Swollen rivers continued rising in Southeast Texas on Saturday, prompting evacuations and rescues from floodwaters that overwhelmed roads, stranded cars, and inundated homes in the region. Emergency responders in airboats worked tirelessly to rescue 73 people and 42 animals from stranded cars and rooftops, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials emphasized the urgency of evacuation orders for residents in low-lying areas, warning that the situation was only going to worsen. Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County’s top executive, stated, “This threat is ongoing and it’s going to get worse. It is not your typical river flood.”
Evacuation orders were issued for about 5,000 people living in a sparsely populated section of northeastern Harris County along the east fork of the San Jacinto River. American Red Cross shelters across six Texas counties were housing 122 people, as reported by FEMA.
Small towns north and east of Houston, such as Cut and Shoot and Shepherd, were experiencing catastrophic flooding, with several rivers yet to crest. The National Weather Service in Houston reported that about a quarter of the 178 river gauges were experiencing flooded conditions, with more expected to crest over the weekend or early next week.
Areas north of Houston had received 12 to 20 inches of rainfall since Monday, raising concerns of flooding near record levels set during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of Southeast Texas through Sunday afternoon, with additional rainfall expected to exacerbate already saturated soil.
Mayor John Whitmire of Houston was monitoring the flooding in the neighborhood of Kingwood on Saturday, urging caution and vigilance as the water levels continued to rise. As of Saturday, there were no reported injuries or deaths, but damage assessments were on hold until the threat of flooding had passed.
The region remained on high alert as forecasters predicted more rain over the weekend, further complicating the already dire situation. Residents were urged to stay informed and heed evacuation orders to ensure their safety in the face of the ongoing flood emergency.
