Flooding Still Causing Major Problems in East Texas

Evacuations are continuing in Southeast Texas as floodwaters are expected to rise in some areas and further snarl traffic along a major interstate at the Louisiana border.

Joe Mires, spokesman for the Orange County emergency management office, said Wednesday the Sabine River could rise by another 6 inches near Interstate 10.

But he says the river should begin receding by late Wednesday, although forecasts for rain Friday or Saturday could complicate relief efforts.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott toured flood-ravaged communities in East Texas where swollen rivers have displaced thousands of people.

Abbott tweeted a photo from his aerial our over the town of Orange.

Orange Mayor Jimmy Sims, said he'd never seen the kind of flooding that has hit the area about 100 miles east of Houston over the last week.

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported in the region, which was slammed by as much as 20 inches of rain over four days last week. Steadily rising waters along rivers prompted evacuations beginning last weekend.

The flooding has led to intermittent closures of stretches of Interstate 10, one of the country's major transportation arteries.

Louisiana State Police said Wednesday that Interstate 10 is closed in both directions at the Texas state line.

Sgt. Gary Smith with Troop D in Lake Charles says rising water from the Sabine River is covering the interstate Wednesday morning on the Texas side. Troopers say drivers should use Interstate 20 to travel between the two states or U.S. 190, another alternate route.

National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Carboni in Lake Charles says the Sabine will crest at 7.7 feet at the Orange, Texas, gauge Tuesday evening. Flood stage is 4 feet.

Carboni says it may take several days for the flood waters to recede.

State police say they're monitoring I-10 at the Mississippi state line. Flood waters from the Pearl River are threatening to close the highway on the Louisiana side.
 

Contact Us