In a civil emergency message Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced that Harris, Montgomery, Liberty and Chambers counties in Texas are all under flash flood emergencies.
— Steve Campion (@SteveABC13) September 19, 2019
“Emergency management request residents to stay put and shelter in place. Do not venture on to any roads in these areas. People travelling on area highways need to avoid this area and change travel plans. If you are trapped in your house due to flooding call emergency personnel for evacuation rescue,” the NWS added.
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 19, 2019
— Luciux Luna (@Luciuxness) September 18, 2019
According to the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency, “a Civil Emergency Message, which is transmitted by the National Weather Service at the request of local authorities, is a warning created by the NWS that’s meant to warn of an in-progress or imminent significant threat(s) to public safety and/or property.”
— Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) September 19, 2019
— Ben Parsons (@BenParsons7) September 19, 2019
Imelda has dumped so much rain in Texas that it appears to have caused as much damage, if not more, to some areas than Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The town of Winnie, located between Houston and Beaumont, has been severely battered by the floodwaters, along with the Texan towns of Aldine, Kingwood and Conroe.
— Katherine Marchand (@KatherineMABC13) September 19, 2019
— ABRIL TRISTÁN GARCIA 🧘🏻♀️🌿 (@abrilgawcia) September 19, 2019
“It’s bad,” Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick told The Beaumont Enterprise. “Homes that did not flood in Harvey are flooding now.” With residents stuck in their cars and homes due to flooding, the Beaumont Police Department tweeted Thursday morning that it has experienced “a heavy call load with over 250 high water rescues and 270 evacuation requests.”
— James McCoy Taylor (@james_mccoy_t) September 19, 2019
— Jason Miles (@JMilesKHOU) September 19, 2019
— mel (@heartsforchenIe) September 19, 2019
With the Houston area receiving about 4 inches of rain per hour Thursday, George Bush International Airport in Houston ordered a full ground stop that morning.
— Mayra (@Mayra54184559) September 19, 2019
— Katherine Marchand (@KatherineMABC13) September 19, 2019
Texas Governor Greg Abbot on Thursday also announced a state of disaster in 13 counties Thursday, claiming that Imelda has “caused widespread and severe property damage and threatens loss of life."
Parts of southwest Louisiana are also forecast to see about 10 inches of rain by Friday.