Floods Chase Beleaguered Texans From Homes

Showers and scattered thunderstorms cut a path from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast on Friday, and rising floodwaters continued to chase rain-weary Texans from their homes.

“Everything is starting to flood,” said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Tom Twardowsky in Harris County. “There’s nowhere else for (the water) to go. It’s just going to get worse.”

Floodwaters from the overflowing Luce Bayou were said to be about seven feet high in a subdivision on the northeast side of Lake Houston in an unincorporated area of Harris County, about 30 miles northeast of Houston.

9 Inches in 24 Hours

Heavy rain fell in the Houston-Beaumont-Port Arthur area, including 6.06 inches at Beaumont and 7.79 inches at Bevil Oaks. An isolated thunderstorm dumped four inches of rain in three hours at Lake Houston. Luce Bayou had a 24-hour total of 9.49 inches, the National Weather Service said.

Clear skies were reported over much of the western half of the country on Friday, while the showers and thundershowers were scattered from New England and New York across the Ohio Valley to Texas.

A flash flood watch remained in effect for south-central and southeast Texas, although the sun made an appearance Friday morning in San Antonio, where heavy rains a day earlier sent waterways spilling out of their banks.

“Everybody’s talking about building an ark,” said Judith Reichardt, a secretary at Helotes City Hall north of San Antonio.

Girl’s Body Found

A 13-year-old girl drowned Thursday when she was swept away by the raging Alazon Creek in San Antonio. Her body was recovered Friday morning. Rescuers continued combing the creek for a second victim, a 20-year-old man, who witnesses said also was swept away by the strong floodwaters.

In already-soaked Harris County, the heavy rains began flooding streets and homes and swelled lakes and bayous near the Montgomery County line. At least two families asked for police assistance to escape their flooded homes.

“The water got too high and they waited too long,” Twardowsky said. “I believe someone in a four-wheel-drive vehicle went in and took them out.”