Brazos County Emergency Management discuss flood preparations

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – After heavy rain flooded parts of the Brazos Valley over the week, Brazos County Emergency Management discussed flood preparation ahead of potential rainfall over the weekend.

Brazos County Emergency Management said there’s not much physical preparation on their side, but they offered some advice. Jason Ware with Brazos County Emergency Management said it is important to remember the ground is saturated and any rain the area gets will runoff and create issues.

Ware said it’s important that people prepare their homes regardless if they live in an area that is prone to flooding or not.

“Sometimes landscape can cause water to run into drainage ditches in front your house. If you live out in the county, those can get full and cause issues,” Ware said.

Areas such as Wixon Creek also tend to flood after heavy rainfall. And with recent rains and what’s forecasted, Ware said it’s possible to see it again.

“Knowing how to get in and out of your neighborhood. Having more than one way to get out. If you only have one way in and out of your neighborhood you need to have that situational awareness. Pay attention to that rising creek, that rising water in your area so that you can go ahead plan ahead stay with friends or family or get a hotel room,” Ware said.

Those who can’t leave or might be flooded in, Ware says should have food and water available.

“Keep in mind if it’s one way in, one way out of your neighborhood and you’re flooded in, it might be a task for emergency responders to get to you in your time of need,” Ware said.

For those who have to get out on the roadway, Ware said it’s important to be aware that flooding can destroy the infrastructure and what used to be a drivable roadway during past flooding might no longer be there.

“If a culvert washes out, if pavement roles up and we get a good flowing water, just because it’s has been there for 25 years, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be there in that instance,” Ware said. “You might have the biggest vehicle available and you can drive safely through the water but that doesn’t mean that infrastructure is there.”

Ware added that in Texas it’s against the law to go around barricades or move barricades.

Earlier in the week the Highway 30 bridge by the Navasota River was closed due to flooding, some roadways near the river are still inundated with water, primarily along the areas of the river, Ware said. Brazos County’s Road and Bridge Department is also working to repair several roadways that were damaged.

“We haven’t had time to recover and so there is potential for more flooding as we go into the weekend, into the first part of next week, so just keeping up to date with the weather, just keep up to date how much rain is falling, paying attention to the surroundings, watch where you’re going when you’re driving that type of stuff and you should be ok,” Ware said.