Heavy Rains Flood Houston Roads

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Floodwaters drenched Houston streets early Tuesday after heavy overnight rains, forcing high-water rescues, soaking homes, closing schools and stranding motorists during rush-hour traffic.
"We just woke up to a puddle of water," said Cindy Rey as she and her husband tried to sweep away some 10 inches of floodwaters out of their home after overnight heavy rains. "I don’t think they mentioned it was going to rain as much as it did. We didn’t expect any flooding."
The couple said their furniture, television and other items were apparently ruined after water surged into their home early in the morning. They estimate more than a foot of water was outside and has since started receding.
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management was urging residents in flooded homes to stay indoors.
Some freeway and toll road stretches were closed after at least 6 inches of rain fell. According to emergency management officials, a rain gauge on Buffalo Bayou in far western Houston collected more than 6 inches overnight and nearly 9 inches in 24 hours. They also continue monitoring area reservoirs, which have risen at a high rate. A flood watch continued in effect through Tuesday evening for Southeast Texas.
The disrupted commute prompted some school districts to cancel classes for the day. It also prompted Houston school district officials to postpone the state-mandated Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exam until Wednesday.
About 200 motorists were stranded for a couple of hours in a parking lot near Interstate 610 and U.S. 59 after they sought refuge from rising floodwaters on frontage roads.
Rescue workers from various departments in the county plucked several people from rushing water. Most were motorists who drove into flooding, said Mark Sloan, Harris County emergency management coordinator. Houston’s assistant fire chief, Adrian Trevino, says fire-rescue boats and high-clearance vehicles, including city dump trucks, were used in some high-water rescues of motorists Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported.
Three shelters were opened for Harris County residents but so far none were occupied, said Sloan.
"Most of the homes that have been impacted are still livable," Sloan said.
The rains came a day after tornadoes left damage in Corsicana and near Austin and Victoria.
Ten structures in Corsicana were damaged in the tornado that had winds of up to 90 mph and was on the ground for about four-tenths of a mile. Another tornado damaged more than 20 structures in the Williamson County community of Jonah, including 12 to 15 homes. In Yorktown, about 30 miles northwest of Victoria, a twister destroyed one home. No injuries were reported.