Houston deadly flood



  • Residents are evacuated by airboat from their flooded neighborhood, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Spring, Texas. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.

    Houston deadly flood  

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    HOUSTON (AP) — As more than a foot of rain deluged the nation's fourth-largest city, inundating homes, shutting down major highways and leaving at least five people dead, Houston's mayor said there was no immediate solution.Heavy flooding has become nearly an annual rite of passage in the practically sea-level city, where experts have long warned of the potential for catastrophe.
    "I regret anyone whose home is flooded again," said Sylvester Turner, the city's mayor, on Monday. "There's nothing I can say that's going to ease your frustration. We certainly can't control the weather."
    1/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP
    • 4/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

      Residents walk through floodwaters after being evacuated from their flooded apartment complex April 19 in Houston.
    • Trucks slowly drive through flood waters on North I-45 at North Main Street as White Oak Bayou comes over it's banks, flooding the freeway, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. More than a foot of rain Monday in parts of Houston left scores of subdivisions and several major highways under water, knocked out power to thousands of people and closed schools.
    • Brays Bayou floods after heavy rains hit the Houston region, Monday, April 18, 2016. More than a foot of rain Monday in parts of Houston left scores of subdivisions and several major highways under water, knocked out power to thousands of people and closed schools.
    • A woman walks out of high water in the Timber Lakes Timber Ridge subdivision on Monday, April 18, 2016, in The Woodlands, Texas. More than a foot of rain fell Monday in parts of Houston, submerging scores of subdivisions and several major interstate highways, forcing the closure of schools and knocking out power to thousands of residents who were urged to shelter in place.
    • A rescue boat approaches Greens Bayou on Green Rd. Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston, Texas. More than a foot of rain Monday in parts of Houston left scores of subdivisions and several major highways under water, knocked out power to thousands of people and closed schools.
    • Traffic works its way northbound on I-45 North at Quitman as White Oak Bayou comes over it's banks Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. More than a foot of rain Monday in parts of Houston left scores of subdivisions and several major highways under water, knocked out power to thousands of people and closed schools.
    • A man rides on the outside of a dump truck through floodwaters Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    • As Greens Bayou starts to crest its' banks, a man rescues a armadillo from flood waters in Houston, Texas, Monday, April 18, 2016. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    • A resident looks out from the second floor as floodwaters surround his apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    • A video still of an aerial view of flooding in Texas on April 18, 2016.



    Residents are evacuated by airboat from their flooded neighborhood April 19 in Spring, Texas. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.

    "A lot of rain coming in a very short period of time, there's nothing you can do," he added.
    Flash flooding and a 50 percent chance of more were possible Tuesday, a day after some areas saw water levels approaching 20 inches. The National Weather Service had the area under a flash flood watch through Wednesday morning.
    Scores of subdivisions were flooded and most schools remained closed although the city itself was returning to normal. Municipal offices reopened Tuesday and by midmorning, less than 10,000 CenterPoint Energy customers were without power, an improvement from 24 hours earlier when electricity outages topped 100,000. Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority resumed service and most highways within the city were open.
    Outside the city and into the suburbs of northwest Harris County, runoff from Monday's rains forced creeks over their banks and forced more people to evacuate their homes overnight.
    "It's going to have to trickle its way through the city of Houston and to Galveston Bay," Francisco Sanchez, a county spokesman said.
    In addition to its location, Houston's "gumbo" soft soil, fast-growing population and building boom that has turned empty pastures into housing developments all over the city's suburbs and exurbs make it vulnerable to high waters.
    Harris County has seen a 30 percent jump in population since 2000. Its surrounding counties have almost grown more than 10 percent since 2000, according to the Greater Houston Partnership, a business group.
    Some of the resulting developments include adequate greenspace for water runoff, but not all of them do, said Philip Bedient, an engineering professor at Rice University.
    "Could we have engineered our way out of this?" Bedient said. "Only if we started talking about alterations 35 or 40 years ago."
    Samuel Brody, director of the Environmental Planning & Sustainability Research Unit at Texas A&M University, last year called Houston "the No. 1 city in America to be injured and die in a flood."
    Rainstorms last year over Memorial Day weekend caused major flooding that required authorities to rescue 20 people, most of them drivers, from high water. Drivers abandoned at least 2,500 vehicles, and more than 1,000 homes were damaged in the rain.
    The year before, flash flooding in Houston and suburban counties left cars trapped on major highways.
    Those storms still pale in comparison to the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Allison left behind $5 billion in damages and flooded parts of downtown and the Texas Medical Center, which sits near the Brays Bayou, a key watershed.
    Bedient has worked with the Texas Medical Center on better preparing its facilities for massive rainfall, including the use of a sophisticated weather alert system that gives the medical center extra time to activate gates and doors that block excess rainwater.
    Improving the monitoring of specific watersheds and flood-prone areas might give affected residents the extra bit of time they need to save lives and take protective measures.
    "We can't solve this flood problem in Houston," Bedient said. "All we can do is a better job warning.
  • Harris County Constable Deputy J. King carries two children after they were evacuated from their flooded apartment complex, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods. 

