CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - Heavy rains along the Texas coast have caused flooding in areas that were hit hard by Hurricane Harvey less than a year ago.
National Weather Service meteorologist Tyler Castillo said Wednesday that since Tuesday, rain of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) was widespread along the Texas coast from the border to around 125 miles (201 kilometers) south of Houston, with up to 14 inches (35 centimeters) in isolated areas. Port Aransas, which was devastated when Harvey hit last August, was among the cities inundated.
Port Aransas police Chief Scott Burroughs told The Associated Press that “just about every street in town was flooded at some point” Wednesday morning. He said they also had a few reports of water getting into some residences but no “major incidents.”
Burroughs said that the town is still in the “beginning stages” of recovery after getting hit by Harvey.
“Hopefully none of the progress that has occurred already was re-damaged,” said Burroughs, who added, “This was kind of a walk in the park compared to Harvey.”
Rains have also caused flooding this week in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area. National Weather Service meteorologist Jared Rackley said an airport located between the two cities has had about 11 inches of rain since Sunday.
KHOU television reported that emergency management officials in Orange County say that as many as 15 homes flooded, several of which were still empty after being damaged during Harvey.
Chris Jenkins’ home in Orange County was flooded with about 6 inches (15 centimeters) of water. He and his family had moved back into the home in March after it flooded during Harvey.
“Just coming and seeing everything floating on the floor, nothing can prepare you for it,” Jenkins told KHOU.
Richie Quintero, deputy fire chief in Corpus Christi, told the AP that the city has gotten up to 14 inches (35 centimeters) in some areas since the rains began Monday afternoon. He said fire, police and public works employees helped motorists on Tuesday evening, adding that the rain came down “really quickly.”
Quintero said that by Wednesday morning the situation had improved. He didn’t have a count of how many motorists were rescued.
Jackie Drake, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross’ Texas Gulf Coast region, says about 160 people were expected at a shelter at an elementary school that opened Wednesday afternoon in Weslaco, which is in far South Texas near the border with Mexico. A shelter that opened Tuesday in Orange, east of Houston, closed Wednesday.
The National Weather Service says the slow-moving storm that submerged the coastal area is expected to finally move away Thursday morning. The weather service said 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters) more of rain is possible along the coast before then.
“Rain chances should start decreasing a bit tonight and into tomorrow. If we get any more rainfall places will be quick to flood with as much rain as we’ve received in the last two days,” Castillo said.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that up to 14 inches of rain fell in some areas along the Texas coast instead of 15.
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