May 5th 2024.
Over the weekend, heavy rains caused high waters to flood neighborhoods in and around the city of Houston, USA. As a result, rescue crews have already saved more than 400 people from their homes, rooftops, and roads that were submerged in murky water. Some residents were forced to evacuate their properties in preparation for the rising waters.
The flood affected a wide region, from Houston to rural areas in East Texas. In this area, game wardens were seen riding airboats through waist-high waters, rescuing both people and their pets who were unable to evacuate in time. One crew even rescued a family and their three dogs, bringing them aboard as the waters continued to rise around their cars and home.
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch that would remain in effect until Sunday afternoon, as forecasters predicted more rainfall on Saturday night and a high likelihood of major flooding. Miguel Flores Jr. from the Kingwood neighborhood in northeast Houston expressed his concerns, saying, "It's going to keep rising this way. We don't know how much more. We're just preparing for the worst."
Husband and wife, Aron Brown (45) and Jamie Brown (41), were among the many residents who went to observe the rising waters near a flooded intersection close to the San Jacinto River. Nearby restaurants and a gas station were already beginning to flood. While water could be seen flowing into parts of their subdivision, Aron assured that their home was at a higher elevation compared to others in the neighborhood.
He recalled the flood caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and mentioned that it was not as bad as what they are currently experiencing. Aron pointed to nearby power lines and said that during Harvey, the water had reached the top of these lines. However, residents in low-lying areas were still advised to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
The severe storms on Friday resulted in numerous high-water rescues, including some from the rooftops of flooded homes. Officials continued to urge residents in low-lying areas to evacuate, warning that the worst was yet to come. The National Weather Service reported a lull in heavy rain expected for the evening, but the next round was expected to come late into Sunday.
Up to 76.2mm of additional rain was expected, with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 127mm. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the top elected official in the nation's third-largest county, stated that more rain was expected on Sunday, and if it continues to pour, it could become problematic.
Ongoing rains have left parts of Texas drenched and residents trapped in their homes. Miguel Flores Sr., usually spends his weekends mowing his huge backyard in Kingwood. However, on Saturday, he and his family were busy loading several vehicles with clothes, small appliances, and other items. The San Jacinto River had already engulfed their backyard and continued to rise. What was about 0.3 meters high on Friday had increased to about 1.2 meters the following day.
"It's sad, but what can I do," Flores said. Fortunately, he has flood insurance to help him recover from the damage. For weeks, heavy rains in Texas and parts of Louisiana have filled reservoirs and saturated the ground. This week, floodwaters partially submerged cars and roads in southeastern Texas, north of Houston, with some homes reaching the roofs.
According to the National Weather Service, Liberty County near Splendora received over 530mm of rain over a five-day period, until Friday. Hidalgo reported that 178 people and 122 pets have been rescued so far in the county, while scores of rescues took place in neighboring Montgomery County. In Polk County, officials reported over 100 water rescues in the past few days.
Houston, with a population of over two million people, is one of the most flood-prone metro areas in the US. However, authorities have not reported any deaths or injuries in the current flood. The city has a long history of dealing with devastating weather, such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which caused historic rainfall and flooded thousands of homes. Government rescue personnel have since rescued over 60,000 people across Harris County.
Of particular concern is an area along the San Jacinto River, which is expected to continue rising as more rain falls and officials release water from a full reservoir. As a result, Hidalgo issued a mandatory evacuation order on Thursday for people living along parts of the river. The weather service reported that the river was at nearly 22.6 meters on Saturday morning, and it reached nearly 23.7 meters at its peak. However, the forecast indicates that it will fall to near flood stage of 17.6 meters by Thursday.
Fortunately, most of Houston's city limits were not heavily impacted by the weather. Officials estimate that the area received about four months' worth of rain in just a week's time, causing widespread flooding and disruptions.
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