WICKED WEATHER ACROSS U.S.: Torrential downpours swamp parts of Texas
Children cross a flooded intersection Monday in Houston. Torrential rains created a nightmare for Houston-area residents, and Texas' governor called in the National Guard to help. Parts of Louisiana also were flooded. The worst part: More rain is likely on the way. (CARLOS JAVIER SANCHEZ/Associated Press)
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• Fire forces evacuations in Arizona HOUSTON -- More than 10 inches of rain fell Monday along parts of the gulf coast, stranding drivers on roads in waist-deep water in southeast Texas, where National Guard troops were on standby for more storms.
Rain from a second storm had begun to fall in Houston late Monday afternoon.
As much as 10 1/2 inches of rain was reported in the Houston area by the height of the morning rush hour, said Rusty Cornelius, administrative coordinator for Harris County Emergency Management.
Almost 6 inches of rain fell in 75 minutes near Hobby Airport, the National Weather Service reported.
No deaths were reported, but roads across the Houston area were flooded and vehicles were stalled.
Hobby Airport was closed for more than two hours because employees couldn't get through the flooded roads to work. Several schools were closed.
Flood warnings remained in effect for bayous in Harris County, and a flood watch was issued through this morning for about a dozen counties in southeast Texas.
Near Hobby Airport, Luis Robles awakened to a leaky ceiling and floodwaters creeping into the front yard. Less than a mile away, the water was waist deep at an I-610 exit.
But officials said drainage improvements made since Tropical Storm Allison's catastrophic damage five years ago were working.
Gov. Rick Perry activated 50 Texas Army National Guard trucks, four helicopters, 30 rescue boats, an airboat, seven swift-water rescue teams and a civil support team from the 6th Army National Guard unit.
Harris County authorities said the forces would remain on standby.
In Sulphur, La., emergency crews evacuated 120 patients from Holly Hill Nursing Home, flooded with up to 1 1/2 feet of water after debris clogged a city storm drain near the nursing home. Residents won't be able to return for at least a week, owner Elizabeth Fellows said.
As much as 9 1/2 inches of rain was measured in Sulphur, and the area had received an average of 4 to 6 inches by late afternoon, senior forecaster Kent Kuypers said. Nearby DeQuincy had about 14 inches, he said.
Hurricane Rita hit the same area near the Louisiana-Texas border in September. "There's pretty widespread flooding around the parish. A lot of roads are closed," said Dick Gremillion, the Calcasieu Parish, La., emergency preparedness director.
