Deadly Floods Hit Texas and Oklahoma

**European Knight** · 05-27-2015, 06:26 AM

http://www.wsj.com/articles/deadly-f...641202?tesla=y

Massive storms leave at least 15 dead and about as many missing

HOUSTON—A storm system that caused massive flooding in Oklahoma and central Texas during the holiday weekend swept into Houston on Monday night, leaving at least 15 dead and about as many missing in the two states.

Some parts of Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, received as much as 8 to 10 inches of rain, and several of the bayous that course through the city spilled over their banks, forcing people to abandon countless vehicles along roadways.

Four people were confirmed dead from flooding in the city, including two found in waterlogged vehicles, and another two found in Brays Bayou, officials said. A fifth person died of an apparent heart attack while pushing a car out of water, and two others remained missing after a rescue boat capsized.

“We had torrential rain in a very short period of time in the middle of the night,” Mayor Annise Parker told reporters.

In all, as many as 4,000 homes were damaged in Houston—the nation’s fourth-largest city with 2.2 million people. The city also impounded 750 abandoned cars, the mayor said.

Southwest Houston appeared to be the hardest hit, city officials said. Rescue boats on Tuesday patrolled bayous and streets flooded with water in the city’s Meyerland and Braeswood areas. The Houston Fire Department received 531 calls for water rescues.