Flooding Creates Traffic Nightmare

HOUSTON - Countless drivers who had vehicles stall out in southeast Houston wound up stuck in the high water.

"It's terrible out here, it's ridiculous," said one stranded driver to FOX 26 News. While many people played it safe and pulled vehicles over until the flooding subsided, others powered through it.

"The only way I made it through was by the grace of God," said Stan Milburn.

At Beltway 8 near Interstate 10, the water under the overpass was waist-high leaving at least a half-dozen cars submerged.

"I came around the corner here and there wasn't any water. Then I got under the bridge and got hit by water from every side and now my car is floating under the bridge," said Steve Pierce.

Emergency crews were kept busy helping drivers like Ray Nelson, who crashed his Ford Mustang into the center dividing wall on State Highway 288 before hydroplaning through three lanes of traffic.

"I'm so glad I was able to avoid hitting somebody," said Nelson, who was not seriously injured.

While it was a bad day for most drivers, it meant big business for tow truck drivers. "It means money," said one hard-working wrecker driver.

The earliest flooding occurred Saturday afternoon on State Highway 290 at FM 2920 and at Tidwell Road and Highway 59, but the highest waters were later reported on the southeast side of town.

The Gulf Freeway and Highway 225 were reported to be at a near standstill at 3 p.m. Saturday along with Highway 290 in both directions at Tidwell.

Just after noon, rescuers responded to reports of five submerged vehicles under the Katy Freeway at Beltway 8 and they carried out a high water rescue at the North Freeway at Little York Road.

Flood report locations:

* I-10 West at Beltway 8, five cars under water
* I-45 North at Little York Road, high water rescue
* River Oaks and Westheimer, minor street flooding
* Highway 209 at Tidwell, traffic moving avg. 10 mph both directions
* FM 528 at FM 518, 2.3 inches of rain within 30 minutes
* Fort Bend Parkway at Highway 6, water on road
* Olympian Parkway at Highway 6, water on road
* Tidwell at Highway 59
* 5700 Will Clayton at Lee Road
* East Tidwell at I-45
* Eastex Freeway at Northpark
* Kingwood Drive
* Highway 290 at Jones Road
* Fairmont Dr. in The Heights, 16 inches of water
* Bellfort at Southbank
* Bellfort at Jutland
* Galveston at Allendale
* Almeda-Genoa at Windmill Lakes, 4 feet of water
* Beltway 8 at Blackhawk

There were also reports of trees knocked down by high winds in the Clear Lake Forest Subdivision in southeast Houston, but no reports of tornados have been confirmed. In Deer Park, over 100 homes were reportedly flooded.

The National Weather Service says a line of thunderstorms moving in with a cool front from the west helped lead to the flash flooding across the area.

Officials say most flood deaths occur in automobiles, and they urge drivers to not enter areas where water covers the roadway.

The severe weather has also affected several events planned for Saturday, including the MS 150. The first day of the charity bike ride has been canceled for the first time in its 25-year history along with the first day of the International Festival in downtown Houston.

-- E-mail us your weather photos: newsdesk@fox26.com
-- View your county's weather
-- View Houston traffic conditions & cameras
-- View live streaming video & join in the weather chat