More water rescues are underway in Brazoria County as the Brazos River continues to flow out of its banks.
Carolyn Simple is one of those who had to be brought by boat from her home in Bar X Ranch Monday morning.
“The whole subdivision is water, water, water.” Simple said. “It's like a river. All over the place. Everything in our garage, our house, is destroyed.”
A new mandatory evacuation has been issued for the Sugar Mill and Buffalo Camp Farms subdivisions in Brazoria County, and for homes along County Road 674.
Water began rising in those areas today even though the river appears to have crested in the northern part of Brazoria County.
“Just a quarter mile west of us is Oyster Creek, and water will continue to be fed into that flood plain until the river gets below 50.5 feet,” Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta said near Angleton Monday.
The dusk to dawn curfew will go into effect on June 7 for this area.
Also, a major state highway to mandatory evacuation areas has been closed to the general public.
Highway 35, west of 288, takes drivers to the mandatory evacuation areas, Bailey's Prairie and the latest one, the Bar X Ranch neighborhood.
As the Brazos River continues to rise, many residents have been forced out of their homes. Others are waiting it out.
Check the Brazoria County website for the most recent information.
"In 1992 it was bad, but it's not like it is today. This is bad. This is like the 1957 flood," said resident John Richers.
Richers came to check on a friend on State Highway 523, just northeast of the mandatory evacuation areas. Water has come up across the road, saturated yards and threatened homes.
Emergency managers estimate approximately 3,000 houses have water in them, and almost 50 roads have been closed due to flooding.
In the Antique Road Subdivision, Paula Mutina's house is surrounded by high water, but not flooded. Mutina and her family were out in all-terrain vehicles helping neighbors Monday.
“We're just going to try to help people with food ,and see what we can do to help them out. We were blessed. We became an island and our house stayed up out of the water, but so many families are devastated right now, and our hearts are going out to them,” Mutina said.
Mutina's son and two friends waded into a flooded pasture to help a horse trapped in high water. The horse was covered with fire ants as well. The boys cut a barbed wire fence and walked the mare out to FM 521 near Highway 35.
The mare appeared to be 6-7 years old, badly malnourished and dehydrated. She was picked up by T.C. Lipe with the Homeland Security Department and transported to a county shelter.
“She's dehydrated. In all this water, she hasn't had any water. She absolutely hasn't had any feed,” Lipe said.
Brazoria County has opened four shelters in Eagle Lake, Rosahron, West Columbia and Angleton. The Angleton shelter was reported to be at full capacity Monday.
It was a different story over the weekend. The devastation overwhelmed residents, who were forced out of their homes by the swollen Brazos River.
Some people had to be rescued in Holiday Lakes with only enough time to grab clothes and pets before they left.
Emergency management officials want residents to listen to warnings, pay attention to the latest water level numbers and stay away from high water.
"In Brazoria County, we have voluntary and mandatory evacuation areas, and the county judge has issued a curfew for areas of concern for the nighttime hours," said Martin Bela, deputy emergency management coordinator.
Several shelters have been set up for people who need somewhere to go:
- North of Downing Street in Angleton
- On Second Street in Rosharon
- On Plantation Drive in Lake Jackson