At least 5 dead, hundreds rescued from high water in Houston flooding

[Little Tich]

Source: CNN

(CNN)At least five people have been killed in flooding that has covered the Houston region, officials said Monday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people and knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses.

"This is a life-threatening emergency," the city said on an emergency website. "Houston residents should avoid travel at all costs today."

Four of the deaths happened in hard-hit Harris County, officials said.

The driver of an 18-wheeler was found dead inside the cab after he drove into high waters, a Harris County constable reported, and another man was found dead in a submerged car, the Houston Fire Department said.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/18/us/houston-texas-flooding/

[SusanCalvin]

1. Thanks for noticing. It was a huge mess. nt

[Dustlawyer]

2. We were spared the worst this time 90 miles East.

A month ago nearby Deweyville was cut off and flooded over by the rising Sabine River. Lots of April showers for us! Usually when we have a wet Spring it stops raining in late June and we don't get much til September.

The weather just gets more extreme by the year. I really dread hurricane season!

[ananda]

3. This is why..

.. I moved to Austin.

I just couldn't take the flooding in Houston any more.

[nitpicker]

4. BBC coverage

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36079009

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of emergency in Houston after record rainfall claimed five lives.

Meteorologists said some 17.6in (44.7cm) of rain fell on Houston on Monday alone, levels national officials said were "historic". Rivers burst their banks in downtown Houston and 1,200 people were rescued from rising floodwaters.

Close to 70,000 people were left without power in the city, the fourth-largest in the United States. At least 1,000 homes have flooded, with the number likely to rise. City officials have turned a large shopping centre into an evacuation centre.
(snip)

One Houston flood official said waters recorded in one area were 40ft (12 metres) higher than the previous record.

The city, on the Gulf of Mexico, is prone to heavy rains, and has seen a number of major flooding events in the last year alone. However, this flood is the largest to strike the city since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, which led to 23 deaths across the state, the City of Houston Twitter account said.
(snip)

[kentauros]

5. Here's a good report from Weather Underground:

[font size="4"]More Heavy Rain May Aggravate Flooding in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana (FORECAST)[/font]
April 19, 2016

More locally heavy rainfall is forecast for flood-weary parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, including the Houston metro area through at least Wednesday, ahead of a slow-moving low pressure system pushing from the Rockies in the nation's midsection.


Map showing the heaviest rainfall totals in the Houston area in the 24 hours through Monday morning.

Torrential rainfall caused major flash flooding in parts of southeast Texas Monday morning. The Houston area was particularly hard hit with 10 to 20 inches of rain measured on the northwest and north side of the city, according to the Harris County Flood Control District. Dozens of water rescues have been reported and numerous of subdivisions have seen flooding. The governor of Texas has also declared a state of emergency in nine counties due to the deadly flooding. For the latest on impacts from the flooding, see our full news story at the link below.

Below are more details on the severe weather and flood threats the next few days. At the bottom of this article you can find a full recap on the severe weather caused by this same storm system since Friday.

And we're having another heavy rain in SW Houston right now...

[Baclava]

6. Incredible pics

http://www.chron.com/houston/article/More-flooding-possible-as-thunderstorms-hit-7256960.php#photo-9825915

[smirkymonkey]

7. How terrifying!

I can't imagine what it must be like. I can swim, but out of control flooding just scares the shit out of me.

[texanwitch]

8. The problem is over building by bayous, creeks, and rivers.

Bayous, creeks, and rivers need flood zones.

Old inner city neighborhoods are being replaced by townhouses.

We just have to much runoff now, the water has to go somewheres.

My old inner city neighbor floods now, never did before.


If y'all plan to move to Houston, think where are you going you live.

We have 18 bayous in Houston alone, not counting creeks and rivers outside of Houston.

We are called the bayou city for a reason.
.