BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas – The rising Brazos River has crested near Rosharon but is now steadily rising farther south.
County officials are labeling areas around the town of Brazoria and West Columbia as “areas of concern.”
Residents of the city of Brazoria living near the Brazos River say they got a letter from the city telling them about a voluntary evacuation order in place for parts of town near the river, which is expected to crest in the area Tuesday evening.
“They told me, ‘Hey, get up!,’” said Ruben Cavacos, 17, of Brazoria. “I’m like, ‘Ahh alright.’”
It wasn’t the wakeup call Cavacos was expecting, nor the start to summer vacation this Brazoria teen wanted.
“I’m just packing up my clothes, shoes, games, jewelry and everything,” said Cavacos, who helped his parents and brother evacuate from their home near the Brazos River. “My mom’s nervous. My mom’s been kinda in a hurry.”
Cavacos and his family aren’t taking chances after taking on water overnight in their front yard. Road blocks are already up in their neighborhood, and some of their neighbors closer to the river are already much worse off.
Cavacos says police have already been by their house to warn them of the rising river.
As the sun came up a just a few miles north near Angleton, it cast light on several new headaches for those who work and live in the area, including people like Jeffery Green, of Beaumont.
Green was trying to make his way to a job while navigating around the closure of State Highway 35, part of the 40 miles of state highway closures due to flooding in Brazoria County.
“I’m not even sure if that area’s flooded or not,” said Green, about a possible detour. “So I guess it’s a guessing game or a wild goose chase.”
Late Sunday, county officials also began urging those who have evacuated to be on guard for predators looking to loot and to avoid posting their address on social media.
“You can have that car. It’s worth about $3!” joked David Todd, whose property inside the Longhorn Estates subdivision along Highway 35, one of several placed under mandatory evacuation over the weekend, flooded. “There ain’t nothing in there that can’t be replaced.”
Martin Vela, Brazoria County Fire Marshal, told KHOU 11 News early Monday morning that close to 300 people had been assisted out of their homes across several evacuation zones. Vela said there were no new evacuations or rescues overnight Sunday into Monday.
“The Brazos River and Mother Nature are in control,” said Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta on Sunday. “We’re managing the chaos.”
Still, those downstream say they’ll keep the faith and keep moving.
“Scary, but I think God will help us out,” said Cavacos. “It’ll be alright”
While the Brazos has started to slowly go down upstream near Rosharon after cresting around 52.5 feet, Judge Sebesta says until the levels drop below roughly 50 feet, Oyster Creek will still be getting water and still rising. Sebesta says that may not happen until the end of the week.
County officials also announced Monday morning that a new shelter had been opened at West Columbia High School on 521 S. 16th St. in West Columbia. For a full list of shelters and road closures, click here.