The heavy rains were being monitored Thursday afternoon by the Nacogdoches Police Department, and NPD officials say despite heavy downpours at times, everything was normal.
"We haven't seen anything yet that indicates a problem," said Sgt. Greg Sowell, public information officer for the Nacogdoches Police Department. "We have been in conference calls for the past several days with the National Weather Service about this event that has been predicted. We've also been in contact with the Red Cross, and we are in contact with the shelter director and coordinator."
At this time, no evacuations have been needed, but if that situation was to change, the people are in place to do so, Sowell said.
"We're just going to monitor the situation and react as necessary," he said. "As it stands right now, we're ready, and we'll just have to see what the weather does."
The inclement weather was likely a contributing factor to several accidents occurring throughout the day Thursday, including an accident that involved an 18-wheeler that hydroplaned and overturned on U.S. 259, and a fatal accident on state Hwy. 7 east near Martinsville that resulted in two deaths.
While street flooding is expected, it is believed to be temporary within the city as water passes through storm drains, Sowell said.
On a statewide level, Governor Rick Perry released a report mid-day Thursday stating The National Weather Service predicts rainfall to continue during the next 48 hours, with some areas receiving as much as nine additional inches of rain.
The greatest threat of flooding will occur today through Saturday morning, in areas east of I-45 and south of I-30, and the greatest chance of severe storms, including damaging winds and hail, will occur east of I-35 today and tonight.
"Storms stretching across the state have created dangerous flash flood conditions that can form quickly, and I urge Texans in communities impacted by these storms to be cautious and pay attention to changing weather conditions," Perry said in the release. "As rainfall continues, the state is taking precautionary measures in the event assistance is needed, and I appreciate the brave men and women who are always ready to respond to an event that places Texans in harm's way."
Perry has directed the activation of state search and rescue capabilities, including Texas Military Forces and Texas Task Force 1 (TTF-1) personnel and resources due to heavy rains and potential flooding threatening Texas communities, the report said.
The following state resources were scheduled to be on standby Thursday afternoon: 72 Texas Military Forces personnel (12 each to Austin, Beaumont, Houston, Longview, Lufkin and San Antonio; 20 Texas Military Forces high profile vehicles (five each) to Longview, Lufkin, Beaumont and Houston; 2 Texas Military Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and 2 TTF-1 search and rescue personnel in Austin; 2 Texas Military Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and 2 TTF-1 search and rescue personnel in San Antonio; and 6 TTF-1 swift water rescue teams.
