Abbott Orders State Resources to South Texas as Flood Threat Lingers
Rainfall totals of up to nine inches are expected in the region through Monday, with several cities under active flood watches.
By Grace Almasi ·
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy additional state resources to support local officials in the face of ongoing flooding threats. The order was issued on Friday in response to heavy rainfall saturating the ground across South Texas.
A flood watch remains in effect for five major cities: Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio, Brownsville, and Kerrville. The watch is scheduled to continue through Monday morning. Forecasts indicate that widespread rainfall of 2 to 5 inches is likely for these areas.
Slower-moving and training storms pose a higher risk for specific pockets of the region. Some areas could receive between 7 and 9 inches of total rainfall. For the remainder of Sunday, a level 2 threat on a 4-point scale is in effect for flash flooding. Rainfall rates may reach 1 to 2 inches per hour at times.
The ground in parts of South Texas is already saturated. Areas east of Laredo and near Kingsville have recorded more than 5 inches of rain since Sunday morning. Moderate to heavy rain is expected to persist through Sunday evening, potentially affecting Monday morning commutes.
Abbott stated that the state is prepared to respond to the heavy rainfall and flash flood threats across South and West Texas. He urged residents to remain weather-aware and monitor local forecasts. He also advised Texans to avoid flooded roadways and follow guidance from state and local officials.
This weather event follows a series of catastrophic floods along the Tennessee-Georgia border. Officials in McCaysville, Ga., and Copperhill, Tenn., ordered residents to evacuate on Thursday. The Ocoee River in that region rose to a record 18.05 feet after 6 to 9 inches of rain fell over several hours. The previous record crest of 17.8 feet was set on Feb. 16, 1990.
