Gov. Abbott Issues State Disaster Declaration Order

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration on Friday for Texas counties impacted by flooding from a tropical system that has impacted a number of counties over the last week. Forecasters have also been monitoring a system in the Gulf of Mexico dubbed 95L, which many believed would develop into a tropical storm before the weekend.

The disaster declaration lists 77 affected Texas counties. The Houston area counties listed in the disaster declaration include:

• Brazoria
• Chambers
• Fort Bend
• Galveston
• Harris
• Jackson
• Lavaca
• Liberty
• Matagorda
• Montgomery
• San Jacinto
• Waller
• Wharton

On Wednesday, Abbott ordered state emergency management personnel to increase their readiness as the tropical system nears the coastline.

More severe tropical weather was expected to impact the upper Texas coastline with rain and wind from 95L. That system has since turned more in a southerly path and has shown signs of breaking up as it moves closer to the coastline. However, the system, which will impact areas south of Corpus Christi, is still bringing more rain to some already drenched counties as it moves inland.

On Friday, a band of heavy rain and thunderstorms moved onshore at Galveston Island and pummeled an already saturated area, officials said. Among the areas to see heavy street flooding Friday was the Strand, one of the main attractions of Galveston Island.

Witnesses also reported flooding in Dickinson, Texas City, League City, Bacliff and Bolivar Peninsula. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for residents in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Jackson, Matagorda and Wharton counties until 4 p.m.

The Texas Gulf Coast has endured several cycles of heavy rain since Labor Day. However, the rain has come in near endless bouts since Sunday.

Texas City officials closed schools on Monday when floodwaters threatened several school campuses, and school buses in Clear Lake and Dickinson found themselves also navigating flood streets, which caused some delays.

Officials expect the rain to continue through Friday, and could start to wind down through the weekend.

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Image: Official State of Texas Portrait

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