BEAUMONT — Coast Guard crews continue to respond Thursday to flooding near Beaumont and surrounding areas, due to rainfall from Tropical Depression Imelda.

Coast Guard shallow-water response teams from Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge have rescued 21 people and five pets in the Orange County area, officials say.

Coast Guard aircrews from Air Station Houston and Air Station New Orleans have medevaced or rescued nine people and transferred them to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

Coast Guard members are also staged in the emergency operations centers in Jefferson County, Harris County, Orange County, Liberty County, Chambers County and the cities of Houston, Beaumont and Austin.

“Ahead of the storm we began prepositioning our response crews in the Beaumont area,” Capt. Kevin Oditt, Sector Houston-Galveston commanding officer, said. “And we continue to coordinate with state, county and city emergency operations center and local first responders to assist where needed.”

People in distress should use 911 to request assistance.

Coast Guard officials said social media should not be used to report life-threatening distress due to limited resources to monitor the dozens of social media platforms during a large-scale rescue event.

Emergency numbers include:

• City of Beaumont Emergency Operations Center: 409-880-3838
• Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center: 409-835-8759 or 409-983-8333
• Orange County Emergency Operations Center: 409-882-7895 or 409-745-9717
• Chambers County Emergency Operations Center: 409-267-8295 or 281-924-7293