Storms Continue to Take Toll Across Central Texas

A man was killed by a tornado near Houston and more bodies were pulled from flood waters in Central Texas as torrential storms continued a deadly march east across the state Sunday.

At least 14 people died in the weekend storms. The latest victim, an unidentified man, died when a tornado swept through Waller County just after sunrise, demolishing mobile homes and snapping trees in Brookshire, 35 miles west of Houston.

No other injuries were reported, but authorities across southeast Texas spent the day evacuating families after as much as 15 inches of rain fell in some areas overnight.

“Just virtually every county road is impassible,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “It’s just everywhere.”

Four shelters were opened in Waller County for victims of the rising waters. Pat Snow, his wife and three children took refuge after 3 1/2 feet of water forced them out of their home.

“We were trying to put things up and a floating tree hit the front door and broke it open,” Snow said. “The water rushed in and started pushing all the furniture against the back wall.”

As the wall began to crumble, Snow rushed his family up to the attic, broke a hole in the roof and scrambled out. They were rescued by boat.

In Central Texas, residents began cleaning up from floods caused by more than 12 inches of rain.

Three men and three women in San Antonio died after being swept away at low-water crossings. To the northeast in Comal County, a man was found dead in his car near Blieder’s Creek.

An 8-year-old girl was swept from a car in Pflugerville, northeast of Austin. Another man was killed when a tornado slammed into his mobile home near Corsicana, 220 miles northeast of San Antonio. Three people were reported drowned in Guadalupe County, east of San Antonio.

A 55-year-old man died of a heart attack while waiting to be rescued from flood waters that stranded him at his house in New Braunfels.