Hurricane Harvey has hovered over southeast Texas for several days, bringing torrential rain and unpreceded flooding to many Greater Houston area neighborhoods.
While Montgomery city officials said the city did not suffer the brunt of Harvey, the area did receive consistent rain and high water in flood-prone areas. Homes near and downstream from Lake Conroe were issued
recommended or mandatory evacuations very early Monday due to flooding from water releases from the Lake Conroe dam.
Montgomery Fire Department Chief Brian Edwards said his department has performed roughly 20 high-water rescues in the Montgomery area so far, and has also assisted Grimes County first responders in rescues. Water rescues involved saving individuals from vehicles stuck in high water as well as rescuing families from their homes in lakeside communities such as Walden and Bentwater, Edwards said.
“A few waterfront homes did sustain significant damage,” Edwards said.
Montgomery City Administrator Jack Yates said the city temporarily closed down the intersection of FM 149 North and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Sunday evening due to high water but the road has since cleared for travel. Montgomery city hall remained closed on Monday but reopened Tuesday morning.
Yates said three Montgomery churches—First Baptist Church Montgomery, Fellowship of Montgomery and China Chapel United Methodist Church—are offering their buildings as shelters for evacuees of Hurricane Harvey if needed.
To stay updated on road closures and high-water in the area, visit the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
website.