Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator
    
 
Gender: 
Posts: 292
|
 |
Mass Flooding in parts of Gulf Coast
« on: Jun 19th, 2006, 10:47pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Downpour drenches parts of Gulf Coast
Houston, parts of Louisiana among hardest-hit
Monday, June 19, 2006; Posted: 9:36 p.m. EDT (01:36 GMT)
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- More than 10 inches of rain deluged parts of the Gulf Coast on Monday, forcing the evacuation of a Louisiana nursing home and stranding motorists on roads flooded up to waist-deep in Southeast Texas, where National Guard troops were on standby for more storms.
Rain from a second storm had begun to fall in Houston late Monday afternoon, hours after Mayor Bill White toured his city by helicopter and described seeing "block after block after block flooded."
More than 10 inches of rain was reported in the Houston area by the height of the morning rush hour, said Rusty Cornelius, administrative coordinator for Harris County Emergency Management. Almost 6 inches fell in just 75 minutes near Hobby Airport, the National Weather Service reported.
No deaths were reported, but roads across the Houston area, including Interstate 10 and other major arteries, were flooded and vehicles were stalled. Hobby Airport was closed more than 2 hours because employees couldn't get through the flooded roads to work. Several schools were closed. (Watch floodwaters fill Houston streets and highways -- 2:11)
In Sulphur, Louisiana, emergency crews evacuated 120 patients from Holly Hill Nursing Home, flooded with more than a foot of water after debris clogged a city storm drain near the nursing home's back door. Residents won't be able to return for at least a week, owner Elizabeth Fellows said.
Spotters in Sulphur measured more than 9 inches of rain, and the area had received an average of 4 to 6 inches by late afternoon, senior forecaster Kent Kuypers said. Nearby DeQuincy measured about 14 inches, he said.
In Texas, flood warnings remained in effect for some bayous in Harris County, and a flood watch was issued through Tuesday morning for about a dozen southeastern counties.
Near Hobby Airport, Luis Robles awakened to a leaky ceiling and floodwaters creeping into the front yard; less than a mile away, the brown water was waist-deep on an Interstate 610 exit.
With the rain still falling, Robles took pictures of his children wearing plastic ponchos and playing in the rain, as cars and trucks passed in the background, with water covering their tires.
"It was like a river over there," Robles said.
But officials said drainage improvements made since Tropical Storm Allison's catastrophic damage five years ago were working.
"We live in Houston, Texas, and you can't be surprised at flooding in Houston," White said. "When you have this much rain in a short period of time at a place that's near sea level, then you still have some real risk."
Gov. Rick Perry activated 50 Texas Army National Guard trucks, four helicopters, 30 rescue boats, one airboat from the General Land Office, seven swift water rescue teams and a civil support team from the 6th Army National Guard unit.
Harris County authorities said the forces weren't needed yet and would remain on standby.
Israel Nava and his father, who live near the airport, were scrambling to fix a gutter that was nearly ripped off in Monday morning's storm. They were bracing for the worst as the next round approached.
"Hopefully, it won't be as bad," Nava said. "We're just waiting to see what happens."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.
|
Sponsored by: The Fans!
Home
Help
Search
Members
Chat
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Add Poll
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print