Emergency in Houston: Local officials warn of “catastrophic” flooding this weekend

area of houston facing increasing threat of Floods This Saturday, a day after a severe storm hit the area. Authorities warned residents in low-lying areas to evacuate ahead of a potentially “catastrophic” rise in water.

Flood warnings remain in effect until Sunday afternoon, with forecasters predicting additional rainfall this Saturday night, which could increase between 2.5 and 7.6 cm water In an already saturated area, the risk of significant flooding is thus increased.

Many people were rescued, including from rooftops of houses in areas that were flooded due to Friday’s storm. Authorities reiterated the urgency of evacuating residents in low-lying areas, warning that the worst was yet to come.

,This threat continues and is set to get worse. This is not a normal river flood.“Judge Harris said, Lina HidalgoThe top elected official in the nation’s third-largest county.

He stressed that the threat was not an ordinary flood, calling the projected rise in water “catastrophic” and saying that hundreds of structures were at risk of flooding.

At least two dozen water rescues were conducted in the county, along with the rescue of 30 pets. Schools canceled classes and roads were jammed in flood-hit areas as authorities closed flooded roads.

it’s raining heavily texas and parts of louisiana In recent weeks they have filled reservoirs and saturated the soil. Flooding this week partially submerged vehicles and roads in parts of southeast Texas, north of Houston, where water reached the roofs of some homes.

more than 28 cm rain The decline in the 24-hour period ending Friday morning in the suburb of springnorth of Houston, according to the National Weather Service.

in the rural community of ShepherdGilroy Fernandes said he and his wife had about an hour to evacuate after the mandatory departure order. His house is on a nearby slope trinity river And when the water started receding on Thursday, there was relief.

Then when they fell asleep the danger increased.

,The next thing I knew was that overnight they started releasing more water from the Livingston Dam. And this caused the river level to rise about 5 or 6 feet overnight“, detailed Fernandes. Residents who came out an hour later were stuck in traffic due to flooding.

in the county montgomeryJudge Mark Keough said there have been more high-water rescues than he could count.

“We estimate that we rescued a few hundred people from homes, buildings and vehicles,” Keough said.

Houston officials have reported no deaths or injuries. The city of more than 2 million people is one of the most flood-prone metropolitan areas in the country and has long experience dealing with devastating weather.

(AP)