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Flooding is occurring around the Houston area as heavy rain continues. River flood warnings are in effect and some street flooding is reported in some areas. The Trinity River is causing flooding along the east fork of the San Jacinto. Other rivers are also flooding.
Areas north of Houston have seen as much as a foot of rainfall, with more rain today. Flooding issues are being reported around Lake Conroe, Huntsville and the Kingwood areas. Much of the Greater Houston Area is under either a Flood Warning or Flood Watch.
Many schools around the Houston area canceled classes on Friday due to the weather and flooding issues.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has signed a disaster declaration for Harris County.
A mandatory evacuation was issued for residents along the east side of the east fork of the San Jacinto River. Hidalgo urged residents to evacuate.
The American Red Cross opened shelters in Harris, Liberty, Polk, San Jacinto and Montgomery Counties in response to the recent flooding due to rain and the rising waters around the rivers.
“This flooding is affecting many of our communities,” Shawn Schulze, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross said. “The work that our Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross teams and partners are doing is ensuring that each struggling family has a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, and a ton of hope, comfort, and care!”