Contaminated floodwaters a concern in Brazoria County
Officials urge residents to get tetanus shot
Concerned about water quality in flood-stricken areas, Brazoria County officials on Wednesday urged residents to receive a tetanus shot at any county health department clinic.
Shots are free for first responders and flood victims.
Clinics in Angleton, Brazoria, Clute, Alvin and Pearland are offering the Tdap vaccine shots; residents were asked to call ahead before visiting a clinic.
County Judge Matt Sebesta received a shot on Wednesday morning.
Sharon Trower, Brazoria county’s emergency management spokeswoman, said that contaminated water is a concern for the area.
“We are asking people to stay out of the floodwaters. It is unsanitary; it’s full of bacteria. A lot of people have septic systems that are being inundated with water and pushing contaminated water through the flood plain,” Trower said.
Meanwhile, the city of Richwood issued a voluntary evacuation order for residents Tuesday. Motorists are unable to drive through some roads in Audubon Woods I and Glenwood Bayou Section II of Richwood due to high water.
Brazoria County had ordered the mandatory evacuation of additional areas Tuesday as the city of West Columbia battled rising floodwaters from the Brazos River with sandbags and pumps. A curfew was also put in effect.
Sebesta previously had required the evacuation of residents of the Sugar Mills subdivision and Buffalo Camp Farms, and of the area near FM 1642 west of Rosharon and the city of Holiday Lakes.
Although no new mandatory evacuations had been issued as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, Trower said that officials were monitoring rising water across the county.
Jones Creek, in southern Brazoria County, was one area of concern. She also said that County Road 288 between Lake Jackson and Angleton was seeing a lot of water from nearby Bastrop Bayou.
Some 100,000 residents have been affected by the flooding in Brazoria, Trower said. The coastal county is home to more than 300,000 residents.
The number of homes affected by the damage is still unknown.
“We are not gonna know that until we dry out a little bit,” Trower said.
Lt. Juan Gomez from Brazoria Salvation Army said they’re accepting monetary donations to help flood victims. The Salvation Army is providing food to flood victims and first responders.
“We are in a difficult situation. This flood, it completely took us by surprise,” Gomez said.
Brazos River levels are holding, Trower said. Water levels in West Columbia and Brazoria had not crested as of Wednesday afternoon.
Officials urged those who want to make a donation to help flood victims to contact their local relief organizations.
Those that can accept donations include the United Way, the Salvation Army, Brazoria County Dream Center, Helping Hands and Hearts Hospice, and Habitat for Humanity.