flood claimed the life of a sixth person in Texas
Rising flood waters claimed the life of a sixth person in Palestine, Texas, local police confirmed Saturday evening.
The mayor of Palestine, Bob Herrington, said in a statement, “The City
of Palestine has suffered the worst flooding event in my 59 years of
living here. I don't recall ever seeing this much water rise so fast and
in such a short period of time...Our first responders worked through
the night and made numerous high water rescues."
A 64-year-old woman and her four great grandchildren were found dead
amid flooding in the eastern Texas city of Palestine Saturday morning.
Then on Saturday evening, officials announced a sixth fatality, Giovanni
Olivas, 30, who was swept under flood waters. His body was found around
5:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Anderson County sheriff Greg Taylor.
The woman and her great grandchildren were found when officers responded
to waist-deep flooding on a street in Palestine, Texas, about 150 miles
north of Houston, police said.
Two of the children were found in the front yard of a home. The other
two children and the woman were found behind some houses. They appeared
to have been swept away by the fast-moving waters, police said.
The names of the woman and her great grandchildren were not initially
released, but when the sixth fatality was announced Saturday evening,
their identities were released: Lenda Asberry, 64; Venetia Asberry, 9;
Devonte Asberry, 8; Von Anthony Johnson Jr., 7, and Jamonicka Johnson,
6.
Six to eight other families who live on that street have been displaced,
police said. Heavy downpour in Palestine began just after midnight
Saturday.
Mayor Herrington said, “It is too early to know the full extent of the
damage, we have homes and businesses that have suffered flood damage and
many of our roads have suffered significant deterioration as well.
Total damage estimates will be developed in the near future and will be
available to interested parties."
Post a Comment