VIDOR, Texas — For the first time in months, residents living along a road north of Vidor, can drive their cars instead of boats to get around.
Previously, 12News reported on Connolly Road, which was flooded, leaving residents feeling like they were living in a river.
12News was able to drive down the road today to check on the condition of the street.
The neighborhood has finally dried out after being submerged by the high waters of the Neches River. Neighbors had been using boats to get in and out. That meant even errands could take hours.
Resident Nolan Meyers says he's blessed to finally be able to drive his truck after being forced to switch from his keys to a paddle since February 2024.
"It feels so awesome to have my yard back!" said Meyers.
Two weeks ago, residents needed a boat to get down a half-mile stretch of Connolly Road.
But now, people like Meyers are finally back to a degree of normalcy.
"I'm old and overweight. It feels great to jump in my truck and run to the store and get groceries and not have to fight the whole river," Meyers said.
"I remember coming home and having to bring a lifted Jeep to go visit parents. I know it has flooded down there in the past, not at this magnitude for this period of time," said Risa King, public relations and outreach coordinator of the Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA).
The LNVA is not responsible for flood control. King says heavy rainfall up north in past months has to make its way south from Lake Sam Rayburn to Steinhagen Reservoir. It went through the open LNVA Saltwater Barrier and out to the gulf.
"There's a lot of rainfall that fell below Dam B, directly into the river, and you've also got inflows from flooding [events] that happened way up north. The army corps of engineers will control releases to minimize flooding impact," King said.
According to data from the Army Corps of Engineers, Sam Rayburn lake levels went from under conservation pool elevation in May, to almost 10 feet over that elevation in June, before returning to normal levels in August.
Fortunately, data shows both Sam Rayburn and Neches River levels are continuing to drop. But Meyer says he and the rest of the Connolly Road residents are staying prepared.
"We're always on guard," said Meyers.
12News reached out to the Army Corps of Engineers for more details on flood control and water releases this year. We've gotten no response to our calls and texts yet.