Harris County leaders OK immediate $5M for local flooding relief

The Harris County Commissioner’s Court approved on Friday an immediate, $5 million allocation for dealing with local flooding.

The approval came at an emergency meeting, where Judge Lina Hidalgo said that the county avoided the worst effects of the storm, but that it was nonetheless “heartbreaking” for residents, many of whom are still recovering from the effects of Harvey.

She and Mayor Sylvester Turner have launched an assistance fund that she said will be overseen by a non-profit, similar to what was created in the wake of Harvey.

County Engineer John Blount said that it could take until at least Sunday for crews to get to some parts of the county that were flooded. Already, he said the dozens of teams deployed by the county had found at least 130 flooded homes or businesses.

He added that there are “significantly more” structures that crews have yet to reach.

Imelda’s damage comes as county leaders debate a tax increase that Hidalgo and others say is vital to flood mitigation and storm preparedness. The emergency meeting was followed by the first of two public hearings on the tax hike.

Among those who spoke was state Rep. Armando Walle, who pleaded for more help on combating “storms of Biblical proportions” that he said have flooded some in the Aldine area more than four times.

Among those affected by Imelda were elderly people, and flooded homes in areas that were spared the worst of Harvey.

“These are acts of God,” he said before asking for more tools to mitigate floods.

Earlier Friday, Hidalgo said Houstonians – many who have experienced multiple flooding events around the Bayou City — listened to officials when they said to stay off the roads as Imelda battered the southeast region.

Harris County officials conducted more than 2,000 rescues and evacuations, and as of earlier Friday,  two confirmed fatalities had been linked to Imelda, but “ultimately, it’s good news,” Hidalgo said. A third death was confirmed later Friday.

“That is terrible. Any death is terrible,” she said. “But given the scale, it tells us that people have heeded the advice. The residents have listened.”

About 60 people were using area shelters, and early Friday a sheriff’s deputy who was rescuing a resident became the target of a rescue himself, she said.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the two were rescued.

“Prayers were answered. Both have been located safely,” Gonzalez said. “Initial information is that both are in good condition. My teammate went into a swift water situation to assist a citizen, thankful this worked out.”

The Houston Police Department said hundreds of vehicles that had been stranded on highways in the city were towed. To locate a towed vehicle, visit findmytowedcar.com.

“It’s important that people remember to stay out of the water,” Hidalgo said.

Drivers commuting into Houston should still be cautious, as parts of the area were expecting to see another 1 to 2 inches of rain as Imelda continues to move away from Houston.

The rain should not have much of an impact on Harris County, and flood waters have already begun to recede, Hidalgo said.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Imelda returns with fury, soaking Houston region

“That doesn’t mean we are out of the woods,” she said.

Residents in Baytown should monitor roadway conditions as Cedar Bayou continues to rise, she said.

Overnight, nine barges came loose in the San Jacinto River and two of them struck the Interstate 10 bridge, causing the Texas Department of Transportation to shut down I-10 in both directions, she said.

HIGHWAY CLOSED: I-10 bridge at the San Jacinto River closes after being hit by multiple barges

She asked that people visit ReadyHarris.org for more information if they need help with insurance claims or resources for flood damage.

Officials at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport reported that it was open as of 4 a.m. Friday.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com