Storms Swamp Houston

Rainy mess: Heavy storms swamp Houston, causing widespread flooding and at least four deaths

UPDATE: City of Houston officials have confirmed at least four deaths from the historic storms that swept through the area. Names have not been released pending notification of families.

The deaths include a male of unknown age discovered at Ranchester at Harwin, a 50-year old female recovered by Houston Police Department helicopter from Braes Bayou near the 5400 block of Ardmore, a person found in a vehicle, which was towed from the 1700 block of Studewood, and an Asian male of unknown age found in Braes Bayou at Holcomb Blvd.

Officials believe the Asian man lost his life when an evacuation boat capsized.

An elderly couple ages 85 and 87 are still missing.

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Heavy rains blanketed Houston Monday night and early Tuesday morning, causing widespread flooding and making several freeways and streets impassable throughout Harris County. Some areas were swamped with as much as 11 inches of rain in a few hours, forcing several bayous, creeks and tributaries to overflow their banks.

Emergency management officials urged residents to stay home on Tuesday morning and if they must venture out, do not drive into high water. Most schools, including those in the Houston Independent School District, Spring, Aldine, Fort Bend, and Alief, announced closings.

METRO suspended transportation services Tuesday morning — including local and park and ride buses, rail, METROLift and access to HOV/HOT Lanes on the freeways. METRO bus service on many major routes is expected to resume by noon, officials said.

The west and southwest parts of Harris County and Fort Bend Country have been hardest hit. Buffalo and Brays bayous have rain gage readings in excess of 10 inches in west Houston, according to the Harris Country Flood Control District. Other parts of Harris County received 4-6 inches of rain.

Officials continue to monitor rainfall rates and bayou levels at the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, along with other emergency management partner agencies.

The area received a reprieve when rains stopped around 5 a.m. Tuesday as waters receded quickly in some areas. But another 1-2 inches of rainfall are expected later in the day.

As of 4 a.m. Tuesday, Flood Control District officials reported the following bayous out of banks:

Buffalo Bayou from Shepherd Drive to downtown Houston
White Oak Bayou at Interstate 10 from Heights Boulevard to downtown
Brays Bayou at Gessner and Beltway 8 in west Houston
Keegans Bayou in southwest Houston
South Mayde Creek in west Harris County near Interstate 10 and Greenhouse Road
Rummel Creek in west Houston near the West Sam Houston Tollway
Brickhouse Gully in northwest Houston near US 290
Cypress Creek from Interstate 45 in north Harris County to the San Jacinto River
Halls Bayou near Jensen Drive in north/northeast Harris County
Armand Bayou in south Harris County

The following are near bankfull:

Hunting Bayou in northeast Houston
Garners Bayou in northeast Harris County
Willow Creek in north Harris County
Little Cypress Creek in northwest Harris County
Little White Oak Bayou in near north Houston
Clear Creek in south Harris County
Beamer Ditch in southeast Harris County
Turkey Creek in southeast Harris County

The Flood Control District urges all residents to monitor rainfall and bayou water levels on its Harris County Regional Flood Warning System website (desktop and mobile versions) at www.harriscountyfws.org.

Harris County residents are also urged to report house flooding by completing a Flood Survey as soon as possible at the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.

Flooding in Galleria parking garage.

Photo by Angela D. Simms

Flooding in Galleria parking garage.

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Flood Response

$30M+ Hill Country flood relief fund announces first phase of aid awards

Death Toll Rises After Flash Floods In Texas Hill Country

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The Central Texas community has come together in huge numbers to grieve and offer support.

When the floods in Central Texas started over July 4 weekend, it didn't take long for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to put an important call out for aid. In fact, it created the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund on the first Friday of the tragedy, which quickly became the default recipient of donations from locals and businesses. On July 11, the foundation made its first major announcement regarding how funds will be distributed.

During a press conference, the foundation announced it has received more than $30 million so far. Top donors included H-E-B, which contributed $2 million in addition to sending its disaster relief convoy, and James Avery Artisan Jewelry, which is based in Kerrville and donated about $500,000.

“The heartbreak we’ve experienced as a community is profound, but so is the response,” said Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country CEO Austin Dickson. “In a matter of days, thousands of donors from across Texas and beyond have stepped up to say: we are with you. This is a moment of collective grief, but also of extraordinary love.”

The foundation is dividing its response into five phases, which include an initial phase of financial assistance and an end phase of longterm recovery, with more detailed logistics in between. The first phase starts with $5 million in emergency grants to nonprofits. Those nonprofits will then further distribute funds as they see fit. Priorities are divided into four categories of $1.25 million each: support of individuals and families, local businesses, first responders, and crisis response.

There are 22 allocations on the full list, with some entities receiving grants in multiple categories. The full list includes the Salvation Army Kerrville Kroc Center, Mercy Chefs, World Central Kitchen, five volunteer fire departments, LiftFund, the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce, Schreiner University, Kerrville Pets Alive!, Freeman Fritts (Vet Clinic and Shelter), Arcadia Live Theater, Ingram ISD, five churches, and Christian outreach organization Light on the Hill.

The fund is still open to donations, and the foundation plans to form a Community Advisory Committee that would seek the advice of local nonprofit leaders, residents, and other "stakeholders" regarding long-term recovery and equity.

“We know this is just the beginning,” Dickson said. “We’re grateful to say we’ve raised over $30 million in just one week — but the needs are tremendous, and continued support will be critical in the months ahead. Recovery will take months, if not years, but we are committed to walking every step of this journey with the communities we serve. We will listen, we will learn, and we will continue to act with compassion, urgency and accountability.”

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