Eastern half of Texas devastated by flooding

Nearly the entire eastern half of Texas is under a flash flood watch or warning as the effects of days of heavy rains linger in creeks and rivers.

Storms off the southeast Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico are threatening to worsen flooding in places like Brazoria and Fort Bend counties, southwest of Houston, where residents near the Brazos River have been forced from their homes. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled to tour the area Friday afternoon.

The river at Richmond in Fort Bend County, where flood stage is 48 feet, was 54.35 feet Friday morning, down slightly from Thursday. Fort Bend officials say 20 percent of the county’s land area has been affected by flooding.

Farther south in Brazoria County at Rosharon, the last flood gauge before the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico was at 52.42 feet Friday morning, a half-foot higher than 24 hours earlier. Flood stage is 43 feet.