Voluntary evacuation in place for Liberty County’s low-lying communities as flooding worsens

UPDATE: Liberty County officials decided not to issue a mandatory evacuation. However, a voluntary evacuation remains in place.

As relentless rain continues to pelt flood-ravaged Southeast Texas, the situation is worsening along the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers and their tributaries. In response, officials in Liberty County have reaffirmed a voluntary evacuation for low-lying communities along these waterways.

The move comes as Liberty County Judge Jay Knight, along with Bill Hergemueller, coordinator of the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management, and others, have drafted disaster declarations in the wake of the ongoing flooding.

“We are projecting more flooding along the Trinity River over the next several days,” Hergemueller confirmed, expressing concern that the release rate at the Lake Livingston Dam will likely be comparable to the levels witnessed during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Efforts are currently underway to rescue individuals stranded in their homes. Game wardens and emergency personnel have been tirelessly working, with particular focus Thursday morning, May 2, on the Knights Forest subdivision and the Colony Ridge/Plum Grove area. Hergemueller has announced plans to deploy high-profile vehicles to aid in these rescue operations.

Following the evacuations, affected individuals are urged to have a plan in place to stay with friends and family or to seek refuge at the Red Cross shelter located at Calvary Baptist Church, 816 N. Blair St. in Cleveland. The shelter, which opened on May 1, is currently housing between 6 and 12 evacuees, with capacity for well over 100 individuals.

The shelter is also welcoming evacuated pets. Dog and cat owners can bring their animals, provided they are kept in kennels. James Kizzia of Calvary Church, coordinating with the American Red Cross, emphasized the limited food supplies available and encouraged pet owners to bring their animals’ food if possible.

County Judge Jay Knight has expressed his reluctance in calling for the mandatory evacuation of low-lying communities, citing the necessity to safeguard the citizens of Liberty County.

“I don’t like mandatory evacuations but we have to do what we must to keep people safe,” he said Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, Knight had decided against the mandatory evacuation.