Thursday storms created flooding problems across Houston area
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Heavy rain fell Thursday on already saturated ground, leading to excessive runoff and flash flooding across the Houston area.
A few small but heavy showers have developed west of Houston, and they are moving this way. It prompted the National Weather Service to issue a brief Tornado Warning in Austin County, but none were actually reported.
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The recent rain brought down a century-old oak tree that served as the centerpiece of Duchesne Academy in the Galleria area. The tree crashed down Wednesday afternoon just minutes before students were around it. Mary Carter, Dean of the all-girl prep school saw it happen.
"All of a sudden the tree just fell and we both got scared and said my goodness gracious. We were blown away by it when we saw it because it's been so much a part of our history for the last 53 years," Carter said.
An arborist called in to inspect the damage says the rain was not the only reason the oak tree came down but it was a factor. No one was injured.
Meanwhile, flooding was a problem in other areas of Houston.
In southeast Houston, Precinct 8 deputies warned drivers to take it slow at the Beltway feeder and Sycamore. Even SUV drivers had problems getting through at the East Loop North and Clinton in the Galena Park area.
Cecilio Salinas showed Eyewitness News Reporter Christine Dobbyn the water line on his SUV as he waited for help at a gas station.
"I got up to the stop sign, I turned right and went down," Salinas said.
Drivers made waves as they crawled down Federal south o I-10. In Pasadena, drivers say some of the areas have been problems for years from 225 to Red Bluff Road.
Charlie Hinds has owned a popular paint and body shop for 40 years. He says in weather like this, they stay very busy from tow truck runs to the repair line lot back behind his business.
"The comical joke we always say is oh listen to the raindrops I say that silver dollars, that's the business you are in," Hinds said. "We don't want people to have accidents, we're here to aid when you do. In reality no rain, no accidents."
The showers the last few days are being produced by tropical moisture blowing in off the Gulf of Mexico combined with the moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Odile in the eastern Pacific.
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