Holiday Weekend Flash Floods Hammer Houston

Texas governor declares state of disaster as death toll from storms continues to rise

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Updated Tuesday, May 27 (7:51 a.m.)
At least 19 people are dead and 11 people are still missing after record rainfall in Texas and parts of Oklahoma caused major flooding over Memorial Day weekend. Flash flood watches and warnings remain in effect as the area braces for another round of storms in the forecast.

One of the hardest hit cities was Houston, where 7 to 10 inches of rain fell in a span of just a few hours, closing highways and forcing some people to evacuate their homes and businesses. Rainfall rates exceeded 4 inches an hour at times on Monday, May 25, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood emergency for southwest Houston for the first time since Hurricane Ike in Septemer 2008, according the Houston Chronicle.

It was reported that dozens of vehicles almost entirely submerged by water were stranded throughout the city, and more than 80,000 people in the Houston area were without power late Monday night as Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster.

President Barack Obama, in speaking to reporters Tuesday at the Oval Office, pledged federal assistance to help Texas recover from flooding. "I assured Gov. Abbott that he could count on the help of the federal government," Obama said. "I will anticipate that there will be some significant requests made to Washington. My pledge to him is that we will expedite those requests."

People took to social media to share some of the chaos and destruction and also to warn others about the danger.



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