    2/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP


    Harris County Constable Deputy J. King carries two children after they were evacuated from their flooded apartment complex April 19 in Houston.
  • A resident of a retirement and assisted living complex is helped by rescue personnel as the facility is evacuated due to rising floodwaters, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Spring, Texas. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods. 

    3/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP


    A resident of a retirement and assisted living complex is helped by rescue personnel as the facility is evacuated due to rising floodwaters April 19 in Spring, Texas.
  • Residents walk through floodwaters after being evacuated from their flooded apartment complex, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.

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    42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Residents are evacuated from their flooded apartment complex April 19 in Houston.
    6/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Residents are evacuated from their flooded apartment complex in Houston on April 19, 2016. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.
    7/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Louis Marquez carries his dog Dallas through floodwaters after rescuing the dog from his flooded apartment in Houston on April 19, 2016.
    8/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Betty Jones, center, is helped while being evacuated from her flooded apartment complex in Houston on April 19, 2016.
    9/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Deidra Andrews, left, waits with her husband Robert Darensburg to be evacuated from their flooded apartment complex in Houston on April 19, 2016.
    10/42 SLIDES © AFP/Getty Images

    Children play in flood waters in the Kelliwood Park neighborhood of Katy, Texas, on April 18, 2016.
    11/42 SLIDES © Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Residents of the Arbor Court apartments evacuate their flooded apartment complex in the Greenspoint area on April 18 in Houston.
    12/42 SLIDES © Gary Coronado/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Edgar Peneda, of Roadway Construction, inspects a collapsed retention wall along eastbound U.S. Highway 290 at Huffmeister after heavy rain on April 18 in Houston.
    13/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Residents are helped into a dump truck as they evacuate their apartment complex surrounded by floodwaters April 18 in Houston.
    14/42 SLIDES © Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Jordan Sanchez picks up debris while cleaning up after her home was flooded in the Timber Lakes Timber Ridge subdivision on April 18 in The Woodlands, Texas.
    15/42 SLIDES © Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle/AP

    People evacuate from Arbor Court Apartments in the Greenspoint area April 18 in Houston.
    16/42 SLIDES © Ralph Barrera/Statesman.com/AP

    Charles Ellis looks over the car driven by his neighbor that was engulfed when the roadway on FM 3223 collapsed due to a weakening from the heavy rains Monday afternoon. Widespread storms producing heavy amounts of rainfall hammered Central Texas communities like LaGrange producing are flooding and numerous road closures on April 18.
    17/42 SLIDES © Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Meital Harari cleans water out of her Meyerland home April 18 in Houston.
    18/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Residents use an air mattress to float on floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex April 18 in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    19/42 SLIDES © Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Justin Nelzen, in red vest, joins others as they work to rescue up to 70 horses along Cypresswood Drive near Humble along Cypress Creek April 18 in Houston.
    20/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP Photo

    Residents wade through floodwaters as they evacuate from their flooded apartment complex on April 18 in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    21/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Alberto Lopez, right, helps his wife, Glenda, wade through floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex April 18 in Houston.
    22/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP Photo

    Margarita Uribe, left, and her husband, Juan Juarez, wade through floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex on April 18 in Houston.
    23/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP Photo

    Rescue personnel use a boat to travel down a flooded street on April 18 in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    24/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP Photo

