Dam releases hit new record high

 This is what 124,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water coming through Lake Livingston Dam looks like. Severe flooding throughout Polk County this week resulted in a new historic release at the Dam. As of 3:05 p.m. Thursday, Trinity River Authority (TRA) officials were releasing 124,097 cubic feet per second (cfs), exceeding the maximum release during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 which was 110,600 cfs. As of Friday evening, 124,260 cfs were being released. PHOTO BY LEE JONES

By Emily Banks Wooten
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Severe flooding from tor- rential rains throughout Polk County this week have resulted in a new historic release at Lake Livingston Dam. As of 3:05 p.m. Thursday, Trinity River Authority (TRA) officials were releasing 124,097 cubic feet per second (cfs), exceeding the maximum release during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 which was 110,600 cfs.

TRA officials assured the public that the structure of the dam is not at risk, that it is well-maintained and is designed to pass more than 300,000 cfs. They indicated they would continue releases until the elevation of the reservoir returns to the conser- vation pool of 131 feet above mean sea level (msl).

As of Friday evening, they were releasing 124,260 cfs and the lake level was at133.57 feet msl.

Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy issued a local disaster declaration the morning of April 29 and a voluntary evacuation order for the low- lying unincorporated areas along the Trinity River and below the Lake Livingston Dam.

Later that afternoon, how- ever, she issued a mandatory evacuation order for those areas which are vulnerable to flooding as discharge from the dam is increased, specifically, River Lake Estates, Holiday Lake Estates, Taylor Lake Estates, Route 66, Siesta Country 3 and 4 and other low-lying areas. Residents were urged to take precautions and heed the manda- tory evacuation order.

Due to the inclement weather and flooding con- ditions, all school districts in Polk County were closed Thursday and Friday.

The Polk County Commissioners Court met in an emergency session Friday afternoon at the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and approved extending the disaster declaration for an additional 30 days.

“It’s not going to diminish any time soon,” she said, adding, “We’ll continue to man the EOC 24 hours a day for at least the next few days.”

Related Articles

Damage assessment,cleanup continues post-flood

Over $1.1 million in scholarships presented on behalf of Green & White Scholarship Program

With the number of coun- ty employees that have been working around the clock since this event began, the Court also approved compensation for county per- sonnel during the disaster period.

As of Friday, the National Weather Service was pre- dicting additional rainfall for the East Texas area, not- ing the Trinity River water levels are expected to rise. Changing conditions occur- ring throughout the weekend were expected to potentially increase flooding levels. Local citizens if isolated or experiencing any outages  were encouraged to relocate to a safer area with friends, family or a local shelter.

Two shelters are presently available for those evacuating and needing a place to stay. One is the Dunbar Gym located at 1103 Dunbar St. in Livingston and the other is Camp Choeh located at 2200 S. Washington Ave. in Livingston.

“Texas game wardens, county entities and volunteer fire departments are more than willing to assist local residents in moving to a shelter. However, we do not have the personnel or the resourc-es to deliver water, food, etc. to every stranded resident. Please relocate now,” Mur phy implored, adding, “Save lives  yours and the first re sponders.”

At approximately 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, emergency management officials were warning residents of both Taylor Lake Estates and Holiday Lake Estates that the Trinity River and low-lying flooding were encroaching on the subdivisions and responders were in the areas to assist in evacuation, noting, however, that it would be the final opportunity for responders to assist as circumstances had become dangerous even for rescuers.

“First responders will not be able to provide assistance in the nighttime hours be- cause the conditions are becoming too dangerous for them to respond.”

As of 5 p.m. emergency management officials referred people to dial 911 for emergency assistance, noting that conditions along the Trinity River had become too dangerous for first responders and rescue operations.

Local citizens are encour- aged to refer to drivetexas. org or the Polk County Office of Emergency Management Facebook page to determine road conditions.