Updated at 12:05 p.m. with more information from the Brazos River Authority.
Evacuations will be ordered in Parker County on Wednesday morning after the area was hit hard by heavy rainfall and threats of major flooding, Parker County Judge Pat Deen told WFAA.
A disaster will also be declared later Wednesday, Deen said.
After the area near Possum Kingdom Lake received more than 5 inches of rain in about two hours overnight, the Brazos River Authority had to open four floodgates at Morris Sheppard Dam to prevent the water from cresting the top of the gates and protect the integrity of the dam, according to officials with the authority.
The gates were opened around 5:50 a.m. Wednesday and 40,000 cubic feet of water per second were released as a result, according to officials with the Brazos River Authority.
That water is projected to hit Horseshoe Bend in about 18 to 24 hours, which would be between 11:00 p.m. Wednesday through 5:00 a.m. Thursday, according to Deen.
Deen said residents of Horseshoe Bend, Lazy Bend Estate’s, Soda Springs River View Road, Thorp Springs Road, Hillcroft Drive, Springwood Drive, Gilbert Drive, Harris Drive Driftwood Ranch Trail, East Meadow Lane, North Blue Stem Court and South Old Tin Top Road should be aware of the release.
Officials with the National Weather Service have predicted that the Brazos River will crest on Friday at 22.5 feet near Dennis, Texas. The flood stage for the river is 21 feet.
Deen said he will sign a disaster declaration to allow the county to qualify for state resources. The county's Emergency Operations Center has been activated, according to the judge and will be in communication via Blackboard Connect to areas affected by the water release.
In Palo Pinto County, State Highway 16 was closed until further notice due to high water from the release, said Texas Department of Transportation officials. The closure was between Cliffs Drive and FM 2353.
"As additional flood gates are opened, other closures may occur," a spokesperson said.
Flooding could continue throughout the day Wednesday across North Texas as more rain is expected to hit. Much of North Texas is under a flash flood watch until 7 p.m.
The Brazos River Authority was in the process of closing the fourth gate by 10 a.m. Wednesday and said they hoped to able to close the third gate down later Wednesday and leave just two gates open "to pass the heavy runoff."
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