Quick answer
For water damage in Tarpley, TX, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For creek and rain gauge readings, the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District is 830-796-7260. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Texas insurers must acknowledge your claim within 15 days.
Do this first
Local water and septic lines.
- Shut off the water. Close your main valve, or turn off the well pump breaker if your home runs on a private well. Tarpley is unincorporated, so there is no town water office to call.
- Make it safe and document it. Cut power to wet rooms from a dry spot, photograph the damage, then report the claim.
- Start drying within 24 to 48 hours. Limestone hillsides send runoff toward houses fast, so ask for moisture readings at the base of uphill walls and under any flooring that got wet.
Hondo Creek and Williams Creek can rise fast after Hill Country storms, and low water crossings go under first. Never drive through water over a road. Floodwater can carry septic runoff, so treat it as contaminated.
What to know about water damage in Tarpley
29.64 ft
The record crest on Hondo Creek near Tarpley, on June 22, 1997. The NWS says at 26 feet the water reaches the slabs of a house and a large barn 400 yards into the flood plain near FM 462.
Source: NOAA National Water Prediction Service, Hondo Creek near Tarpley
Hondo Canon
A post office named Hondo Canon opened on Williams Creek in 1878. In 1899 it moved several miles south and was renamed for Tarpley Prickett, son of postmaster John Prickett.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Tarpley
A store and a smithy
By 1900 a store and blacksmith shop were attached to the post office, a school was built in 1902, and a Baptist church came later. Tarpley had about 30 people in 1990 and 2000.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Tarpley
Flood stages on Hondo Creek
Minor flooding starts at 10 feet on the Tarpley gauge, moderate at 15, and major at 24, when water reaches the FM 462 bridge floor. The second highest crest was 22.86 feet on July 21, 2007.
Gauges you can check
The Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District posts real-time rain and river gauge readings for the county. Its office on FM 3240 in Bandera is open Monday through Friday.
Source: BCRAGD
Every septic system licensed
Outside the City of Bandera, Bandera County requires every septic system to be licensed, regardless of lot size. New systems must be inspected before they are covered.
Homes around Tarpley
The Census Bureau counts about 227 homes in ZIP 78883. About 75% are owner-occupied, only 16% were built before 1980, and the median home dates to 1989.
Source: Census Reporter, ZIP 78883, ACS 2024 5-year estimates
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Medina, about 10.2 miles away, averages 44.1 nights a year at or below 32°F and 2.8 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 15 and the last one after March 16. Pipes in outside walls, attics, and pier-and-beam crawlspaces are the first to split. It also averages 36.27 inches of rain a year, with about 10.2 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does Bandera County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 66 flash flood warnings that included Bandera County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 17 in 2026. Each one means flooding is happening or about to happen.
Source: our count from the National Weather Service warning archive, Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
| Year | Warnings |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 17 |
Cost and insurance in Tarpley
How much does water damage restoration cost in Tarpley?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Creek flooding needs a separate flood policy. Wet subfloors and stone walls take longer.
Water removal and restoration in Tarpley
The company that answers handles burst pipes in hard freezes, well and pressure tank leaks, septic backups, and runoff from Hill Country storms, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Tarpley questions
Where can I check creek levels near Tarpley?
The Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District posts real-time rain and river gauges, and NOAA shows the Hondo Creek gauge near Tarpley. The district office is 830-796-7260.
Who handles septic permits in Tarpley?
The Bandera County Engineer's office licenses and inspects septic systems outside the City of Bandera. A restoration company handles the cleanup inside the house.
How cold does Tarpley get?
The NOAA station at Medina, about 10 miles away, averages 44 nights a year at or below 32°F and about 3 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 15.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 78883, the Tarpley post office area in south-central Bandera County.
Related guides
Other Texas towns- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Burst pipe repair cost
- Texas insurance claim deadlines, in plain English
- Frozen and burst pipes: what to do
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: