Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 16, 1990 TAG: 9005160579
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LIBERTY, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
Parts of Arkansas flooded since May 1 were declared a disaster area Tuesday by President Bush as National Guardsmen worked to shore up a weakened levee protecting a small town from the Red River, which climbed toward a 45-year high.
The Trinity River in Texas was expected to crest today as the floodwaters churned southward, flooding areas where some 7,000 residents were warned to evacuate. It was the worst flooding in Texas in 80 years.
The Trinity River Authority on Tuesday released a record 88,000 cubic feet per second of water through the gates of the Lake Livingston Dam.
Discharges today were likely to pass 90,000 cubic feet, and the 100,000 level was expected by Monday, said Grady Manis, the authority's southern region manager. He said that level was likely to be sustained for six to eight days.
"We'll have the first crest tomorrow," Manis said late Tuesday. "But I think about the 21st is going to be the worst day.
"Below Lake Livingston Dam, there's about 990 square miles. Maybe 20 percent of that is probably going to be underwater at the height of this."
The area threatened is about 50 miles south of the dam and 60 miles northeast of Houston. Many residents heeded early warnings and moved to higher ground. Some of those who chose to stay lost their nerve and called for help.
"Now they've become frightened and they want out," said Jim Mitchum, Liberty County emergency management coordinator.
Heavy rain in past weeks has also caused flooding in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Louisiana.
The flooding was blamed for one death in Oklahoma and 13 in Texas, including a 25-year-old Mexican cleanup worker swept away near Texarkana. Sheriff Mary Choate said workers tried to save the man, but they were almost pulled away by the current. Firemen dragged the swollen river with several boats but could not find the man's body.
The Red River sent floodwaters deeper over Louisiana cropland Tuesday, but officials said it may have crested in Shreveport earlier and lower than expected.
"It's the worst flood we've had here in my lifetime," said Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La., who toured the region.
The Red River in Arkansas began to abate on Tuesday, and officials said they could concentrate on cleaning up. In Kansas City, daylong downpours caused creeks and rivers to overflow and forced hundreds of people from their homes.
But the worst flooding was in southeastern Texas.
"We've been saying that this was going to be a truly devastating flood, and it looks like it will be," said Judge Dempsie Henley in Liberty County. "We don't have any historical data to compare what the damages and losses could be."
At the Rattlesnake Ranch in Houston County, part-owner and manager John Merriwether estimated losses in cattle, homes, fences and property will exceed $1 million. Statewide agriculture losses have been put at $500 million.
Gov. Bill Clements asked federal officials to add four more Texas counties to 29 counties on a presidential disaster declaration issued earlier this month.
Manis said water problems could persist in Texas all summer.
"We're looking at all summer long with almost a full river. And then any rainfall that results during that period results in another flood downstream," he said.
by CNB