The western and south central part of Orange County Wednesday was recovering from rainfall that brought 10 inches of rain in less than six hours to some places.
Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin is asking people with houses that flooded to contact him so his office can get an accurate count.
Wednesday afternoon he had reports of 12 to 14 houses with water. Nine were in Bridge City and others in the Vidor area. “Bridge City seemed to be hit the worst,” he said.
Ardoin said a couple of rescues had to be made. One was for an elderly couple living in the Parkview subdivision off Interstate 10 next to Claiborne West Park.
The county and the local Red Cross opened a shelter in the Expo Center. Ardoin said no one used the shelter because the people who had water in their houses stayed with friends or relatives. The county closed the shelter Wednesday afternoon.
He said the Texas Baptist Men disaster relief group is available to help people who were flooded, plus the Red Cross has cleaning supplies.
The heaviest rainfall was unexpected even though rain was in the forecast for the weekend through this week. A rain system “shifted, slowed down, and stayed over one area,” he said.
The eastern side and north central part of the county did not have as much as the deluge. Orange had three inches of rain Tuesday and has had about seven inches since Sunday.
Ardoin, who lives in an area that had heavy rain Tuesday, said his personal rain gauge had 14 inches accumulated.
“Always be prepared for emergencies,” he said.
He repeated the slogan “Turn around, don’t drown” for drivers. “It takes only six inches (of water) to float a vehicle.”
The Orange County Emergency Management number is 882-7895.
More rain was expected late Wednesday night.
Also County Judge Dean Crooks said there will be a county workshop on Thursday, June 28th at 10:00am at the County Admin. Building to discuss drainage issues in Orange County.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
photo taken in front of BC Bank
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