HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — Over a hundred people had to evacuate their homes this weekend in Hardin County after severe storms led to flooding and road closures.
Now the worst seems to be over and people can start looking at recovery.
"Yesterday they were bringing people out by the load full, one after the other," said Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel.
Cooks Lake Road in Lumberton currently has 3-6 feet of water, according to an interactive flood map from the Interagency Flood Risk Management.
Cars sit abandoned near the Cooks Lake Road exit, belonging to people who used the county shuttle service to get out their homes last week.
"They made 35 trips across that water and back out," Judge McDaniel said.
However, that service stopped last night amid rising water levels.
"The county, along with the Sheriff's Office, and ESD 2, which is Lumberton Fire EMS worked together, and put their high profile vehicle in doing some shuttle service in and out, but yesterday it just became too dangerous to continue that operation," Judge McDaniel said.
Hardin County Sheriff's deputies are still patrolling the area.
"Actually I'm pretty fortunate, having some employees living in different areas of the county. I've got one that's in the Wildwood area. So the flooding up there, he's been beneficial. Kind of boots on the ground to be able to help. The same with the Cooks Lake Road area," said Judge McDaniel.
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One family, who chose to stay home despite their house being completely surrounded by water, told 12News they believe the water will recede soon.
“Looking for that moment for that window of opportunity to be able to open some of the roads. You know we opened State Highway 327 this morning," said Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.
Fire & Ice is a new boiled seafood restaurant off Highway 96 at Cooks Lake Road and they're glad the water didn't get into their building.
"Cause I just started working here about a month and a half, two months ago. So I might would've had to find a new job pretty quickly," said Eric Simmons, an employee.
Fire & Ice is now taking steps to protect their business from flooding.
"What we're doing with the parking lot right now. We're working on getting it sloped that way. So that if anything happens water will just go out into the ditch," Simmons said.
County officials say it's important to report all damages to the Texas Division of Emergency (TDEM) Management.
"if we can get all that information reported up to the state and if we meet that certain threshold that the state requires, we may qualify for a presidential declaration, and if that happens then we could get some federal resources as well," Judge McDaniel said.
For those who are assessing damages to their homes and businesses, they can report them here.