    Juan Tadoro carries his son Brandon through floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex on April 18 in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit. 
    25/42 SLIDES © Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Donald Treichel looks at the floodwater along Cypress Rosehill Road in Cypress, Texas, where the water is up to his doorstep Monday, April 18, 2016. "I've lived here 48 years and never seen it this high before," he said.
    26/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Felix Yanez, center, helps Lucy Olvio, right, and Judy wade through floodwaters as they evacuate from their flooded apartment complex April 18 in Houston.
    27/42 SLIDES © Pat Sullivan/AP

    A man holds onto a fence as he wades through chest-deep water along a flooded street April 18 in Houston.
    28/42 SLIDES © Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Richard Lopez and Allie Hairford-Siemens hold the reins of three horses as they lead them from the back of a truck through floodwater along Cypress Rosehill Road in Cypress, Texas, on April 18. The three horses were removed from stalls at Cypress Equestrian Center. Plans are being formulated on what to do the more than 30 horses in a pasture.
    29/42 SLIDES © Pat Sullivan/AP

    Abandoned vehicles sit in high water at an exit ramp off I-45 on April 18 in Houston.
    30/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    Darius Simon, second from left, helps his mother, Carol, evacuate her flooded apartment complex along with his brother Dominique and son Isaac Hernandez on April 18 in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
    31/42 SLIDES © Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Kaicee Crowley walks through floodwaters to get belongings out of her stranded car on North I-45 as White Oak Bayou comes over its banks, flooding the freeway, on April 18 in Houston.
    32/42 SLIDES © Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Jersey Village firefighters and police help people from a rescue boat into a transport truck on April 18 in Jersey Village, Texas.
    33/42 SLIDES © Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Taylor McKenzie holds on to his dog, Big Black, as he walks out of high water in the Timber Lakes Timber Ridge subdivision on April 18 in The Woodlands, Texas.
    34/42 SLIDES © Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Trucks slowly drive through flood waters on North I-45 at North Main Street as White Oak Bayou comes over its banks on April 18 in Houston.
    35/42 SLIDES © Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Brays Bayou floods after heavy rains hit the Houston region on April 18.
    36/42 SLIDES © Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle/AP

    A woman walks out of high water in the Timber Lakes Timber Ridge subdivision on April 18 in The Woodlands, Texas.
    37/42 SLIDES © Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle/AP

    A rescue boat approaches Greens Bayou on April 18 in Houston, Texas.
    38/42 SLIDES © Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle/AP

    Traffic works its way northbound on I-45 North at Quitman as White Oak Bayou comes over its banks on April 18 in Houston.
    39/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    A man rides on the outside of a dump truck through floodwaters on April 18 in Houston. 
    40/42 SLIDES © Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle/AP

    As Greens Bayou starts to crest its banks, a man rescues an armadillo from flood waters in Houston on April 18.
    41/42 SLIDES © David J. Phillip/AP

    A resident looks out from the second floor as floodwaters surround his apartment complex on April 18 in Houston.
    42/42 SLIDES © Reuters

