A mobile home park lies flooded as the Brazos River approaches its crest in Richmond, Texas, U.S. May 31, 2016. REUTERS/Daniel Kramer
Forecasters predicted more rain as the Brazos rose to levels not seen since 1913 after heavy rainfall late last week. The National Weather Service reported the Brazos hitting 54.16 feet at Richmond, Texas, late on Tuesday, almost 4 feet above the flood record set in 1994.
Jeff Harper drives his boat on the rain-swollen Brazos River near Richmond, Texas, U.S. May 31, 2016. REUTERS/Daniel Kramer
“This level of water in the river has not been seen in many of our lifetimes and we urge residents to heed these warnings,” Jeff Braun, director of the emergency management office in Fort Bend County, said on the agency’s website.
About 120 water rescues have been carried out in Fort Bend County, southwest of Houston. Evacuations have been ordered in several county areas, the website said.
A storm system dumped up to 22 inches of rain in just a few hours, killed at least six people last week, local authorities said.
A mobile home park is flooded by the rain-swollen Brazos River in Richmond, Texas, U.S. May 31, 2016. REUTERS/Daniel Kramer
In Simonton, in Fort Bend County, officials provided transportation to help residents leave their homes as well as security to prevent looting. The American Red Cross opened more shelters in the Houston area.
The National Weather Service forecast more rain for the Houston region through Sunday as a slow-moving storm system approached from the west.
Several rivers in southeast and eastern Texas were in “major flood stage.” While relatively rare, forecasters have seen a number of such events in Texas over the past year, said National Weather Service meteorologist Patrick Burke.
More than 20 inches of rain have fallen over some parts of southeast Texas during the last month, 8 to 10 inches above normal, Burke said.
Source: REUTERS
