Remnants of Hurricane Ike swept through Texas County early Sunday, downing trees, causing flooding and closing roads.
Heavy rain left its calling card on the county – leaving a small trace of what hit hurricane-stricken Texas. Electrical outages were widespread as the storm brought high winds into the area. Ditch lines swelled into streets, highways and county roads. Creeks and rivers expanded beyond their banks. By late Sunday morning, Dog’s Bluff access was under water west of Houston. Restrooms there were nearly covered with water, and the river lapped near the top of trees.
Across Houston trees were down and Brushy Creek went on a rampage, leaving water in some business buildings and residential basements. Major sections of the Village Trail – along Brushy Creek and in Emmett Kelly Park – were washed away. A tree fell on a fence along the Brushy Creek stretch.
Certainly, travel was tricky: either due to blocked roadways or water over the pavement, including U.S. 63 between Houston and Cabool at Highway H and Highway M, where damage was reported to pavement.
Tree damage was widespread across the area. City crews began clearing trees from roads early Sunday.
City Administrator Larry Sutton said all city departments were called into the field Sunday to help residents. The amount of tree damage will require the city to operate its wood chipping equipment. “It’s going to be a big job,” he said. “Probably as much as during the winter (storm).”
The city also has requested two more persons be added to a correctional center work crew.
Sutton said Tuesday he had asked the city’s emergency management director to contact the State Emergency Management Agency to see if disaster aid is possible.