The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.
News
March 10, 2016 - The outside east and westbound lanes of SH 7, about 5 miles west of Center will be narrowed to one lane after flooding caused the roadway to separate. Utility workers are in the area after a gas line ruptured when the pavement separated.
Motorists should use caution, prepare for delays and reduce speed through the area.
March 10, 2016 (Toledo Bend Reservoir) - According to the National Weather Service (NWS) more than 16 to 18 inches of rainfall has fallen over Toledo Bend Reservoir within the last three days with more rain expected.
Toledo Bend Reservoir, operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas and the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana reached a record level high of 174.36 feet mean sea level (msl) at 6:00 a.m. this morning due to the rainfall event. The current gauge reading is 174.20 feet msl at 3:00 p.m. today.
Toledo Bend Reservoir is not a flood control reservoir and reaches full pool at 172.0 feet msl. Spillway gate releases, which protect the integrity of the dam, have reached a record of 207,644 cubic feet per second (cfs) which is 90,000 cfs over the previous record set in 1989. Currently 9 gates are open 22 feet and 1 generator is running 24 hours/day. There is no truth to the rumors that the Toledo Bend dam could break due to the record releases. The integrity of the dam is intact and is operating as designed.
Six to eight inches have also fallen over the lower Sabine River. The NWS is forecasting a record flood event for Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Their latest forecast shows gauge heights to go over flood stage in Burkeville, Bon Weir and Deweyville. The Ruliff (Deweyville) gauge is forecasted to peak at a new record of 34.4 feet which is 2.2 feet above the record set in 1884 and 5.2 feet above the level set in 1989. According to the NWS forecast at 1:45 p.m. today, the forecast will reach moderate flood stage, 26 feet on Saturday afternoon and will reach major flood stage 28 feet on Sunday morning. Forecast numbers climb to 33.6 feet on Tuesday, March 15th.
The Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA-TX) and the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana (SRA-LA) want everyone to stay informed and be safe during this flooding event. The National Weather Service Forecast website for Ruliff (Deweyville) gauge can be accessed at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lch&gage=dwyt2
Although SRA-TX and SRA-LA are coordinating with local Emergency Management Departments throughout the Lower Sabine River Basin, County and Parish officials handle any evacuation orders. Please contact your local county and parish offices for more information.
For further information on the flooding event contact:
Sabine River Authority of Texas
Ann Galassi
(409) 746-2192
agalassi@sratx.org
Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana
Mike Carr or Brian McDonald
(337) 286-5244
brian.mcdonald@la.gov
Sabine River Authority of Texas, 450 Spur 135, Burkeville, TX 75932
Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana, 15091 Texas Highway, Many, LA 71449
A resident of County Road 3545 is seen in a golf cart cut off by flood waters at the opposite end from Farm to Market Road 2572 on Thursday, March 10, 2016.
March 10, 2016 - County road closures for each precinct as of 2:56 pm. County is working to repair damage roadways as soon as possible. Areas where roads are still flooded, the amount of damage to the road is unknown and could take longer to repair if it is needed.
Update: FM 2572, the road to Swede Johnson's Boat Ramp, is closed. Game Wardens and DPS are currently turning people away. TxDOT is installing barricades and road closed signs at this location. (Added at 10:51am, March 12)
Precinct 1 Commissioner Roscoe McSwain
- CR 1005, Short Community - Barricade setup at bridge blocking only one side, passable but proceed with caution
- CR 1030 - Barricade at bridge on one side, passable but proceed with caution
- CR 1011 - Bridge was under water several hours ago, uncertain about condition, use caution
Precinct 2 Commissioner Jimmy Lout
- CR 2582 at New Harmony Church - Culvert washed out has been repaired, ROAD OPEN Update 3/11, 10:20am
- CR 2110 off of SH 87 South - Second bridge washed out, ROAD CLOSED
Precinct 3 Commissioner Travis Rodgers - Sand and sand bags will be at the Precinct 3 barn on Childress Street in the morning at 7:30am. Anyone who can come volunteer to help fill bags would be appreciated. Those needing sand bags for flooded area can pick them up at the Precinct 3 barn tomorrow.
- CR 3254, Lone Cedar - Culvert has been replaced. Road Open (Added at 2.34pm)
- CR 3545, Sand Isle - Roadway flooded and impassable. Extent of damage to road unknown at this time. ROAD CLOSED
- CR 3080 at intersection of CR 3267, Sardis Campti - Culvert washed out. ROAD CLOSED
Precinct 4 Commissioner Bradley Allen
- No road closures to report
- Viewer Report - CR 4323, Flat Fork Creek Bottom - Completely under water, across all three of the bridges and roadways. (Added at 3:53pm)
- Viewer Report - CR 4800 (4 to 5 miles down) roadway is washed. (Added at 3:53pm)
Update 3/11, 10:20am - CR 2582 at New Harmony Church - Culvert washed out has been repaired, ROAD OPEN
March 10, 2016 - Precinct 2 Commissioner Jimmy Lout reports having to close another roadway in his precinct; CR 2582 at New Harmony Church has a culvert which has washed out. The other road closure is CR 2110 off of SH 87 South due to a bridge washing out.
March 10, 2016 - As the Shelby County Emergency Management Director, I am issuing a county-wide Declaration of Disaster and a Mandatory Evacuation for all residents that live on the Sabine River and Toledo Bend Lake within Shelby County.
If you live close to any low lying areas near any body of water you should evacuate. The Sabine River is set to crest on Sunday; please do not wait until then to call for help to evacuate. You may call your volunteer fire department, the Sheriff’s office, or 911 for help with evacuation. Many agencies are working to help everyone reach safety and stay safe.
Again this is a Mandatory Order of Evacuation and a Declaration of Disaster. I feel that the worst is yet to come, please be smart and safe.
March 10, 2016 - Testing has been completed and the Boil Water Notice for the English Bay Marina area is lifted.
It is no longer necessary to boil the water prior to consumption.
Update: As of 12:45 pm, DETEC is now reporting less than 10 meters out. We thank you for your patience and commend crews for their perseverance. Crews will continue to work to access the remaining outages to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible.
Please report all outages by calling: 1-800-392-5986.
Above all, we want to ask you to be safe - STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES. Consider them all to be live and dangerous. Call DETEC at 1-800-392-5986 to report downed lines and outages.
March 10, 2016 - Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is reporting approximately 200 meters out as of 10:30 am with the majority of those in Sabine County.
Extreme high water conditions in that area have slowed restoration as several roads are inaccessible. Crews are currently working to access these areas to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible.
Please report all outages by calling: 1-800-392-5986.
Above all, we want to ask you to be safe - Stay Away From All Downed Lines. Consider them all to be live and dangerous. Call DETEC at 1-800-392-5986 to report downed lines and outages.
March 10, 2016 - Tenaha ISD will not have classes today, March 10, 2016 due to the weather.
March 10, 2016 - No school at Timpson ISD Thursday March 10 due to weather as per Superintendent Mid Johnson.
March 9, 2016 - Timpson ISD will be monitoring the road conditions in the morning, Thursday, March 10, 2016 and inform of any delays or closures.
Pages
