Rep. Ratcliffe reviews flood preparations
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe got an up-close look at a widening crimson tide as the Red River continued to swell out of its banks Thursday just west of the Index Bridge.
The congressman, who represents the Texas’s 4th District, along with Bowie County Judge James Carlow, Bowie County Precinct 2 Commissioner Tom Whitten and Bowie County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Roberts toured levee areas saturated by the river’s floodwaters.
After reviewing an area where floodwater apparently backed up and formed its own channel, about 4 feet deep, Ratcliffe said six of the 18 Texas counties (including Bowie County) in his district, have already declared a state of disaster within their borders as a result of recent and continu-
ing severe weather—excessive rainfall, thunderstorms and flooding.
Regarding the possibility of federal aid for the area, Ratcliffe said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would have to make a declaration of disaster after holding a consultation with the county judges of the various affected areas.
“If the governor makes this declaration, it will then be up to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the president to make a decision regarding funding aid,” he said. “If they decide on aid, that’s when I will be in a position to help make it happen.”
Roberts, who has been surveying the levee area near the bridge for about the last 10 days, said the water site he and the congressman viewed early Thursday evening wasn’t there Wednesday.
“The water had to be, at one point, coming in as much as 6 inches an hour and creating its own channel,” Roberts said. “The positive thing about this whole ordeal is that we’ve received the support of all the landowners here.”
Roberts pointed out one landowner in particular, Gary Langdon, who has hauled his bulldozer around with his own trailer and let the emergency management crews use it to shore up levees.
“Gary has brought his bulldozer to every area where we’ve needed it, and he has had to do this while having to work on his own house and move his cattle,” Roberts said.