What about south or east?

Fwiw, I see boats being towed both ways between Austin and Houston.

Any updates if Harris or surrounding counties needing boats?

Latest update from the guys I know. Someone is issuing assignments to boats in areas but when the boats get to an area, some government entity is telling them there are no private boats allowed. Heard this from two different groups. Essentially big gov came in and said pack your ****, we're in control now. One of the twenty some odd boats I knew were working this morning is still working now. Everyone else has been kicked out.

Hopefully someone else will get on here and have a different experience.

I've talked to 4 different groups in the last hour that had no issues today. I have heard similar stories of people getting turned away. I guess it depends where you go.

Currently looking for an extra john boat to haul south in the early morning if anyone has one they are willing to let us use. If we get turned away tomorrow, we get turned away but at least we will try.

We helped some national guard guys today. They had high water trucks but no boats. You have to play by their rules and move methodically (slower) through an area.

This has been my experience. We started out doing water rescues Sunday in Meyerland then went out to Katy Sunday evening. Worked out in Katy all Monday. Today we went out to Fulshear at Weston Lakes, finished up there and got sent all over Richmond, Sugarland and Katy and every location either boats were pulling out bc they were finished or we got turned away by some sort of Govt entity. We had burned a bunch of fuel just driving around and there were boats all over the roads just looking for somewhere to go so we called it a day around 5.

Drove from Reagan to Dallas this afternoon. Seemed like every 20th vehicle heading south was pulling a flat bottom boat.

Once bigger brother steps in, things become bureaucratic, and SLOW. Very much the opposite of the typical "get it done with what we got" Texan ethos. At some point, you're threatening some guy's overtime opportunity...quite literally. In reality I imagine they want to be thorough, and make sure that things don't become chaotic.

We drove around following directions to staging areas a lot, and got turned away by police or others before we got most places. Other locations didn't need anymore boats. Ended up in cypress early afternoon where they threw a constable in our truck and sent us to help clear a neighborhood till dark.

Apparently backing the boat in and out caused the geniusly placed electric power steering pump to go out. So now trying to get that figured out while they say they are still planning to send out boats tonight.

We spent Monday in Katy, following some advise from some guy I found his number on social media. Great guy, directed us to a spot with extreme need. Today we started off attempting to work Humble and spent(waisted 1-1.5hr) at a LEO rally point where is along with 8 other boats sat around waiting for their direction only to leave frustrated and found out way back to Katy area.

The Leo who rode with us did give us his chief's number and said, "you didn't get this from me, but this should get you all the information you need to help tomorrow". Pretty good dude.

Sounds like the flooding is making its way east, towns and cities towards east Texas are starting to flood. I don't think most of the boat volunteers that are being turned away from Houston are aware of that phenomenon.

How bad was Weston lakes if you don't mind me asking? Used to live there and still have some friends there.

Organized coordinators at this shell station at 99 and 290 if you are coming in from the northwest. We got done at Cinco and there were a number of boats staging there when we came back. They said to come back in the morning but we passed a ton of boats heading down 290 and Hwy 6 on our way back north. Id be surprised if anywhere on the western side of town still needed much help.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0018246,-95.7588982,15z

The area between Winnie, Port Arthur, Orange has gotten a bunch of rain in the last 12 hours and they're getting pounded right now. If you are wanting to help, that's where Id be heading. I've heard reports of things starting to flood that did not flood during Rita.

As someone mentioned, you might check some of the counties east of Houston. If you can get there.

BigHead 04 said:

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How bad was Weston lakes if you don't mind me asking? Used to live there and still have some friends there.

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The areas close to the creeks and the back part by the Brazos were flooded but I'd say the majority of the homes were still dry. Can't say how it'll be tomorrow though since the Brazos hadn't crested in the time we were there. They had a lot of support out there though.

Just received a message from a friend that Houston PD is requesting immediate assistance from boats and high clearance vehicles around Memorial City Mall in Katy

Katy/Cinco Ranch area needs assistance - seeing lots of personal and official requests. Reservoir spillover is making a bad situation worse, there. County is running boats checking occupancy but moving slower than the water is. I'm extremely familiar with the area and have current first aid/cpr/wilderness rescue training if anyone is headed that way from dfw and wants/needs help on their boat. Sadly, I don't have access to anything suitable for this kind of situation.

Update .
They are asking for boats with no less than 30hp motors. People with 9.9s are getting pushed around

People in Beaumont, Port Arthur, & Orange area are in desperate need.

Yup. Weather Channel just said that they need boats in Port Arthur badly.

Looks like you can get through to Beaumont on 90. I got a great boat for this with a 60 on it but am stuck at work today.

Vhull and pontoon were causing more problems than they were solving on the addicks reservoir yesterday. Mainly due to the varying depth and running aground. An I/o will get destroyed if you launch it into a neighborhood.

Still staging at the mall?

Where specifically? Most areas I've been working earlier this week I've been turned away from or told CG or someone was taking over. I have a smaller boat with a 5hp that I'll go back in but I need to know where to launch so I'm not burning a ton of fuel again today

Port Arthur is the place to be. We are not there yet but from the sound of it they are currently launching in 6" of water.

For those who are in or returning, what is the fuel situation like?

I have a (full) 50gal auxiliary tank on my truck in BCS, but could never get clear info on fueling needs and where. I certainly dont want to drive down there for nothing.

Yesterday afternoon there was no fuel at the 290 buccees or the others stations we saw further in. As many people as are out driving around there must be fuel around but I would not plan on being able to find it. Anybody going that way should carry what they're going to need.

Lots of talk about no small boats in PA or Beaumont due to heavy flowing water.

Rescues and boat launching around 59 Buccees in Wharton.

Pierce Ranch just drove 200 head of cattle down FM 961.

National Guard got a truck stuck up near Elm Grove on FM102.

brother in beau.ont with boat today pleading for additional boats.

FWIW. Lots of my duck buddies are headed out and back to Dallas. Said that too many small boats (narrow and small motor) are making it worse. They can't hold the current and many people don't know how to load and drive a boat in moving water. They all have wide hull large motor duck boats and are only doing ok. Lots of the I just bought a boat to help or borrowed my buddies brother in laws boat are causing more problem then good. Fan boats with low side walls are taking on water and are sinking too. Just be safe wear a life vest everyone.

I have a small CC skiff with a good power to weight ratio that is unsinkable and has high freeboard, and am a very experienced boater. I am supposing they could use my help?