More rain in the forecast as flooding shuts down I-10 at Texas-Louisiana border

Jamie Holden﻿﻿ moved his belongings onto the roof of his home in Deweyville before floodwaters got inside.﻿ Jamie Holden﻿﻿ moved his belongings onto the roof of his home in Deweyville before floodwaters got inside.﻿ Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Image 1 of / 162 Caption Close More rain in the forecast as flooding shuts down I-10 at Texas-Louisiana border 1 / 162 Back to Gallery

Interstate 10 remains shut down in both directions at the Texas border with Louisiana along the Sabine River as floodwaters threatened the area and more rain is forecast for the region during the next few days.

Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation blocked the eastbound lanes Wednesday morning as water crept onto the roadway. Their counterparts in Louisiana shut down the westbound lanes Tuesday.

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Officials with the Louisiana Department of Transportation said the freeway is likely to be closed all day Wednesday and it was unknown when the road would be reopened.

Joe Mires, spokesman for the Orange County emergency management office, said the river could still rise by another 6 inches near Interstate 10, but should begin receding late in the day on Wednesday.

Gov. Greg Abbott praised emergency personnel who have coordinated the evacuation of thousands of people from flooded areas of Southeast Texas.

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Abbott said during a news conference Wednesday in Orange that emergency coordination among local and state agencies helped minimize dangers to residents. He thanked Louisiana officials for contributing to the emergency effort.

More rain is forecast later this week for areas along the state line near Orange, Texas, and Lake Charles, La., as well as near Lafayette, La., according to the National Weather Service. A 40 percent chance of rain fall is expected Thursday, increasing to 50 percent Friday and Saturday before the area may get break from the rain on Sunday.

Forecasters said a total of about a half inch to an inch of rain is expected in most spots as showers and thunderstorms move through the region, which is already drenched in floodwaters. But the rain likely will not increase flooding problems.

"Fortunately, rainfall totals should not result in new or worse flooding, said Tim Humphrey, a meteorologist with the weather service in Lake Charles.

Officials in Texas and Louisiana said they are monitoring the situation and worry more rain could create additional transportation headaches.

"Obviously any more rain is not great news," Sarah Dupre, a TxDOT spokeswoman. "It's a waiting game at this point."

Louisiana officials agreed.

"Right now we're just taking it one day at a time," said Deidra Druilhet, a spokesman foe LDOT.

Water released from the rising Toledo Bend Reservoir north of I-10 is flowing downstream, helping to create the flooding. Heavy rains pounded Southwestern Louisiana in previous days.

On Wednesday, Dupre said U.S. 190 is open at the Sabine River, but other bridges across the river remained closed on state highways 12 and 63. These are the three southernmost crossings north of I-10.

The bridge over the river on State Highway 82 was open Tuesday but officials advised travelers against using it because floodwaters threatened the area and the bridge was not built for large amounts of traffic.

The closure had traffic backed up for miles and motorists were encouraged to seek alternate routes and to use Interstate 20 for travel to the east and west in the area.

Flooding in the region has prompted residents to flee the rising water. Evacuations were ordered Tuesday for areas along the Sabin River in Orange County. Several people were rescued from floodwaters.