Officials prepare for continued flooding while assessing current flood damage
TRINITY, Texas (KBTX) – Flooding on Sunday night left several roads in Madison County closed, and officials say they are monitoring the Trinity River as a precaution.
In Trinity, subdivisions down a county road can only be accessed by boat following the flooding. According to the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, some of these homes have likely been left underwater.
“We’re going down to check on these people because they’re obviously trapped inside, check and see if any of them need out,” Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said.
As the agency prepares for continued flooding over the coming days, they are making sure residents in risky areas have been taken to safety.
“If the water continues to rise, we’re probably going to seek to get into evacuation order, which means we’re going to make one trip in there to help people and after that we’re not going back,” Wallace said.
Madison County officials have said the flooding in Trinity could have impacts in the Brazos Valley.
“If it does flood like I said, it’s going to, people will start calling us to be evacuated if they don’t get out,” Thom Jones, Madisonville Fire Department Fire Chief, said.
With more rain expected within the coming days, Jones encourages residents to take the necessary precautions.
“If you can, get up on the roof if it’s flooding inside the car. Nobody wants to sit in the water. If you can get up on the roof, get up on the roof,” he said.
Trinity County may implement an evacuation order if the rain continues at the same intensity later in the week.
“Areas that flood, flooded faster than they ever had normally, you know, it takes a couple days for the creeks to rise. This time, it happened just within hours,” Wallace said.
Jones advises drivers to stay off any flooded roads. It only takes a few inches of water to create an unsafe situation.