Widespread flooding in Orange, Texas
ORANGE, TX (KTRK) -- Nerves and anxiety filled the streets of Orange, Texas as the water continued to rise on Tuesday. Emergency management officials issued an mandatory evacuation order for thousands of people along the Sabine River. They told abc13 the amount of water flowing south from the Toledo Bend Dam is the most in recorded history.
The order went into effect at 1 p.m. for the area east of state road 87. Our crews witnessed residents packing sandbags along their homes, packing up furniture, and making their way to higher ground.
Joe Delk told us he's been working nonstop around his home off 8th Street for the past 3 days. He said sandbags are his only hope to protect his property. He said the flooding is not like anything he experienced during tropical events.
"Nothing like it. Hurricane Ike came from the south," said Delk. "This is coming from the north. We had a surge of water in Ike t only got to a certain level but this is like never ending. It just keeps coming and coming. I don't know when it's going to stop."
The Red Cross opened at shelter at the North Baptist Church. They rolled about 150 beds as people sought refuge.
Emergency officials said the time to watch is tomorrow morning as the Sabine River is expected to crest.
