Simonton mayor calls for mandatory evacuation

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Many Simonton residents were up and looking for the quickest way out Saturday morning after the city’s mayor issued a mandatory evacuation the night before.

The evacuation started at 10 a.m. as water continued to rise in the neighborhoods along the Brazos River in Fort Bend County. The evacuation was for sections 1, 2, and 3 of Valley Lodge Subdivision.

Most people said they hadn’t seen anything like it since 1994.

“It’s just scary you know,” one resident said. “You got all your belongings (and) you don’t know what to take — don’t know what to leave.”

Simonton experienced devastating floods 22 years ago, but during this Memorial Day Weekend, waters are expected to reach at least three feet higher than 1994 levels.

Residents had evacuated most of the Valley Lodge subdivision area by Saturday evening as water started to creep inside some homes.

Fort Bend County crews set up pumps to push water out of the neighborhood to no avail, leaving residents to sit, wait and hope for minimal damage.

In less than two hours, street where KPRC reporter Simone Eli interviewed residents went from clear to flooded.

However, Simonton’s mayor said the quickly rising water hasn’t stopped some people from choosing to stay in their homes.