The situation turned dire overnight as a half-foot or more of rainfall led to fast-moving floodwaters in parts of San Antonio and neighboring communities.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Heavy rains in San Antonio rapidly flooded roads, swept away submerged cars and sent some people scrambling up trees to escape fast-rising waters Thursday while firefighters made dozens of rescues across the nation’s seventh-largest city. At least five people died and two were still missing, authorities said.