SOUTHEAST TEXAS — More than 27 inches of rain fell overnight north of Kountze in Hardin County as Tropical Depression Edouard continued to produce torrential rain Wednesday morning, prompting a Flash Flood Emergency for parts of Hardin and Tyler counties and a disaster declaration in Polk County.
Harris County meteorologist Jeff Lindner reported the 27-inch rainfall total at 9:10 a.m. The National Weather Service estimated that 7 to 10 inches of rain had fallen across Polk County, which received much of the region’s overnight rainfall.
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office warned that rainfall totals would continue to rise as Edouard moved slowly across Southeast Texas.
The Flash Flood Emergency covers communities including Kountze, Village Mills and Honey Island in Hardin County. Officials urged residents in affected areas to move to higher ground immediately as additional torrential rain threatened already saturated communities.
Meteorologist Matt Lanza said rainfall totals near Kountze and southeast of Lake Livingston in Tyler County had approached or exceeded 10 inches earlier Wednesday.
“Torrential rain continues in this area for at least another few hours,” Lanza said, warning that heavier rainfall could move toward Beaumont.
The National Weather Service reported rainfall totals ranging from 10 to 21 inches in parts of the affected area before the latest 27-inch measurement. Additional heavy rain could worsen flooding as water continues to accumulate across saturated ground.
Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy issued a Local Declaration of Disaster Wednesday morning in response to the severe weather caused by Edouard.
Edouard weakened after making landfall but continued to generate bands of thunderstorms across Southeast Texas, producing additional rainfall and worsening flash-flood conditions.