Houston battered by 'life threatening' floods as Texas hit by horror storm and people told to flee

Officials warned that "life-threatening" flood conditions might affect the Houston area as heavy rain continues to batter sections of Texas .

Residents in southeastern Texas and Louisiana are reportedly heeding a flood watch Thursday evening. Additionally, there are multiple flash flood warnings in affect with up to eight inches of rain already on the ground in some parts of Texas. These areas are expected to undergo heavy rain tonight through Friday.

Gov Greg Abbott has declared the situation a disaster for several areas in Texas as dangerous conditions continue to threaten the state.

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The declaration will "ensure Texans and their communities receive the assistance and support they need to stay safe," Abbott said in a statement. The current situation in Harris County isn't much better, prompting officials to issue a mandatory evacuation.

Residents who live closest to the banks of the East Fork of the San Jacinto River are especially at risk due to the severe flooding north. "We want you out of this area," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during a press briefing on Thursday. "This is a life-threatening situation."

Officials said the river, which is typically 45 to 50 feet above sea level, is expected to surpass sea level by 77 feet come Friday. This is about three feet below where it was during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

The exodus is essential as residents who choose not to leave could be trapped inside their homes for two to three days.

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Through next week, "historic" releases by lake and reservoir operators combined with the intense rainfall are projected to exacerbate the flooding conditions caused by "extreme" river flooding in the central and east Texas river basins, according to the governor's office.

Flooding has greatly impeded traffic on highways in the region. According to Abbott's office, state responders assisted in "multiple" high-water rescues in central and southeast Texas during the course of the night.

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Videos shared on X show entire trucks engulfed in water as motorist struggle to navigate the flooded streets.

The office advised the public to keep an eye on weather forecasts and heed the advice of local emergency officials.

"For Texans in at-risk areas, it is important to remain weather-aware, follow the guidance of state and local officials, and avoid traveling in dangerous flood conditions," Abbott said.

Due to the extreme weather, residents are also being impacted by power disruptions. The CenterPoint Energy outage tracker indicated that over 20,000 customers in the Houston area were without power on Thursday night.