National guardsmen along with local first responders helped people out of flooded East Orange Wednesday morning as the waters from the Sabine River rose through the night into the morning. Once again, some caskets floated out their concrete vaults at Hollywood Cemetery on Simmons Drive. The vaults, which are about half above ground, have concrete covers that the force of moving water can remove. Then the caskets float out and move with the water. About 40 caskets floated out during Hurricane Ike. Water kept rising through the night Tuesday and into the morning. Though water filled streets … [Read more...] about We’ve Seen Some Of This Before

The Sabine River Authority Wednesday morning lowered gates at Toledo Bend Reservoir, the second day in a row of decreases. Ann Galassi, assistant general manager, said no increases in the water releases are expected. "It is going down," she said. Rumors have been going around that the SRA is scheduling a big release when many will still be recovering. The reservoir dam on Wednesday had four gates open at six feet and five open at five feet. The release was a total of 58,750 cubic feet per second of water. A few days earlier, nine gates were open at 22 feet with about 208,000 feet per … [Read more...] about SRA Answers Questions

The National Guard and first responders help an elderly woman get out of her downtown Orange home after floodwaters started covering the area early Wednesday morning.  A big Orange thank you to all of those who came in to help our city.   photo by Margaret Toal, KOGT     … [Read more...] about All Hands On Deck

Texas Governor Greg Abbott flew over Orange and Newton County Wednesday before holding a press conference to thank officials and first responders for their efforts. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott viewed the devastation of Southeast Texas flooding first hand Wednesday. The governor flew in a helicopter over the flood ravaged areas of Orange and Newton Counties. Afterwards he spoke at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center. Abbott thanked the many first responders for their efforts and was thankful that citizens have exercised caution in dealing with the dangers from the flooding waters. … [Read more...] about Gov. Abbott Visits Area Wednesday

Rising water has now closed east and westbound traffic on Interstate 10. Traffic will be diverted at Hwy. 62 in Orange County. In Jefferson County traffic will be diverted at U.S. Hwy 69/96/287. With this closure, all lanes of the interstate are closed at Hwy 62. It is unknown at this time the time frame for the reopening of the interstate.   OCEM says on Wed, March 16, 2016 the North Orange Baptist Church will no longer be used as shelter. The Montagne Center, 4400 MLK Pkwy, Beaumont, Texas is open and accepting evacuees at this time. Community Church, 3400 Martin Luther King Jr. … [Read more...] about I-10 Closed – New Shelter

• Mandatory evacuation for city of Orange from the Sabine River east to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks That includes Navy Park, Brownwood, downtown, Old Orange Historic District, Clairmont and Wrenway areas. Also mandatory for the Cove. • City of West Orange has received 5,000 more sandbags available at police station on Austin Street. • City of Pinehurst has mandatory evacuation for neighborhoods and businesses along Adams Bayou. That includes MacArthur Drive, 29th, 30th, 31st, 33rd streets, plus Camelot, Lancelot, Peacock, Somerset, Enchanted Oaks. Orange Public Works Director Jim … [Read more...] about Tuesday Update

Orange County Emergency Management is calling for a mandatory evacuation south of I-10 from the railroad tracks to the Sabine River plus all of the Cove area. Note: The referenced Railroad track is the primary Union Pacific Railroad track that runs parallel to 16th Street. Reminder : Still under Mandatory evacuation is the area north of Interstate 10 and between North of 87 to the Sabine River. … [Read more...] about East Orange Mandatory Evacuation