POLK COUNTY, Texas — In a news conference Friday, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said hundreds of homes in Polk County flooded and dozens of people and pets had to be rescued.
She stressed that life-threatening conditions still stand in the area and the risk is not over yet.
“This threat is ongoing and it’s going to get worse. It is not your typical river flood,” Hidalgo said. “This is not what happened in January. This is much worse. It’s a catastrophic event and we all need to take the urgent and necessary steps to respond accordingly.”
She said at least 700 homes in Polk County have flooded, power lines were brought down, and communication was down.
Hidalgo said since Thursday, at least 26 people and 30 pets have been rescued from flooded areas.
The county judge warned that what happened in Polk County is a preview of what to expect in the mandatory evacuation zones of Harris County.
“We do expect that a couple hundred structures are at risk of flooding,” Hidalgo said.
Though the San Jacinto River was expected to get even higher from rainfall around midnight Friday, that timeline shifted to about midday, Hidalgo said. The good news about the shift in the timeline is residents in the area have more time to prepare or evacuate.
“We can’t force somebody to leave but if you stay there, not only are you a sitting duck but you’re putting our law enforcement in danger,” Hidalgo said. “And at some point, we can’t send our law enforcement into swift water that is sure to pose a threat to their life because you made a bad decision.”
For those who plan to stay in their home and ride out the flooding, Hidalgo said to be prepared to shelter in place for two to three days. That means six gallons of water per day per person, plenty of food, and having a “grab bag” ready.
RELATED: 'Catastrophic event': Harris County urging people in mandatory evacuation zone to leave now
Neighborhoods under mandatory evacuation
These are the Harris County neighborhoods in the mandatory evacuation zone. Hidalgo said it's not just homes along the river at risk but up to half a while from the water.
Neighborhoods under a voluntary evacuation
- Kingwood residents who live close to the west fork of the San Jacinto River
- Forest Cove
- North Shore
- Bellawood
- Rivercrest
- Kingspoint
- Atascocita Shores
- Rio Villa
What to do if you are in an evacuation area
(Information from the Houston-Galveston Area Council)
Take an emergency kit: Take all your prescriptions and other medical supplies your family uses regularly.
If you have pets, include their medications, food and other items to keep your pets happy.
Take important documents: You’ll want to take essential documents like your identification, insurance information, and medical information.
Make sure these documents are current and secured in a place that is safe and dry. Keep copies in a safety deposit box or a secure, password-protected digital space.
Evacuate When You're Told: Do not wait until the last minute. When it is time to leave, follow any guidelines. Emergency officials will let you know when it is safe to return to your home.