| | | As severe storms moved through Southeast Texas again late Monday into early Tuesday morning, high water and flooding made many of the city's roads impassable, prompting officials to urge residents to stay home. Most of Houston's major roadways are flooded or filled with stalled vehicles, forcing the shutdown of highways and streets, including the East Sam Houston tollway in both directions and Interstate 45 North in both directions. YOUR TAKE: Are you there? How bad is the flooding near you? A flash flood warning was in effect until 6 a.m. Central for Fort Bend and Harris counties. Harris County includes the city of Houston. Harris County Flood District advised residents waking up for work and school Tuesday morning to not leave their homes. Many school districts announced closures and delays Tuesday because of the severe flooding. USA TODAY Twister kills 13 in Mexico; 12 missing in Central Texas flooding One of the hardest hit areas was on the westside of the city at Beltway 8 and the Katy Freeway where more than eight inches of rain was reported as of 2:20 a.m. Some drivers said they had been stuck since 11:30 p.m. At Braes Bayou in far Southwest Houston more than nine inches of rain was reported. A funnel cloud was reported in West Houston Monday evening, but most of the damage reported as of early Tuesday was a result of street flooding. Views from Houston TranStar, the city's transportation and emergency management center, showed hundreds of drivers stalled out on the frontage roads along the Katy Freeway. Others were stuck on the main lanes of the Southwest Freeway and on I-45 N at North. Around 200 basketball fans who attended a Houston Rockets game were stuck in the Toyota Center in Houston early Tuesday because of the severe weather. The weather service reported 5 to 7 inches had fallen there Monday night and an additional 2 to 4 inches were possible. A tornado tore through a Central Texas town Monday, destroying four homes and leaving at least one person dead. Severe storms surged through central Texas, snapping trees, damaging homes and moving cars. VPC Milam County Judge Dave Barkemeyer said the storm hit a subdivision about 60 miles northeast of Austin. Barkemeyer says the man died when his mobile home was destroyed and that four other people were injured. No identities have been released. The flash floods destroyed more than 350 homes and left up to 1,000 residents homeless. The latest tragedy comes as 12 people remain missing after the vacation home they were staying in was swept away in the deadly floods that hit the region over the Memorial Day Weekend. A Texas family of four were swept away by severe flood waters with only the father being able to escape. The victim's family has come to accept the likely outcome. VPC "I think recognizing with what's happening with the weather, we all know and we have accepted that they're gone," said Julie Shields, whose sister is still missing after the flooding. Shields said her sister, Laura McComb, and her two children, 6-year-old Andrew and 4-year-old Leighton, are among those missing in Wimberley, Texas. "My sister and I had been texting and talking throughout the night and she had told me around 11:00 that water had started coming in," Shields said. But Shields said her sister didn't realize how bad it would get until too late. "1:00 in the morning she called me she said 'I'm in a house. I'm floating down the river. Tell mom and dad, 'I love you,' and pray,'" Shields said. Rescue personnel grab the the hand of a man stranded Rescue personnel grab the the hand of a man stranded in rushing water in Austin, Texas. (Photo: AP/Alberto Martinez, Austin American-Statesman) The severe weather is also causing concern in Willis, Texas, where the Lewis Creek Dam is reportedly growing weaker as the flood waters continue to rise. Some residents near the dam just moved back into their homes after a mandatory evacuation was lifted Sunday night. Officials say the Lewis Creek Dam is holding, as it is reinforced with 8,000 tons of limestone and 7,500 sandbags. USA TODAY Tuesday forecast: Severe weather in the South More severe storms are forecast to hit Oklahoma and Texas, bringing with them more rain, hail and tornadoes. Four people have now been confirmed killed in the deadly storms in Texas, while two more died in Oklahoma. Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms.Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms. (Photo: KENS 5) Fullscreen Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms. A resident finds a family photograph in the storm aftermath Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms. Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms. Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms. Devastation in Wimberley following surge of storms. Next Slide The Mexican city of Ciudad Acuna was devastated by a twister at daybreak Monday. Officials in Mexico said at least 13 were killed in the tornado, the Associated Press reported. The city, population 100,000, is across the border from Del Rio, Texas. | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.