Hundreds rescued from homes as waist-high floodwaters swamp neighbourhoods
Hundreds of people had to be evacuated in Texas as rising floodwaters left many stranded amidst desperate circumstances.
Houston, along with surrounding neighbourhoods, has been hit hard by the flooding, forcing hundreds to seek refuge from the murky waters now overtaking their homes.
Around 400 residents have been taken from their submerged homes thus far. In some extreme cases, residents have resorted to perching on top of their roofs to escape water engulfing their residences.
Anticipating further rises in water levels, other inhabitants are reportedly getting ready to depart from their homes. A vast area, from Houston right through to rural parts of East Texas, has witnessed waist-high floodwaters, rendering countless victims reliant on rescue efforts.
Car flooded in Houston
Teams dedicated to the cause are tirelessly focusing on evacuating others who find themselves trapped. According to Miguel Flores Jr.
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Woman handed her child during evacuation
, waters are expected to “keep rising” indefinitely. He warned; “It’s going to keep rising this way. We don’t know how much more. We’re just preparing for the worst.”
Evacuees Aron, aged 45, and Jamie Brown, 41, were retrieved from surging waters nearby a flooded crossroads near the San Jacinto River. Expressing his distress, Aron shared he made an exit from his home using his golf cart, motioning towards powerlines that were almost masked completely during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The National Weather Service has confirmed further heavy downpours will follow today.
A report warned: “A lull in heavy rain is expected through (Saturday) evening. The next round of heavy rainfall is expected late (Saturday) into Sunday.”
Forecasters predict up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) more rain, with isolated spots possibly seeing up to 5 inches (12.7 centimeters). Meanwhile, local resident Miguel Flores Sr, , who has flood insurance, lamented the loss of his expansive backyard, now submerged under 30 centimetres of water, saying: “It’s sad, but what can I do.”
Man sat on road with dogs after flood rescue
No fatalities or injuries have been reported by Houston authorities. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated that so far, 178 people and 122 pets have been rescued.
A mandatory evacuation was enforced on Thursday for residents along parts of the river, especially near the San Jacinto River.
Officials in Polk County, roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of Houston, have conducted over 100 water rescues recently. The weather service’s latest forecasts suggest the region could receive four months’ worth of rain in just one week, as Houston prepares for potential flooding of its bayous and reservoirs.
Evacuation orders have been active since Thursday when residents of East Fork near the San Jacinto River were told to evacuate as a safety measure. In an earlier statement, Judge Hidalgo urged: “We want you out of this area. This is a life-threatening situation.”
She cautioned that those who did not evacuate their homes when the order was given on Thursday would likely be trapped in their homes for two or three days, depending on the severity of the weather conditions.