Authorities monitoring for major flooding along E. Fork of San Jacinto River in NE Harris, SE Montgomery Counties

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Authorities with the Harris County Flood Control District are monitoring for the potential of major flooding along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River in northeast Harris and southeast Montgomery Counties.

• Voluntary evacuation for several NE Harris County neighborhoods along E. Fork of San Jacinto River

The district says significant water level rises were observed earlier Tuesday at Cleveland, with a surge of water rapidly moving downstream Tuesday afternoon into the Plum Grove area of southeast Montgomery County and the FM 1485 area of northeast Harris County.

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“The river is projected to rise an additional 10 to 15 feet from its current level by tonight (April 30) at FM 1485 and FM 2090, resulting in widespread and significant inundation by Wednesday morning,” the district said.

The district says residents in these areas need to remain alert to rising water levels and changing river conditions.

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The district shared some of the impacts and areas they are watching for the potential of major flooding.

Widespread Flooding:

• Widespread lowland flooding is expected along the river, affecting numerous streets across Harris County; roads south of FM 1485 including: Spalding, Green, Jett, Casey
• FM 1485 will be submerged under several feet of water, rendering it impassable.

Idle Glen Subdivision:

• Homes are mostly elevated but will be inaccessible; ground-level homes are at risk of flooding. Streets affected include Brookside, Chinquapin, River Side, E. San Jacinto, Glenwood, Dipping, Idlewild, and Lazy Creek.

Northwood Country Estates:

• Street flooding is anticipated, potentially isolating elevated homes. Affected streets include Disher, Bounds, Thomas, and Davidson.

River Terrace:

• Likely flooding on River Terrace, Elm, Pine, Cherry Laurel, Holly, and Cypress streets. Elevated homes could be isolated.

Cypress Point:

• Streets close to the river will flood, particularly Blue Lake, Oak Knoll, Wild Oak, and Birchwood. Elevated homes in these areas will also be isolated.

Kingwood Area:

• Flooding is expected in the low-lying areas backing up to the East Fork of the San Jacinto River. This primarily affects non-developed lands and backyards with bulkheads along the river. Structural flooding is not anticipated.

Structural Flooding:

• While many structures have been elevated to mitigate flooding risks, isolated homes that remain at ground level are vulnerable to flooding. Flooding similar to that seen during Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019 is expected in these areas.

“The Flood Control District’s Flood Watch team will continue to monitor the gages and water levels in the San Jacinto area. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and stay informed about conditions near their workplaces, schools, and homes,” the district said.

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Cleveland ISD has also canceled classes Wednesday due to the rising flood waters in the area. They released a statement:

“Due to rising flood waters in the Cleveland area affecting numerous staff and families, all Cleveland ISD campuses and facilities will be CLOSED tomorrow, Wednesday, May 1st, 2024. The district will assess the ongoing situation and notify the community about Thursday. Please be safe and we hope to see everyone back at school on Thursday, May 2nd.”

You can see river and stream water levels as well as rainfall rates here. You can also view the KPRC 2 Flood Tracker here.