Abbott Declares Disaster in 101 Texas Counties as Flooding Swamps Houston

A statewide emergency unlocked as the rain keeps coming

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration Monday covering 101 Texas counties as severe storms that began Sunday continued to batter the state with heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hazardous wind gusts, large hail, and tornado threats.houstonpublicmedia The order stretches across Central, South and Southeast Texas, including the densely populated Houston region — Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston and Montgomery among them — and unlocks the full range of state emergency resources for local officials.keranews Additional counties may be added as conditions warrant.houstonpublicmedia

"Because of the impact caused by ongoing storms and flood risks, I have issued a disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties to ensure that local officials and communities have access to the full range of state resources and support," Abbott said.houstonpublicmedia He urged residents to heed guidance from state and local officials and take precautions.keranews

Houston braces for more after a flooded Monday

Floodwaters swamped roadways across Greater Houston on Monday, stranding vehicles under bridges and forcing the closure of the University of Houston Downtown, including its on-campus food bank.houstonchronicle Harris County Emergency Management Director Mark Sloan warned the threat was far from over. "This is not over. We still anticipate some heavy rains with street issues, especially overnight into the morning hours," he said.houstonchronicle

The Houston Fire Department staged boats and high-water rescue vehicles across the city, while the state pre-positioned assets along the Gulf Coast. "It's not just Harris County, it's a region being affected," Sloan said, repeating the long-standing safety mantra: "Turn around, don't drown."houstonchronicle

A tropical disturbance threatens to deepen the crisis

The National Weather Service projects total rainfall of 4 to 7 inches between Monday and Thursday, with isolated areas potentially seeing 10 inches or more and "potential for life-threatening flooding" across the region.houstonchronicle Adding to the danger, a tropical disturbance moving northeast along the Texas coast had a 60% chance of forming into a cyclone as of Tuesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.houstonchronicle

The system is expected to reach Houston on Wednesday — the same day the city is scheduled to host its second FIFA World Cup match.houstonchronicle Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to run 24-hour operations at the State Emergency Operations Center, building on resources activated last week ahead of the anticipated flooding.houstonpublicmedia Forecasters warned that saturated ground and torrential downpours exceeding two inches per hour could trigger rapid urban flooding through Thursday.houstonchronicle