    A video still of flooding in Texas on April 18.
    Associated Press

  • Residents are evacuated from their flooded apartment complex Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.
  • Residents are evacuated from their flooded apartment complex Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.
  • Louis Marquez carries his dog Dallas through floodwaters after rescuing the dog from his flooded apartment Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.
  • Betty Jones, center, is helped while being evacuated from her flooded apartment complex Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.
  • Deidra Andrews, left, waits with her husband Robert Darensburg to be evacuated from their flooded apartment complex Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods.
  • In this April 18, 2016 photo children play in flood waters in the Kelliwood Park neighborhood of Katy, Texas. Flooding in and around the US city of Houston has killed at least five people and prompted mass rescues, reports said. With rain wreaking havoc in the Texas city -- the fourth most populous in the country -- Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in nine counties. A flash flood watch for Houston will remain in effect until Wednesday morning, as more rain is expected Tuesday, the city's Office of Emergency Management warned. Rain came down at rates as high as four inches an hour on Monday, the Weather Channel reported, saying some residents were trapped in their homes and cars.
  • Residents of the Arbor Court apartments evacuate their flooded apartment complex in the Greenspoint area on Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston.
  • Edgar Peneda, of Roadway Construction, inspects a collapsed retention wall along eastbound U.S. Highway 290 at Huffmeister after heavy rain on Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Massive flooding has become nearly an annual rite of passage in Houston, which is grappling with destroyed homes, trapped drivers and deaths for the third straight year.
  • Residents are helped into a dump truck as they evacuate their apartment complex surrounded by floodwaters Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Jordan Sanchez picks up debris while cleaning up after her home was flooded in the Timber Lakes Timber Ridge subdivision on Monday, April 18, 2016, in The Woodlands, Texas. More than a foot of rain fell Monday in parts of Houston, submerging scores of subdivisions and several major interstate highways, forcing the closure of schools and knocking out power to thousands of residents who were urged to shelter in place.
  • People evacuate from Arbor Court Apartments in the Greenspoint area Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Massive flooding has become nearly an annual rite of passage in Houston, which is grappling with destroyed homes, trapped drivers and deaths for the third straight year.
  • Charles Ellis looks over the car driven by his neighbor that was engulfed when the roadway on FM 3223 collapsed due to a weakening from the heavy rains Monday afternoon. Widespread storms producing heavy amounts of rainfall hammered Central Texas communities like LaGrange producing are flooding and numerous road closures Monday April 18, 2016.
  • Meital Harari cleans water out of her Meyerland home, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Her family rode out the storm at a nearby house because her daughter has nightmares from the Memorial Day floods. Massive flooding has become nearly an annual rite of passage in Houston, which is grappling with destroyed homes, trapped drivers and deaths for the third straight year.
  • Residents use an air mattress to float on floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Justin Nelzen, in red vest, joins others as they work to rescue up to 70 horses along Cypresswood Drive near Humble along Cypress Creek, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. More than a foot of rain fell Monday in parts of Houston, submerging scores of subdivisions and several major interstate highways, forcing the closure of schools and knocking out power to thousands of residents who were urged to shelter in place.
  • Residents wade through floodwaters as they evacuate from their flooded apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Alberto Lopez, right, helps his wife Glenda wade through floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Margarita Uribe, left, and her husband, Juan Juarez, wade through floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Rescue personnel use a boat to travel down a flooded street Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Juan Tadoro carries his son Brandon through floodwaters as they evacuate their flooded apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Donald Treichel looks at the flood water along Cypress Rosehill Rd. in Cypress, Texas where the water is up to his doorstep shown Monday, April 18, 2016. He said, "I've lived here 48 years and never seen it this high before."
  • Felix Yanez, center, helps Lucy Olvio, right, and Judy wade through floodwaters as they evacuate from their flooded apartment complex Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • A man holds onto a fence as he wades through chest deep water along a flooded street Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. The Houston area was under a flash flood watch through Tuesday morning.
  • Richard Lopez and Allie Hairford-Siemens hold the reins of three horses as they lead them from the back of truck through flood water along Cypress Rosehill Rd. in Cypress, Texas, Monday, April 18, 2016. The three horses were last removed from stalls at Cypress Equestrian Center. They are working on what to do with the more than 30 horses in a pasture.
  • Abandoned vehicles sit in high water at an exit ramp off of I-45 Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. More than a foot of rain fell Monday in parts of Houston, submerging scores of subdivisions and several major interstate highways, forcing the closure of schools and knocking out power to thousands of residents who were urged to shelter in place.
  • Darius Simon, second from left, helps his mother Carol, evacuate her flooded apartment complex along with his brother Dominique and son, Isaac Hernandez, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  • Kaicee Crowley walks through floodwaters to get belongings out of her stranded car at the North Main Street exit off of North I-45, as White Oak Bayou comes over it's banks, flooding the freeway, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. More than a foot of rain Monday in parts of Houston left scores of subdivisions and several major highways under water, knocked out power to thousands of people and closed schools. ()
  • Jersey Village firefighters and police help people from a rescue boat into a transport truck Monday, April 18, 2016, in Jersey Village, Texas. The people who have been rescued from their flooded homes are being taken to a shelter at Jersey Village Baptist Church. More than a foot of rain Monday in parts of Houston left scores of subdivisions and several major highways under water, knocked out power to thousands of people and closed schools.
  • Taylor McKenzie holds on to his dog, Big Black, as he walks out of high water in the Timber Lakes Timber Ridge subdivision on Monday, April 18, 2016, in The Woodlands, Texas. More than a foot of rain fell Monday in parts of Houston, submerging scores of subdivisions and several major interstate highways, forcing the closure of schools and knocking out power to thousands of residents who were urged to shelter in place. ()

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