Flash flood emergency for parts of Harris County as Imelda moves northeast, officials say

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Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Imelda continues to wreak havoc for much of southeast Texas, where officials in multiple counties were dealing with impassable roadways, conducting hundreds of high-water rescues and evacuating a small town’s hospital.

The effects of the now-downgraded Tropical Storm Imelda continue in parts of north Houston, but the storm was slowly moving northeast of the city and into Chambers, Montgomery and Jefferson counties, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service.

Harris County Flood Control District Meteorologist Jeff Lindner said on Twitter that a Flash Flood Emergency had been issued for northeast Harris County, specifically for the areas of Kingwood, Humble, Huffman, Sheldon and Crosby. Residents were being asked to shelter in place, due to heavy rainfall.

A flash flood warning was issued for far north portion of Houston until 11:15 a.m. where roughly 2 to 5 inches of rain has already fallen. The flash flood watch for Chambers, Liberty and Montgomery County is expanded to 7 p.m. where officials are expecting between 6 to 28 inches of rain.

“We are anticipating more rain coming into the Houston area from the north heading south,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. ” It could be heavy. Please be careful driving especially on feeder roads.”

In Harris County, officials are warning the public to monitor the weather, as nearby communities, such as Conroe in Montgomery County, were experiencing flooding.

By 9 a.m., Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies were conducting at least one water rescue near Lake Houston Wilderness Park, where a reported 2 feet of water entered a home, said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. 

RELATED: ‘Worse than Harvey’: Small Houston-area town floods entirely due to Imelda

“A band of intense rainfall will be moving into our Northeast Harris County service area, including Humble, Huffman, Crosby and Kingwood,” Gonzalez said. “This could result in flash flooding.”

Water rescues were already underway in Chambers County, and a tornado warning was issued early Thursday in nearby Winnie, where the town flooded overnight and the hospital was evacuated, Chambers County Precinct 1 Constable Dennis Dugat said.

The American Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter for those in Winnie affected by Imelda, said Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne.

Officials with the Conroe Independent School district reported power outages and cancelled classes Thursday. Other nearby districts, including Sheldon ISD, Humble ISD and Hufman ISD also cancelled classes.

All county offices were closed due to the weather according to Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough after the area had already received more than eight inches of rain.

According to the San Jacinto River Authority, the east fork of the San Jacinto River has experienced significant rainfall and numerous locations are at moderate flood stage. Lake Conroe has received less than one inch of rainfall and is still two feet below normal level and there is no lake release at this time.

In Beaumont, authorities said all service roads are impassable and two local hospitals are inaccessible, the Beaumont Enterprise reported. Interstate 10, between Houston and Beaumont, was impassable due to the severe flooding in the area, officials.

The Beaumont Police Department said on Twitter that 911 has received requests for more than 250 high water rescues and 270 evacuations.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Branick said the Green Pond Gulley Levy, which holds 4,600 to 5,600 acres of water is “deteriorating and could break at any moment” and asked residents in the Gilbert Lake Estates neighborhood to evacuate immediately.

Rescue boats were en route to the area, he said, adding that residents who have a spare boat should pick up their neighbors and to the Highway 365 overpass at Interstate 10.

“It’s bad. Homes that did not flood in Harvey are flooding now,” Branwick said.

Just outside of Beaumont, Vidor police chief Rod Carroll said the department has multiple water rescues under way and have already executed multiple water rescues.

The Cajun Navy, who were instrumental in conducting water rescues during Hurricane Harvey, posted to social media that they were coming to Texas to assist with effects of the storm.

The Associated Press and The Beaumont Enterprise contributed to this report. Staffer Catherine Dominguez contributed to this report.