Texas Floods Destroy Nearly 40 Homes

Flooding along the Neches River in Southeast Texas destroyed an estimated 40 homes, forcing people to flee their residences and even FEMA trailers brought in after Hurricane Rita pounded the region last year.

The river stood at about 12 feet late Sunday afternoon, 8 feet above flood stage.

"We have a lot of homes under water," said Jeff Kelley, Orange County emergency management coordinator, who estimated about 40 homes have been destroyed.

Some of the homes along the river have been built on stilts while others sit on the ground, and they had from two feet of water to water up to the roofline. The area was pummeled when Hurricane Rita came ashore last year, and several Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers were delivered to the area.

"They are completely under water," Kelley said.

The worst-hit areas were the communities of Lakeview, Connely Road and Four Oaks Ranch Road north of Vidor, about 80 miles east of Houston. Flood waters also were beginning to rise Sunday night in Rose City.

Kelley said authorities have been helping people leave the flooded areas since Thursday.

He said the area is prone to flooding of secondary streets. People usually are able to move their vehicles to higher ground.

"The water came up so fast they couldn't get their vehicles out," said Kelley, who estimated authorities have had to help get 75 people out. Sixteen people were staying at a Red Cross Center. Some remained in their homes.

Kelley said the number of rescues picked up Friday and Saturday because the river's level was "worse than anyone had ever seen it."

The water wasn't expected to go down for several days, Kelley said. All Interstate 10 ramps between Beaumont and Vidor were closed, as was the access road in the same area, he said.

Heavy rains saturated portions of Southeast Texas last week and have been working their way downstream into the Neches. Kelley said flood gates also were open on the dam on Stinehagen Lake.

Lance Escude, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, La., said the Neches at Beaumont was at a flat crest and should remain unchanged for the next 24 hours.