AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has waived some towing regulations to make it easy to get vehicles off of flooded streets.
Vehicles from Houston to Beaumont were abandoned as Imelda dropped as much as 40 inches of rain on some areas Thursday.
In an announcement Thursday, Abbott said he ordered the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to waive rules relating to out of state towing vehicles.
With those regulations removed, Abbott said responders will be able to move more quickly in recovering these vehicles and limiting damage to them.
“This order will ensure our communities have the resources they need to tow vehicles quickly and mitigate damage and danger for those in the storm’s path,” Abbott said in a statement.
One towing company told 12NewsNow's Rachel Keller said they'd rescued more than 100 people in southeast Texas.
Flash flooding occurred all over the area with numerous road closures and water rescues. One of those road closures was I-10, which remained shut down between Beaumont and Winnie early Friday. Officials are urging everyone in the emergency area to seek high ground.
So far the storm has claimed two lives including one in Jefferson County when a man was electrocuted while moving his horse in flood waters.