in October 2015
Two years later, the October 30 to 31, 2015 storm hit this area especially hard. A National Weather Service observer 1 mile west-northwest of town recorded 18.46 inches, another 0.7 miles southwest recorded 13.06 inches, and the Onion Creek gauge at Buda caught 14.34 inches. Rain on that scale floods yards and streets, backs up drains and pushes water into garages and through door thresholds even far from any creek.
Rain like that also tests roofs, flashing and window seals. Water that gets into an attic or wall during a storm may not show for days, so check ceilings, closets and exterior walls after any big event. A provider handling storm damage cleanup can usually cover openings and dry what is wet in one visit.
First Steps for Wet Floors on a Slab Foundation
In a slab-on-grade house, water spreads sideways under flooring and into the bottom of walls. A few steps help limit damage:
- Shut off the water at the main valve if the source is plumbing.
- Turn off breakers to rooms where water reaches outlets or appliances.
- Pull rugs, furniture and boxes off wet floors and take photos before discarding anything.
- Call your insurer and start water removal; floodwater from outside usually needs a separate flood policy.
Restoration providers generally extract water, check moisture in walls and the slab edge, remove soaked carpet pad and lower drywall when needed, and run drying equipment until readings are normal. Ask for moisture logs, since adjusters frequently request them.
Freezes, Attic Plumbing and Condensate Drains
Many Central Texas homes have water heaters, supply lines or air handler drains in the attic, which is convenient until something fails. A clogged condensate drain can overflow into a ceiling during the summer; a frozen pipe can split during a hard freeze. In February 2021, more than 4.5 million Texas homes and businesses lost power, and burst pipes drained Austin's system so badly that boil-water notices lasted until February 27. When a ceiling sags with water, do not stand beneath it; turn off the water, contain what drips and get it dried professionally.
Mold Cleanup in Buda's Warm, Wet Months
Hot, humid weather speeds up mold growth on materials that stay wet. Under-sink cabinets, closets on exterior walls and drywall behind washing machines are common trouble spots after slow leaks. If you notice a musty smell or discoloration, find and fix the moisture source first; cleaning surface mold without drying the material usually means it returns. For larger areas, Texas has rules for mold assessment and remediation, and a provider offering mold cleanup can explain them. Neighbors in Kyle face the same seasonal risk.
Where Callers in the Buda Area Are
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Kyle
- San Marcos
- Austin
- Driftwood
- Mountain City
- Dripping Springs
- Niederwald
Common Questions
Does Onion Creek flood homes in Buda, or only in Austin?
The worst recorded damage from the 2013 Halloween flood was downstream in southeast Austin, but the creek flows through the northwest side of Buda and rises quickly here as well. Homes close to the creek or its tributaries, and roads with low-water crossings, carry the most risk. Check your address on FEMA's flood maps and sign up for regional emergency alerts.
What alerts cover Buda during flash flooding?
Hays County is part of WarnCentralTexas, the regional system run by the Capital Area Council of Governments that sends phone, text and email alerts. Flash flood warnings for Buda come from the National Weather Service forecast office in New Braunfels. Heavy-rain events like October 2015 often peak overnight, so a phone alert can make a real difference.
Is water coming in under my garage door covered by insurance?
Often not under a standard homeowners policy, which typically excludes surface water and flooding from outside. That is usually a flood insurance matter. Water from inside the house, such as a burst pipe or water heater failure, is more commonly covered. Photograph where the water entered and how high it rose, then contact your insurer and start drying quickly.