Following major storms that swept through Southeast Texas last week, certain areas of the Houston region are grappling with ongoing floods for a fourth consecutive day, prompting an escalation in disaster relief efforts. Authorities have documented numerous high-water rescues since the unexpected storms hit the region towards the end of last week, resulting in the most severe flooding in Greater Houston since Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The flash floods have affected large portions of Texas, reaching as far north as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
The recent floods were intensified by heavier than anticipated rains forecasted to hit north of the city on Thursday, causing water bodies, particularly the San Jacinto River, to overflow and inundate surrounding communities in the northern outskirts of Greater Houston. Consequently, hundreds of homes and businesses have been flooded, leading to the cancellation of classes in many school districts due to hazardous conditions. The flooding situation was exacerbated by water releases from Lake Houston and Lake Conroe, although some officials have played down their impact on the rising water levels. Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Liberty, Walker, and Polk counties have been among the hardest hit by the flash floods, with over 600 people rescued from floodwaters across the region.
The devastation caused by the floods has been vividly captured in online images, depicting submerged homes and vehicles, collapsed structures, and streets transformed into rivers. In Houston, Kingwood has been particularly affected, prompting Mayor John Whitmire to survey the damage from a helicopter over the weekend. Parts of North Texas have also experienced flooding, with a tragic incident involving the death of a 5-year-old boy in Johnson County near Fort Worth. Local officials have issued warnings about the potential for catastrophic flooding as lake and creek levels continue to rise. Mandatory evacuations were ordered along the east fork of the San Jacinto River, while residents in Kingwood were advised to evacuate or prepare for a two-day shelter-in-place scenario.
Harris County agencies have conducted numerous rescues, with neighboring counties also reporting rising numbers of high-water rescues and destruction. Relief organizations such as the Red Cross and the Montgomery County Food Bank have appealed for donations to assist those affected by the floods, with the Red Cross opening shelters in the disaster area and seeking additional local volunteers.
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