Fellow Texans race to the rescue of local flooding victims

World Today

Residents north of Houston remained on soggy ground as more rain fell in their area. Water damage was extensive in many parts of the state. But, fellow Texans stepped up to help those in need.

CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports from Conroe, Texas.

In Conroe, as in the rest of southeast Texas, there is water everywhere. The San Jacinto River has run way above normal, across roads in some cases. The storm that moved in Friday still lingered.

In McDade Estates in Conroe, about 64 kilometers north of Houston, the rain was relentless. Trees are down with Water pouring into a number of homes there, causing significant damage. Residents of the neighborhood were told to evacuate over the weekend but not everyone did. Some think, hope, that the worst of this storm may be over.

“Looks like we’re right on the edge of it. It’s slowly drifting east, so I think we’re gonna be alright from here on, it’s gonna be a long time recovering because a lot of houses are underwater,” one resident said.

The San Jacinto River began running high soon after the storm moved in. Then, water was released from Lake Conroe upstream to protect the integrity of the dam there. That elevated river levels dramatically.

Texas residents with boats poured into the area to help those who needed rescuing. And an outpouring of support was underway four hours north in Dallas, where the nonprofit Trust World was accepting donations of critical supplies for those affected by the floods.

“Toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, clean underwear and socks, things that would make getting through a day very difficult if you didn’t have them,” Trust World spokesperson Taylor Grey said.

One Dallas resident said she and her kids felt compelled to join in the effort. “Because my heart hurts for everybody affected by this and we wanted to help, we have two arms to help so we’re gonna use them times three,” she said.

The needs will be great. Some residents have lost everything. Some aren’t quite sure what the future holds in a state where it seems like it’s often one extreme or the other, when it comes to weather.

And yet that rain just keeps coming.