HOUSTON – Rescue crews from nearly every emergency response agency in Harris County have collectively rescued nearly 200 people from dangerous flood waters.
The Harris County Joint Information Center confirms that 196 people and 108 animals have been rescued by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and all other emergency response agencies working throughout the county.
Many of those rescues occurred after people drove into flood waters or ignored evacuation warnings after some parts of the SE Texas area saw two feet of rain in the last five days.
On Friday, it was rinse and repeat for the rescue crews, pulling person after person from the murky flooded waters.
In the Plum Grove area, high water response vehicles drove through flooded roadways to get to those trapped in the rapidly rising water from the East Fork of the San Jacinto River.
Meanwhile just miles down the road, others were rescued by boat before being handed off to high water vehicles.
Gage: “What was that like?”
Adonay: “It’s my first time. We got too much water. But like the 12 o’clock. That’s all crazy.”
While others who heeded the evacuation warnings and sought higher ground, they too are still in the same boat as those being rescued.
All they can do is wait and watch as their lives and homes are washed away in front of their own eyes.
“Man, it’s tough. It’s tough. It’s third time we’ve been through it. So, it sucks losing everything,” said Duane Williams. “Now we’ll probably sell this time and move.”
A blip of good news though—the East Fork of the San Jacinto River is projected to be reaching its maximum height Thursday evening.
However, it’s not over yet. The river will remain in major flood stage throughout the weekend.
