Days of relentless rain led to deadly flooding in Texas, with hundreds of people needing to be rescued from rushing waters from rivers and streams that overflowed their banks.
SAN ANTONIO – Flooding in Texas turned deadly Sunday as millions of people across the eastern part of the state continue to face overflowing rivers that could remain swollen for days.
East Texas did see a brief pause from the extreme weather on Saturday before more precipitation and thunderstorms returned Sunday. Some of those storms knocked down trees near Lufkin on Sunday morning, according to storm reports from the National Weather Service.
There was some good news, however. River levels peaked Friday night along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River, which has seen the worst of flooding over the past several days.
Child dies after being swept away in floodwater
A 4-year-old boy died and hundreds of people have been rescued after days of relentless rain and thunderstorms that pounded Texas caused rivers and streams to overflow their banks and flood neighborhoods. FOX Weather Correspondent Nicole Valdes has the latest on the flooding and its aftermath.
Authorities in Johnson County, just south of Fort Worth, said that a boy was killed after he and two adults were swept away in floodwater Sunday morning. The adults survived the ordeal. FOX 4 reported that the boy was identified as 4-year-old Lucas Warren of Burleson.
700 homes flooded in Polk County, Texas
High waters that reached up to the rooftops of many homes last week led officials to issue mandatory evacuations along the east side of the river and urge residents not to ride out the storms in their homes.
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CONROE, TEXAS – MAY 2: The Conroe firefighter Cody Leroy carries a resident evacuated in a boat by the CFD Rapid Intervention Team from her flooded home in the aftermath of a severe storm on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Conroe. The rising water from the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, downstream from Lake Conroe, flooded homes and roads along FM 2854. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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WOODLOCH, TEXAS – MAY 3: Cars are submerged and the tops of mailboxes are visible along a residential street in Woodloch near The Woodlands as floodwaters rise Friday, May 3, 2024. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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CONROE, TEXAS – MAY 3: A home in River Plantation is seen with its lights on in flood water, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Conroe. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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CONROE, TEXAS – MAY 3: A home in River Plantation is seen with its lights on in flood water, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Conroe. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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RIVER PLANTATION, TEXAS MAY 3: Emergency workers with Caney Creek Fire and Rescue boat out dogs from a flood portion of River Plantation Drive in River Plantation, Friday, May 3, 2024. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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CONROE, TEXAS – MAY 2: The Conroe Fire Departments Rapid Intervention Team deploy a boat to rescue a resident from her flooded home aftermath of a severe storm on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Conroe. The rising water from the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, downstream from Lake Conroe, flooded homes and roads along FM 2854. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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SPRING, TEXAS – MAY 2: Family members survey the damage after a tree fell on the home of Monica Ramirez during a severe storm on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Spring. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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CONROE, TEXAS – MAY 2: The San Jacinto river flows out of its banks under FM 105 near Sapp Rd. Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Conroe. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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SPRING, TEXAS – MAY 2: Workers with Phoenix Driven Tree Services pour water out of the bucket as they work to remove a tree that fell on the home of Monica Ramirez during a severe storm on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Spring. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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KINGWOOD, TEXAS – MAY 2: A truck makes it way in flood water through North Woodland Hills after severe flooding, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Kingwood. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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SPRING, TEXAS – MAY 2: Monica Pease surveys the damage of the office space inside her home, where she was working when several trees fell on it, collapsing the ceiling, during a severe storm, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Spring, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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KINGWOOD, TEXAS – MAY 2: A Houston firetruck makes it way through flood water in North Woodland Hills after severe flooding, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Kingwood. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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SPRING, TEXAS – MAY 2: Monica Pease surveys the damage to her home after several trees fell on it during a severe storm, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Spring, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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CONROE, TEXAS – MAY 2: High water flows into Vernons Kuntry Katfish off FM 105 Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Conroe. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
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SPRING, TEXAS – MAY 2: An SUV is stranded in a ditch in a stretch of street flooding during a severe storm on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Spring. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) ( )
“That means elevated structures will get water … it means the water will be hitting power lines, which puts our emergency evacuation vehicles at risk because they’re not going to be able to see those power lines,” Harris County Executive Judge Lina Hidalgo said last Thursday. “Please evacuate that area as soon as possible.”
Still, dozens of people and pets needed rescue as crews in boats fanned out across the flooded streets and homes, looking for neighbors who needed help evacuating.
Rescues took place outside of Houston on Friday as lakes and rivers continue to rise in the eastern part of the Lone Star State.
Hidalgo said around 700 homes were flooded upriver in Polk County as well, giving a warning of what was to come Friday as that water pushed downstream into northern Harris County.
River flooding was also reported along the western fork of the San Jacinto River near Kirkwood, though not as severe as along the eastern fork.
In San Jacinto County, residents along the Trinity River downstream of the Lake Livingston dam were told to evacuate earlier last week after the dam had to radically increase its outflow as the upstream watershed collected 17-20 inches of rain within a week.
Widespread storm rainfall totals of 6-12 inches were measured across the rest of the region.
The long-range forecasts are trending much drier and warmer for the region beginning Monday, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 90 for the week ahead.