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HOUSTON, Texas: Floodwaters in the Houston area and parts of Southeast Texas began to recede on May 6, enabling residents to return to their homes after days of heavy rainfall.

Although officials in Harris County, where Houston is located, reported no deaths or significant injuries from the flooding, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said there were at least three deaths in the state.

After days of heavy rainfall in the Houston area and other parts of Southeast Texas, the day saw mostly sunny skies and little rain.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county’s top elected official, told reporters, “We can absolutely see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we have made it through the worst of this weather event.”

National Weather Service meteorologist Jimmy Fowler said that areas near Lake Livingston, located northeast of Houston, received more than 23 inches (58 centimeters) of rain over the past week.

He added that areas in northeastern Harris County, the nation’s third-largest county, ranged from 6 inches (15 centimeters) to almost 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain in that same period.

Hidalgo said that over the last few days, 233 people and 186 pets were rescued in Harris County Active, and officials were transitioning from a response phase into recovery mode and cleanup.

Across Texas, more than 600 people were rescued by local and state authorities, and Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 91 counties impacted by the severe weather, Abbott said.

“It has been heart wrenching to see our fellow Texans be literally inundated with record rainfall,” Abbott said.

Except for the neighborhood of Kingwood, where some homes and roads flooded, last week’s rainfall did not severely affect most of Houston.