Texas faces life-threatening flash flooding as Edouard slams region with heavy rain

A level 4 flash flood emergency has been issued for parts of southeast Texas as Tropical Storm Edouard continues to bring heavy rain to the region, officials have announced. The remnants of the storm have caused 10 to 21 inches of rain to fall in Hardin and Tyler counties, with rainfall rates reaching 5 inches per hour in some areas. Liberty and Polk counties have also been hit with 4-to-16 inches of rain, leading to flash flooding. Judge Sydney Murphy in Polk County has declared a Local Disaster.

The life-threatening flooding is expected to persist into the afternoon, with rates potentially reaching 4 inches per hour. Flood watches have been extended to Houston and College Station. Isolated areas could receive an additional 8-to-12 inches of rain over the next 24 hours, with the threat of continued flooding into Thursday.