Hurricane Harvey: Flooding The Main Issue In Montgomery County

CONROE, TX — Montgomery County may not have to be worry about high tides and storm surges when Hurricane Harvey moves inland, but officials there are warning residents of the potential for high winds and flooding, with as much as 30 inches of rain predicted over the next three days.

Montgomery County officials held a press conference Thursday morning and advised residents, particularly those living in flood prone areas, to make a plan now in case an emergency does arise. (Want to get daily updates about Hurricane Harvey and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Conroe-Montgomery County Patch morning newsletter.)

“Most important is to be prepared,” County Commissioner James Noack said. “If you live in one of those areas that flooded in May or June of last year, or you’ve flooded previously, you need to (take) precautions for a flooding event. Don’t wait until the last minute.”

Areas closer to the coastline and inland toward the Houston area are projected to receive upward of 30 inches in some areas, CBS News reported.

Montgomery County, which is northeast of the Houston area, is projected to receive 6 to 15 inches of rain from Hurricane Harvey, Noack said.

Montgomery County and Harris County share emergency services, and officials in the two counties are working to ensure they are ready when the storm moves on shore late Friday or early Saturday morning.

“Even though we will not see a direct impact with hurricane force wind, we will still heavy rainfall from the outer bands as they whip up on the coast,” said Darren Hess, Montgomery County’s Emergency Management Director. “What this means for us, is street flooding and flooding in low lying areas. We need you to prepare your homes, get your emergency supply kits together and stay at home. If you don’t have to get out, don’t get out.”

Last year, areas of Montgomery County saw as much as 16 inches of rain during the Tax Day Flood, and early predictions have at least that much rain falling in Montgomery County and other counties north of the Houston area.

Officials in Montgomery County also advised residents to download the new emergency service phone app, unveiled on Monday.

The app provides maps and information from the office of emergency management during local emergencies.

“This will help you prepare your home,” Hess said.

You can find up to date information for Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management right here.

Cutline: Drivers: Motorists pass a warning sign as Hurricane Harvey approaches the Gulf Coast area Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The slow-moving hurricane could be the fiercest such storm to hit the United States in almost a dozen years. Forecasters labeled Harvey a "life-threatening storm" that posed a "grave risk" as millions of people braced for a prolonged battering.

Image: (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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