HOUSTON – As a flood pattern continues to drench parts of southeast Texas, people living in areas that flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 are watching nearby rivers with a sense of unease.
Heavy thunderstorms pounded the Houston area Thursday bringing gusty winds, lots of lightning, and very heavy rainfall. Some of the hardest-hit areas include Lake Livingston, Huntsville, Lake Conroe, and neighborhoods along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River.
Several videos surfaced illustrating just how severe the weather was in the early Thursday morning hours.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire visited a fire station in the Houston suburb of Kingwood Thursday afternoon to discuss the weather situation and the city’s emergency response.
During his remarks, Whitmire noted he doesn’t expect things to improve right away, with more storms - some potentially severe - forecast for southeast Texas through Saturday.
“It appears the worst is yet to come,” he told NBC affiliate KPRC 2. “Everyone has to be on alert.”
Fire Chief Samuel Pena said the flooding across Kingwood, which is about 25 miles northeast of downtown Houston, has been mostly limited to streets, but people in homes on lower floodplains should prepare.
“Six inches to a foot is what they’re anticipating,” he explained.
Roadways in the impacted areas have been blocked off due to the intense flooding. One video shared with KPRC 2 showed extremely high water near a school that flooded during Hurricane Harvey, leaving families who lived through that historic storm feeling anxious.
Some people decided to walk away from their homes as flood waters continued to creep up from the San Jacinto River. They know what will happen if they don’t get out now.
“You can’t get in and out of your house,” said resident Jill Sales.“ And then once you go down the street here, there’s a little bridge. And once that floods you can’t get out - you’re trapped.”
A KPRC 2 photojournalist captured video of one highwater rescue at the height of the storms Thursday.
A mandatory evacuation order is in place for people on the east side of the East Fork of the San Jacinto River, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The river’s supposed to rise to within three feet of where it was when Hurricane Harvey hit.
Hidalgo signed a disaster declaration for the county, which includes Houston, notifying the state of Texas that life and safety are in danger and the area will potentially need assistance.