A 5-year-old boy tragically lost his life in Johnson County, Texas, after being swept away by floodwaters caused by heavy rains that have been pounding parts of the state. The boy’s body was found southeast of Fort Worth several hours after emergency services received a 911 call reporting that two adults and the boy were stuck in a vehicle in fast-moving water. While the adults managed to escape, the boy was swept away by the floodwaters. The recent storms in the area have prompted evacuations and rescues, with forecasters warning of potential flash flooding. Rivers are expected to remain swollen for days or even weeks after the storms pass.
Parts of southeast Texas were under a flood warning on Sunday afternoon, with other areas remaining under flood watches. Up to eight inches of rain were possible in some areas through Sunday. The heavy rainfall was expected to taper off by Sunday evening, but the risk of flooding remained high due to the recent rounds of rainfall. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reported numerous rescues of both people and pets in the county. The Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warned of a continued risk of flash flooding in central to northeastern Texas.
Jeremy Justice, hydrological operations manager at Harris County Flood Control District, warned that some areas of Harris County could experience flooding near record levels set during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Several rivers in Texas had yet to reach their peak flows on Sunday morning but were expected to crest in the next 24 hours. FEMA anticipated a slow recession of the rivers after cresting, leaving the waterways above the major flooding stage through the middle of the week. On Sunday morning, eleven rivers were in a major flooding stage, causing excessive inundation of roads and structures and requiring significant evacuations, while another 18 rivers were experiencing moderate flooding, inundating some structures and potentially leading to evacuations.
Given the ongoing risk of flash flooding and rising river levels, residents in affected areas were urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. The recent rounds of storms had left many rivers in major flooding stages, overwhelming roads and structures and necessitating evacuations. The dangerous conditions exacerbated by the storms posed a continued threat to the affected communities. The death of the young boy in Johnson County served as a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by flooding and the need for preparedness and caution during severe weather events. As the storms in the region began to subside, authorities remained on high alert for any further instances of flash flooding or increased river levels.
