Tropical Depression Edouard Dumps Nearly 2 Feet of Rain on Texas, Prompting Rescues and Widespread Flooding

Tropical Depression Edouard continued to drench East Texas on Wednesday after making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, triggering water rescues, road closures and widespread flooding across several counties.

The storm, which had reached tropical-storm strength before coming ashore Tuesday, weakened into a tropical depression after landfall. Its forward movement remained slow, allowing intense rain bands to linger over communities north of Beaumont and along the Piney Woods.

Rainfall totals approached 2 feet in parts of Hardin County, with some locations recording between 18 and 20 inches over two days. The Texas Tribune, citing federal forecasters, reported an isolated total of 22 inches. In Polk County, officials said more than a foot of rain had fallen in some areas, while additional downpours remained possible.

The flooding prompted emergency crews to rescue residents from stranded vehicles, homes surrounded by water and an assisted-living facility. Texas Game Wardens said 21 people were rescued from the Hardin County facility, while local officials also reported rescues involving motorists and residents in flooded homes.

Hard-hit communities included Kountze, Honey Island and Village Mills in Hardin County, as well as parts of Polk, Tyler, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Liberty and Trinity counties. The National Weather Service warned that some areas could face flash flooding, river flooding and dangerous runoff even after the heaviest rain moved away.

Floodwaters covered roads in and around Kountze, where water was reported nearly 2 feet deep in places. On Thursday morning, some water had receded from homes, but roads remained flooded and Village Creek was still rising, according to Fox Weather. Officials repeatedly urged residents not to drive through flooded roadways, where depth and current can be difficult to judge.

The storm also brought damaging winds. Edouard made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, about 15 miles southeast of Port Arthur, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. A wind gust of 71 mph and sustained winds of 57 mph were recorded near the Texas coast. Downed trees, power lines and debris added to the hazards in Jefferson and Hardin counties.

Power outages spread across the region as the storm moved inland. More than 70,000 customers were without electricity at the height of the storm, while tens of thousands of homes and businesses experienced outages across East Texas. Crews faced difficult restoration conditions because of standing water, fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.

Schools and government offices closed in communities near the Louisiana border. Shelters were opened in Polk and Tyler counties, and state officials deployed rescue aircraft, boats and high-water vehicles. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said state agencies and more than 1,100 first responders were working across the affected region; the state’s emergency operations center was also activated.

The National Weather Service had warned that the storm could produce rainfall rates of several inches per hour, a threshold capable of quickly overwhelming drainage systems and swollen creeks. Forecasters said additional heavy rain could continue across parts of East and North Texas through Thursday, even as Edouard weakened into a remnant area of low pressure.

The immediate threat was expected to shift from strong winds to flooding. Rivers and creeks can continue rising after rainfall ends as water drains from upstream areas, meaning residents in low-lying locations may remain at risk after skies begin to clear.

Officials urged people to remain off flooded roads, follow local evacuation and shelter instructions, and monitor weather and emergency alerts. With some locations receiving several times their typical September rainfall in only two days, emergency managers warned that cleanup and power restoration could take time.