After more than three months of little to no measurable rainfall, North Texans may finally see significant rain this week. But along with the much-needed drought relief comes growing concern about the potential for dangerous flooding. State officials are warning Texans to prepare now as wides pread heavy rain is expected to move across much of the state starting late Wednesday through Thursday, bringing the threat of flash flooding to portions of North Texas, Central Texas and areas along the Interstate 35 corridor. Gov. Greg Abbott is urging residents to take precautions ahead of what officials described as a potentially dangerous, multi-day flooding event. “Our task is straightforward. We want to make sure that our fellow Texans know about the volume of rain that’s about to hit their region with one collective goal,” Abbott said. “We want to save lives.” The governor has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate additional emergency response resources ahead of the storm. State officials said more than 1,900 emergency responders and more than 1,500 pieces of equipment have been positioned around Texas to assist if conditions worsen. Those resources include members of the Texas National Guard, swiftwater rescue boat teams and high-water rescue vehicles from Texas AM Task Force 1. “There is still time for Texans to be able to take action ahead of this heavy rain hitting your region,” Abbott said. “Please take whatever action you can to prepare yourself, your family, your home for the heavy rain that may come.” Forecasters have warned that some locations could see several inches of rain, and isolated areas could receive significantly higher amounts if repeated rounds of storms develop. They warn that drought-stricken conditions can sometimes increase flooding concerns. William Baule, assistant state climatologist at Texas AM University, said the amount and intensity of rainfall will determine how much water the ground can absorb. “I would venture to say we’re going to see a lot of improvement in the drought map next week,” he said. “If that rainfall outstrips the ability of the soil to soak it up, you’re going to get runoff.” The concern is especially significant in areas that have gone months without substantial rainfall. Dry, hardened ground can be less effective at absorbing water when large amounts fall in a short period. Baule urged residents to remain aware of changing conditions throughout the storm event. “Keep an eye on things, keep an eye on low-lying areas, stream crossings, things like that,” he said. “Given that we haven’t seen rain in a while, and this could be a whole lot of it, you may see flooding in some of those areas. So it’s good to be aware.” Even with the flooding threat, many North Texans say they are eager for relief after a summer marked by persistent heat and drought. “My water bill is unbelievable; it is more than $300,” said Euless resident Prem Koirala, who spent part of Tuesday preparing his property and finishing outdoor chores before the rain arrives. “I thought, let me clean today, let me wash today and then get it dry before the sun goes down,” Koirala said. He has also noticed widening cracks in the soil around his property and worries about potential foundation damage. “Maybe I am a little afraid it is going to damage my foundation. Look at this,” he said while pointing to separated soil near his home. “That’s why I was waiting for the rain, so all these things, all plants and all grasses, get a little water. “But I don’t want to flash flood.” Tony Tennant of Euless said the dry conditions have taken a visible toll throughout his neighborhood. “It’s been kind of brutal,” Tennant said. “We’ve seen some showers here briefly, but they are barely even blowing through, enough to wet the pavement. I’m looking forward to the cooler temperatures, and the rain is just a benefit for all of us. All of our trees are just struggling.” NEED SANDBAGS? As residents prepare for the storm, the City of Fort Worth is offering free sandbags on Wednesday to help protect homes and property. Sandbags will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at two locations: 4100 Columbus Trail in Fort Worth 309 Hillshire Drive in Haslet The city is limiting distribution to 15 sandbags per household on a first-come, first-served basis. Beware that each sandbag weighs about 25 to 35 pounds. Residents must provide proof of address and are encouraged to call ahead to verify availability before traveling to either site. Please call 817-392-6261 before arriving to confirm sandbag availability and pickup information. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less