By Emily Banks Wooten
[email protected]
Polk County residents are continuing to dig out from recent excessive flooding. Both state and county officials are encouraging affected residents to report property damage by submitting an online damage assessment survey.
“As the damage assessment process continues, Texans are encouraged to self-report property damage using the Texas Department of Emergency Management’s online reporting tool when it is safe to do so,” Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said. “The critical details provided in the damage surveys allow officials to gain an understanding of the extent of damage caused by storms and flooding and help determine whether Texas qualifies for federal disaster aid.”
Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy agreed.
“The survey information aids officials in determining whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance,” she said.
All storm damage to homes and businesses should be reported using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey. iSTAT surveys can be filled out in English and Spanish by visiting https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/ and clicking “April 26-Ongoing Severe Weather Event.” Be sure to upload photos of interior damage to your home or business including any flood level waterlines.
City of Livingston
During a special called meeting Thursday, the Livingston City Council approved Mayor Judy Cochran extending her May 2 local disaster declaration by mayoral proclamation for an additional 30 days, noting that the conditions necessitating such disaster declaration continue to exist.
The declaration activates the recovery and rehabilitation aspects of all applicable local or interjurisdictional emergency plans and authorizes the furnishing of all aid and assistance as deemed necessary.
The impact of flooding along the Trinity River in River Lake Estates Subdivision and Taylor Lake Estates Subdivision has improved to the point that county officials were able to rescind the mandatory evacuation order for certain areas below the dam and implement phased openings effective Wednesday.
River Lake Estates
The mandatory evacuation order issued on April 29 for residents residing in the unincorporated areas of Polk County below the Lake Livingston Dam and along the Trinity River was rescinded for River Lake Estates Subdivision, with the exception of residents residing on Dogwood Street which is still impacted and remains under the mandatory evacuation order.
Access into River Lake Estates is opened at Phase One, which includes residents, business owners and emergency workers such as police, fire, EMS, utility crews, commissioners road and bridge crews and emergency management personnel.
Taylor Lake Estates
In Taylor Lake Estates Subdivision, the mandatory evacuation order was rescinded for everyone except those residents on Route 66 which is still impacted and remains under the mandatory evacuation order.
Access into Taylor Lake Estates is opened at Phase Two, which includes everyone in Phase One, and insurance agents, friends and family members, and contractors that are homeowner-requested, disaster non-profit organizations assisting with cleanup and repairs and media.
Law enforcement will have access control points established at the entrance of both subdivisions. Residents must meet their insurance agents, friends and family members and contractors at the access control point and escort them to their property.
Holiday Lake Estates
Holiday Lake Estates is opened at Phase Two, with the exception of River Road between Walnut Lane and Viewpoint, Devils Pass and residents residing on Devils Pass.
Siesta Country 3 and 5
The mandatory evacuation order was rescinded Friday afternoon for Siesta Country 3 and 5. The subdivision is now open at Phase Three, which is everyone in the general public.
Purpose of phased approach
The purpose of the phased approach is to protect citizens and control crowding in the impacted areas by opening to homeowners, business owners and critical services until conditions allow for a Phase Three reopening, which will be the general public.
Civic and disaster non-profit organizations assisting with cleanup and repairs will need a pass from the Polk County Emergency Operations Center to enter the impacted area. For additional information, contact Emergency Management at 936-327-6826.
Please check with your utility providers for information and instructions. Remember to document damage for your insurance purposes.
Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Inc.
Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Inc. arrived at the Livingston Church of Christ Wednesday, unloaded a 53-foot tractor trailer filled with supplies and formed a staging area where those affected by the floods could just drive through and volunteers could distribute cleanup supplies, boxed ready-to-eat food, paper goods and personal hygiene items.
Lowe’s Home and Garden
Beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Lowe’s was giving away free cleanup supplies to area residents at their stores in Livingston, Kingwood and Conroe. Lowe’s associates hosted a bucket brigade to hand out free recovery items while supplies lasted. More 750 buckets filled with supplies, along with more than 750 free cases of waters, were available across the three stores to assist those affected by the recent flooding.
Management at the Livingston Lowe’s had already given fans, food and all kinds of other items to the SPCA of Polk County the previous week to help the animals deal with the heat.
Southern Baptists Texas Convention
Volunteers with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief (SBTC Disaster Relief) arrived in Livingston Thursday to begin recovery operations in Livingston and surrounding areas. Teams will be assessing needs of residents and will provide free services such as cleaning out flooded homes. Operations will be based out of Central Baptist Church in Livingston.
“We are here to meet needs and remind survivors that they are not alone,” SBTC Disaster Relief Director Scottie Stice said. He estimated that volunteer teams will be working for the next several weeks.
Polk County Landfill
Republic Services is extending hours at the Polk County Landfill from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and May 20-25.
Lake Livingston Dam
As of 5 p.m. Friday, Trinity River Authority reported a release of 77,170 cubic feet per second (cfs), so the lake level and output are moving into safer levels.
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