Flooding closes several roads in Nacogdoches County

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - Many Nacogdoches County roads are closed today due to high rain levels.

Nacogdoches and surrounding counties have experienced significant rainfall over the last few days.

Abby Scorsonelli, with Nacogdoches County Emergency Management says the county has closed 13 roads so far.

“Road and bridge has been out just patrolling areas that they know that typically do flood when we get a lot of rain, and so those are the ones that they have identified, and they have put up signs to not pass,” Scorsonelli said.

Scorsonelli said it takes very little water to sweep a car away.

“I think there’s this misconception that it takes several feet of water for it to upend a car or for it to move a car, but really I think they report it takes less than a foot, several inches to flood out a car or to make it get carried away,” Scorsonelli said.

In his own experience, Nacogdoches County Sheriff Jason Bridges said he has seen brazen drivers who put themselves at risk driving through blocked off roads.

“You don’t know the depth of it; you don’t know how deep its going to be; you don’t know the current flow, which can be very deceiving the undercurrent flow. You know water is a very powerful force,” Bridges said.

Bridges said people die every year from being swept off the road.

“We have it closed for a reason. It’s for your protection,” Bridges said.

Scorsonelli said residents can call and report areas of high water.

“If someone comes across an area or road that has an excessive amount of water, and they feel like it’s probably unsafe, they can call road and bridge. They can call dispatch, and somebody can come out and check it,” Scorsonelli said.

Bridges expects roads will be reopened soon. “We expect a lot of these roads to probably be back open, probably later this evening. Some maybe will go until the morning, and some will even be later in the day,” Bridges said.

Until the roads are reopened, they ask for people traveling these areas to take alternate routes.

Only CR 526 remains closed as of about 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Authorities ask drivers to please be cautious as you travel today.

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