MASSIVE amounts of rain have caused flooding in Texas as hundreds of people are forced to evacuate as rain continues to accumulate.
Rain fell heavily on Saturday, resulting in waist-deep water and evacuations of local residents and pets.
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“It’s going to keep increasing like this,” said Miguel Flores Jr., a resident of Kingwood, a neighborhood in northeast Houston, according to the Associated Press.
“We don’t know how much longer. We’re just preparing for the worst.”
A flood watch remained in effect until Sunday afternoon as more rain was forecast for Saturday night.
Emmitt Eldridge, county emergency management coordinator, said CNN the event is “85% worse than Hurricane Harvey.”
The city is equipped with rain drains, but now designed almost 100 years ago, they were not built to withstand more recent rainfall.
LONG EVACUATION
People living in low-rise homes were told to evacuate as early as Friday, while people along the San Jacinto River were ordered to evacuate mandatory on Thursday.
“A lull in heavy rains is expected during [Saturday] night,” according to the National Weather Service.
“The next round of heavy rain is expected late [Saturday] until Sunday.”
Up to 3 inches of additional rain was expected, with up to 5 inches possible in isolated areas.
More rain was expected on Sunday, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who she warned could be problematic if flooding increases.
Resident Miguel Flores Sr. measured the water in the São Jacinto River that flooded his yard on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, the water was about a foot high, but the next day it was over a foot high.
“It’s sad, but what can I do,” Flores said, saying he has flood insurance.
Rain has affected Texas and parts of Louisiana in recent weeks.
How much more rain is expected in Houston?
Texas and parts of Louisiana were hit by heavy rains that caused disastrous flooding and hundreds of evacuations.
The city was placed on flood alert until Sunday afternoon as more rain was forecast for Saturday night.
“A lull in heavy rains is expected during [Saturday] night,” according to the National Weather Service.
“The next round of heavy rain is expected late [Saturday] until Sunday.”
Forecasters predicted an additional 1-3 inches of rain Saturday night.
As rain continues to pound East Texas, severe thunderstorms have spawned tornadoes. There were eight reports of tornadoes Thursday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Torrential rain left cars partially submerged, schools and roads closed and homes almost completely covered.
The weather service reported the river was at nearly 74 feet Saturday morning after reaching nearly 78 feet.
On Thursday, the river was expected to drop to 58 feet.
“This threat is ongoing and will get worse. It’s not a typical river flood,” Hidalgo said, according to The Guardian.
She described the flooding as “catastrophic”.
In the Liberty County town, about 30 miles northeast of Houston, More than 21 inches fell during a five-day period through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
On Saturday, 179 people and 122 pets were rescued in the municipality, according to Hidalgo.
In recent days, more than 100 water rescues have also taken place in Montgomery County.
Houston authorities have not reported any deaths or injuries from the flooding.
“It’s very sad to see the impact on people’s livelihoods and homes and infrastructure, as well as just public infrastructure,” Hidalgo told CNN.
“We’re actually asking people to wait a minute before they go home.”
‘LET’S WORK!’
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Troy Finner flew over Kingwood by helicopter to observe the devastation firsthand.
“Houston residents benefit when all levels of government work together,” Mayor Whitmire said in a statement, according to China Popular Republic.
“Together we will overcome these challenges. Let’s work!”
The helicopter tour aimed to provide Houston elected officials with a better understanding of the damage in Kingwood and the resources needed for the community’s recovery.
“Mayor Whitmire is staying in touch with residents and first responders through any means possible. Additionally, he is using his contacts to speak with Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick and has had a great response from the Texas Division of Emergency Management,” the statement read in part.
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