Severe weather wreaks havoc in Trinity County

Campers needed rescue following floods due to heavy rains.

By Tony Farkas
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TRINITY — A home in the Outback Marina area of Rock Creek Road was completely destroyed in Sunday night’s storm, and early reports indicate a tornado that touched down in the area was the culprit.

Trinity Fire Chief Keith Johnson said sometime around 10 p.m. the tornado hammered the subdivision, destroying the home and trapping two people in the debris. The names were not released.

He said the first units on scene reported the mobile home was a complete loss; one victim was transported to Conroe Medical Center by Ventura EMS, and as of Monday was listed in critical condition.

According to a press release from the Conroe Police Department, the victims were James “Jimmy” Waller and his wife, Adela. The two were staying at the property, and Jimmy Waller, a 22-year veteran of CPD, suffered injuries that will require multiple surgeries. Adela Waller’s injuries were not as severe.

The Conroe Police Officers’ Association has set up a Go Fund Me account to help defray medical costs at gofundme.com/lt-jimmy-waller-and-his-family.

Johnson said that firefighters were called to a high-water rescue on Trinlady Road, where a lady had 4 feet of water around her car. With the assistance of 356 Volunteer Fire Department and the use of a high-water vehicle, the woman was rescued.

The department also were sent to Mansell Road to rescue campers that were flooded and rescued a gentleman in a walker and an elderly woman at the end of the road; and then in the Westwood Shores subdivision, a woman had called as her house was flooding, but a neighbor had managed to get her to high ground.

The Texas Department of Transportation was called to remove a huge tree that was blocking rescue attempts.

On FM 3188, a car washed off road and an assistant fire chief and fire captain walked to the site and the driver was pulled from the vehicle.

Johnson said that the department was sent to a flooded home at Old Lister Road flooded Sunday evening, but rescue workers could not  get to home because the road was washed out and multiple trees were down. The homeowner, Andrea Fitzgerald, and her husband then used a bulldozer to clear the road, but by the time they arrived it was a total loss.

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However, the next day, the standing water caused an electrical short that caught home on fire Monday morning,

As well as numerous rescue operations, the Trinity Fire Department provided traffic control on flooded roads. Johnson said his crew started about 8 p.m. Sunday night and finished at 5:30 a.m. Monday.

As of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, FM 356 was closed from Westwood Shores to Trinity; Highway 94 was closed in several places — at Steel Horse and Boontown roads; Highway 287 flooded over in Woodlake and in the center of Groveton by Brookshire Brothers; FM 1280 and 233 were not passable as well.

Most dirt country roads have to be washed out because of the rain, Johnson said.

He also said drivers need to remember there is a turnaround and don’t drown law, and no one should drive around roadblocks because it’s dangerous.

Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said that vehicles were overturned by the force of the storm.

Area fire departments from Apple Springs down to Trinity reported numerous downed trees and power lines, and area officials had closed numerous roads due to flooding.

Groveton ISD, Trinity ISD and Centerville ISD were closed Monday due to flooded roads.

Wallace said there were reports of a possible tornado that had touched down at 10771 FM 2262; the house no longer has a roof, and deputies were checking on neighbors’ homes that may have been in the path.

National Weather Service officials had reported that about 10 inches of rain had fallen in the area, with more coming. The tornado wasn’t verified by the NWS, but reports still were coming in, and once enough information is gathered, inspectors will be sent to the area.

Johnson thanked the 356 Fire Department, Trinity County Sheriff’s Department, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Ventura EMS for their assistance.