Nederland recovering from flooding
Published 4:03 pm Tuesday, September 12, 2017
- Mary Meaux/The News Gene and Carolyn Martinez of Nederland sit outside their temporary home, a camper loaned to them by their daughter and son-in-law, as repairs are made to their Avenue A home that was flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey.
NEDERLAND — Gene and Carolyn Martinez distinctly remember the moment that Tropical Storm Harvey dumped its heaviest rainfall over southeast Texas.
“It was raining from about 10 p.m. (Aug. 30) then it really got heavy, it never slowed down. It got worse and worse. It’s never gotten beyond the tree line,” Gene Martinez said as he pointed from his driveway to a tree near the road on Avenue A.
Martinez kept an eye on TV and noted when KFDM Chief Meteorologist Greg Bostwick said the rainfall totals at the weather station at Hillcrest Elementary School were showing about 6.4 inches of rain per hour.
“Around 1 a.m. the sound changed,” he said. “And by 2 a.m. it (flood water) started coming in under the door thresholds.”
Thankfully the water receded a bit but not before damaging their home.
The Martinez’s are one of between 600 to 750 homes and businesses that were impacted by the flood. Nederland City Manager said staff and the code enforcement officer has been driving around town documenting the damage.
The hardest hit areas of the city include south 35th – 37th streets, Parkway Village and the Lakes of Nederland, among other areas.
During the worst of the catastrophic rain first responders were out making water rescues – something that Nederland Police Chief Darrell Bush had never experienced.
Extra officers were brought in to work because of the storm and many ended up helping people leave their flooded homes. Private citizens also helped as well.
Public works department trucks were also utilized to rescue people where streets were too flooded for regular vehicles to travel, Nederland City Manager Chris Duque said.
The Mid-County Dispatch, which is the central hub for emergency communication for Nederland, Groves and Port Neches, was flooded, so to speak, with 911 calls.
“They handled it, and had additnal local help,” Duque said. “Then when Port Arthur ran into their problem (the need for numerous water rescues), their 911 calls overflowed to us.”
As affected homeowners continue the task of gutting their homes, debris contractors will be there to dispose of the items. The Mid-County cities have contracted with DRC for debris removal and garbage pickup has returned to normal.
Duque urges citizens to register with Nixle, a free notification service that sends information to cell phones and email. Residents can register on the city’s website at www.ci.nederland.tx.us
City staff has worked to get pertinent storm information out through Nixle and the city’s Facebook page. One problem was addressing false rumors as they spread through social media.
“One of the things we want to continue to do is promote Nixle and the city’s social media presence and be able to manage rumors,” he said. One of the best examples was the rumor about the water supply.”
The city’s water supply did not go down and has remained safe to drink.
Recovery is well on its way for Nederland.
“This area has dealt with natural disasters before and I think we will come out a stronger community. It’s time to look at the silver lining,” he said. “It was amazing to see all of these people, whether I the night or the next day, helping with rescues and getting people out. It’s admirable seeing people in our area helping people in Port Arthur and LaBelle and Orange County area. It’s so amazing to see who all came together to help, when the chips are down, how compassion and generosity and the will to help others came out.”
