HOUSTON – It’s been a rollercoaster of severe weather in Houston the last few days and while things appear to be over now, Harris County leaders are monitoring areas impacted by high flood waters.
SEE ALSO: Houston law enforcement save residents, animals in high flood waters over the weekend
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During a press conference Monday morning, County Judge Lina Hidalgo started out with a positive note saying, “We are out of the woods now.”
“We can absolutely see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she continued. “And we’ve made it through the worst of this major event.”
Hidalgo also praised local law enforcement for their work in helping stranded Harris County residents. She noted in total, 233 people and 186 pets were rescued, as of Monday morning.
So while things appear to be improving, Hidalgo acknowledged though, that she and other officials with the Office of Emergency Management are still monitoring conditions to ensure proper safety. So while residents may be able to return to their homes after evacuating, some roads impacted by the flood are still hazardous.
Officials have lifted the mandatory evacuation order which was issued for areas along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River.
Additionally, some residents are still recovering from the damage the severe weather caused over the weekend. However, Hidalgo noted, there have not been any weather-related deaths reported over the weekend.
“I know that a lot of folks were displaced by this weather event...and I know that evacuating is stressful,” she said. “But, I do want to thank people for following our advice; flooding is one of the leading causes of death in these kinds of situations and we haven’t had a single death that we know of.”
MORE: Cleaning up debris? Here’s how Harris County is helping residents after severe flooding
Hidalgo also noted how Harris County remains ready to help residents in need by connecting them with the necessary resources. To do so, residents should call 211 and they will be connected with case managers to point them in the right direction for food banks or the Red Cross.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who also joined Hidalgo in the press conference, took this opportunity to remind Houstonians about how June 1st would be the official start of Hurricane Season, so residents ought to be prepared in the event of another weather disaster.
“If you haven’t already, finalize your emergency plan: stock up on critical supplies, bookmark preparedness resources, and stay informed,” he said. “You can’t stop a hurricane but you can act now to protect yourself and your household.”