Many residents of Mason Lake Estates, Sam Houston Lake Estates, New River Lake Estates, and other flood-prone areas along the Trinity River in Liberty County are stranded at the moment as water still covers the main roads in their communities.
Pct. 5 Constable David Hunter ventured into Mason Lake Estates and New River Lake Estates by airboat Saturday afternoon to check on the welfare of some residents. According to Hunter, all the people he visited reported that they prepared for the flood and were simply “riding it out.”
“They have food and water and are just sitting out there waiting for the water to recede, so they can get out,” the constable said. “They are used to it.”
On Tuesday, Hunter plans to check on the welfare of an older couple he has previously rescued in flood events. So far, he has been unable to reach them except through second-hand information.
“It’s about six foot deep at their house,” he said. “The water is receding now. Most everyone has said they were prepared and just glad the water stopped when it did. If it had gone much higher, it would have been in their homes.”
The Liberty County Office of Emergency Management reported more good news about the Lake Livingston dam Monday around 5 p.m. The discharge rate from the dam has decreased to 51,700 cubic feet per second.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, the Romayor river gauge is at 35.62 feet; in Liberty, the river is at 29.92 feet; and in Moss Bluff, the gauge is currently at 14.78 feet and is projected to reach 15.2 when it crests.
By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com