Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in 13 counties as Tropical Storm Imelda brought torrential rain and dangerous flash flooding to the Houston area, stranding residents in their homes, drivers in their cars and canceling hundreds of flights at local airports.
Over 900 flights were canceled into and out of Houston area airports due to the severe weather.
The town of Hamshire, Texas, saw six months’ worth of rain in 48 hours. More than 33 inches of rain has fallen in Hamshire since Tuesday — and over 2 feet of that rainfall within 12 hours.
In the small town of Winnie, Texas, the conditions are “horrible,” with rapidly-rising floodwaters making roads impassable, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told ABC News as the rain pounded down Thursday.
“This is the worst flooding I’ve ever seen,” Hawthorne said.
UNDERWATER: Look at this gas station on 2090 in Splendora!!
Just had a close call. Literal gasp in our storm tracker. The road has washed away. This is what #Winnie is facing. #abc13 https://t.co/Cuopv5mmW9 pic.twitter.com/MsAZZHyNHs
HFD is responding to a building collapse on Aldine Bender Road. The flat roof of a post office facility mail distribution area collapsed. The building was occupied at the time but everyone made it out. 3 people are being transported with minor injuries. @FireChiefofHFD pic.twitter.com/X6exlPtAY1
Houses flooded during Hurricane Harvey two years ago are now taking in water again, said Hawthorne.
Some homes have four to five feet of water inside, Hawthorne said, and dump trucks and airboats were being used to get people to safety.
Anna Avales’ home in Winnie is still recovering from flooding during Harvey. She called Thursday’s rain “devastating” and is “hoping and praying that it stops.”
RIGHT NOW: intense rain & thunder hits area around Houston Emergency Center!! #abc13 is streaming #houwx coverage LIVE _👉🏼👉🏼https://t.co/8Jj0Kqyygr pic.twitter.com/IOuDK4UnTJ
This morning search and rescue activities are underway in the Beaumont area. Your Texas Game Wardens and State Park Police Officers are actively working with state and local partners. #txwx #imelda pic.twitter.com/hv3oOeSWel
James Gibson and his wife walked ABC News through their Chambers County home, where the wood floors are now submerged under roughly 8 inches of water.
The rain fell “too fast to do anything” he said.
“Until it quits raining, it’s gonna be a nightmare,” the sheriff said.
In Beaumont — between Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana — over 250 high-water rescue requests were called into 911, the local police department said.
“Please shelter in place and seek high ground,” the Beaumont police tweeted. “DO NOT drive.”
HFD helping stranded motorists out of high water. @HoustonFire pic.twitter.com/FjgccqjN7F
The threat isn’t over.
The relentless, heavy rain is continuing to slam parts of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana Thursday afternoon. It’ll taper off Thursday evening leaving lingering, scattered showers.
But thunderstorms and downpours are possible again on Friday.
Up to 4 inches of rain could still fall in the hard-hit areas from Houston to Beaumont from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon.
The remains of Tropical Storm Imelda with then track inland and bring areas of heavy rain — up to 4 inches — to east Texas and northwestern Louisiana.
ABC News’ Clayton Sandell and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
