Internet concerned as millions in Texas, Gulf Coast put on alerts as they face floods amid torrential rain

TEXAS: Southeastern Texas saw the issuance of a disaster declaration, and vehicles were ensnared in floodwaters in Louisiana, as parts of the South were drenched by intense rainfall on Wednesday.

This situation has reportedly placed millions of inhabitants under alerts and warnings, as stated by officials.

In San Jacinto County, where the disaster declaration was made by the chief executive, Judge Fritz Faulkner, a voluntary evacuation was recommended for residents living downstream of the Lake Livingston Dam.

The county’s emergency officials warned of the "imminent danger of high rising water from the river."

Flood alerts impact millions across southern US

The National Weather Service has predicted continuous rainfall and potential flash floods in several parts of southeast Texas.

This includes counties such as Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Harris, Houston, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller, and Washington, per The Messenger. 

Officials have announced that schools in San Jacinto will remain closed for the remainder of the week due to these conditions.

On Wednesday evening, over 38 million people were under flood watch, with an additional 2 million under flood warnings.

These alerts were primarily issued across a region stretching from Texas to Georgia and Tennessee, per NBC News.

In St Tammany Parish, Louisiana, a flash flood emergency was reportedly declared. The weather service shared images depicting the severity of the situation, with streets and cars submerged in floodwaters.

The parish, located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, issued a warning: "Cars have stalled and drove off the roads. We have received so much rain in a short period of time. Stay off the roads if possible!"

How long could the flash flood threat persist?

The risk of flash floods is anticipated to persist into Thursday.

Meteorologists have cautioned that localized rainfall totals in the range of 10-12 inches are plausible, particularly after a second bout of rain expected on Thursday.

As of around 9:30 am Wednesday, Industry, Texas, had received slightly over 10 inches of rain, while parts of Brazos County had seen around 5 to 6 inches, as reported by the weather service, per NBC News.

The substantial rainfall, coupled with the already waterlogged ground, poses a threat for lethal flash flooding. The rapid flow of water over roads could carry away vehicles, and this could be challenging to detect if the flooding takes place at night.

The weather service in Houston, where a flood watch was in effect until Thursday noon, has warned of more rain through Thursday morning.

The weather service in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has forecast an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain across southeast Texas and central Louisiana on Wednesday night. Southwest Louisiana could potentially receive an extra 4 to 6 inches of rain.

Rescue efforts and weather warnings

Southeastern Texas is grappling with severe flooding, particularly along the Trinity, San Jacinto, and Navidad rivers. In Montgomery County, firefighters rescued 17 people and 15 pets from the rising waters of the San Jacinto River.

The river, near Humble, is expected to reach a moderate flood stage by Friday. The situation is further complicated by gusty winds, posing a risk of downed trees and power lines.

Officials are urging residents to exercise caution to avoid electrocution. More rainfall is expected in eastern Louisiana and Mississippi by Friday, with the latter regions anticipated to receive the heaviest downpour.

Damaging winds are also a concern in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Birmingham on Thursday.

Internet reacts to the life threatening flash flooding

A user took to X and shared, "Please pray for us in SE Louisiana! It's flooding, it's supposed to rain for 10 days more."

A page called Clime said, "Water, water everywhere." 

One person praised the rescue efforts and wrote, "Kudos to our partners Magnolia FD for leading the way with these rescues, great work by all. While the heavy rainfall has come to an end, some river/creek flooding may be present for multiple days. Please continue to heed the remaining road closures."

"Lord, calm the water from above for Your people," shared another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.