Year after Rita, flooding razes about 40 homes

VIDOR, Texas – Flooding along the Neches River in southeast Texas destroyed an estimated 40 homes, forcing people to flee their residences and even Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers brought in after Hurricane Rita pounded the region last year.

The river stood at about 12 feet late Sunday afternoon, 8 feet above flood stage.

“We have a lot of homes under water,” said Jeff Kelley, Orange County emergency management coordinator, who estimated about 40 homes have been destroyed.

Some of the homes along the river have been built on stilts while others sit on the ground, and they had from 2 feet of water to water up to the roofline. The area was pummeled when Hurricane Rita came ashore last year, and several FEMA trailers were delivered to the area.

“They are completely under water,” Kelley said.

The worst-hit areas were the communities of Lakeview, Connely Road and Four Oaks Ranch Road, north of Vidor, about 80 miles east of Houston. Floodwaters also were beginning to rise Sunday night in Rose City.