Heavy rains pounded the city of Houston today as emergency vehicles were the only things lighting up the dark clouds. Some areas reported up to twenty inches between late Sunday and Monday morning, causing closure of county and city municipals.
According to National Weather Service the region was absorbing 4 inches per hour at peak time.
Buffalo and Braes Bayous two of the main waterways in the city overflowed their banks causing flooding in many residential areas including Meyerland. The upscale neighborhood that straddles 610 loop near Bellaire was way beyond the banks of the Braes, looking like an area lake on TV.
On KTRK TV during a live broadcast showing the high water, a man drove by and his vehicle was soon underwater. He was able to swim away with the assistance of reporter Steve Campion.
The floods was so severe that Harris County Judge Ed Emmett signed an emergency declaration for the county, reporting that more 1,000 homes had been flooded, and authorities had responded to more than 1,200 flooding emergencies.
Newly elected mayor Sylvester Turner said The City was closed for business April 18, and citizens should stay home because of freeway and feeder roads flooding. He cancelled his State of the City Address that was scheduled for today, and added, more than 88,000 homes were without power. Also closed were Houston and Fort Bend Independent School Districts, METRO Bus Lines, and more than 500 flights cancelled at Bush International and Hobby Airports. More rain is scheduled for tomorrow.
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