Article:
Intense storms and heavy rainfall continue to wreak havoc in Texas, unleashing severe flooding, sweeping away vehicles, damaging homes, and prompting mass evacuations. The state has been battered by a relentless series of brutal weather events since early April, including dozens of tornadoes, softball-sized hailstorms, and months of heavy rain in East Texas. The current situation has caused rivers to rise to levels not seen since the devastating floods of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

The latest wave of storms has left a trail of destruction across the state, particularly in Polk County, located about 80 miles northeast of Houston. Emergency management officials reported that approximately 700 homes have been flooded, with concerns that additional rainfall over the next few days could further escalate flood levels. As a result, a mandatory evacuation zone has been established, affecting around 1,000 homes in the county.

The flooding crisis has prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders in various areas. In Harris County, north of Houston, residents on the east side of the East Fork of the San Jacinto River were ordered to evacuate as the river reached major flood stage, posing a life-threatening situation. The river is predicted to crest just a few feet below the record level observed during Hurricane Harvey.

Furthermore, mandatory evacuations have been issued for parts of San Jacinto County and Polk County, with voluntary evacuations recommended in Montgomery County. Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in over a third of Texas counties, expanding storm-related declarations to address the extensive flood damage. With more storms forecasted, additional counties may be added to the list in the coming days.

Parts of eastern Texas have experienced an exceptionally high amount of rainfall, ranging from three to seven times the average expected over the past few weeks. The repeated heavy rainfalls have saturated the soil, making the region extremely susceptible to flash floods and river overflow. Some areas received nearly a foot of rain just between Thursday and Friday morning.

The worst of the flooding has struck southeastern Texas, with numerous river gauges, including sections of the San Jacinto and Trinity rivers, reaching major flood stage. Several other sites are anticipated to face major flooding over the weekend, potentially surpassing the record levels set during Hurricane Harvey.

While the current flooding is significant, it is important to note that it is less widespread than the catastrophic rainfall caused by Hurricane Harvey. Nonetheless, the severity of the ongoing storms should not be underestimated, as severe thunderstorms have already spawned tornadoes in different parts of Texas, causing considerable damage.

One large and extremely dangerous tornado wreaked havoc in the towns of Hodges and Hawley, leaving around 30 homes torn apart and causing injuries but no reported deaths so far. The Hawley Independent School District has allowed students to study from home or take time to recover following the damaging tornado.

As Texas braces for additional severe thunderstorms on Friday, particularly in west-central regions, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of residents and minimizing further damage. Authorities are urging everyone to stay informed about changing flood levels and to evacuate if necessary.