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Tropical Storm Bill threatens more severe weather in Texas after floods Tropical Storm Bill threatens more severe weather in Texas after floods
(35 minutes later)
Texas braced for more severe weather on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Bill threatened to bring heavy rain to areas already hit hard by last month’s floods.Texas braced for more severe weather on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Bill threatened to bring heavy rain to areas already hit hard by last month’s floods.
The National Weather service issued flash flood watches for many Texas counties, and officials in Galveston declared a voluntary evacuation of the Bolivar Peninsula. Many Houston-area schools cancelled activities in anticipation of the rain. The National Weather service issued flash flood watches for many Texas counties, and officials in Galveston declared a voluntary evacuation of the Bolivar peninsula. Many Houston-area schools cancelled activities in anticipation of the rain.
The storm comes three weeks after intense rainfall prompted massive flooding in Texas and Oklahoma, killing at least two-dozen people and causing damage to thousands of homes and cars. The storm comes three weeks after intense rainfall prompted massive flooding in Texas and Oklahoma, killing at least two dozen people and causing damage to thousands of homes and cars.
Some of the worst problems came in central Texas, where homes were swept away by the rising Blanco river in Wimberley, near Austin, and in Houston, where bayous burst their banks, major roads and residential streets were flooded and at least seven people died as some areas saw ten inches of rain in the space of a couple of hours. An elderly couple died when a rescue boat capsized. Others drowned in their cars or were swept away by the water. Some of the worst problems came in central Texas, where homes were swept away by the rising Blanco river in Wimberley, near Austin, and in Houston, where bayous burst their banks, major roads and residential streets were flooded and at least seven people died as some areas saw 10in of rain in the space of a couple of hours. An elderly couple died when a rescue boat capsized. Others drowned in their cars or were swept away by the water.
Officials warned that the storm would hit areas where the ground was still saturated and a Harris County Emergency Management bulletin on Sunday warned of “possibly catastrophic flooding” bringing up to 15 inches of rain to the Houston region. On Tuesday the National Weather Service cautioned that the storm could cause coastal flooding and bring up to 12 inches of rain to east Texas, and that tornadoes may form. It had sustained winds of up to 60 mph. Officials warned that the storm would hit areas where the ground was still saturated, and a Harris County emergency management bulletin on Sunday warned of “possibly catastrophic flooding” bringing up to 15in of rain to the Houston region. On Tuesday the National Weather Service cautioned that the storm could cause coastal flooding and bring up to 12in of rain to east Texas, and that tornadoes may form. It had sustained winds of up to 60 mph.
“Any additional rainfall will exacerbate already saturated grounds, which could quickly lead to dangerous flash flooding and extended river flooding,” Texas governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.“Any additional rainfall will exacerbate already saturated grounds, which could quickly lead to dangerous flash flooding and extended river flooding,” Texas governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.
Bill’s centre was expected to make landfall about a hundred miles southwest of Houston and officials in the country’s fourth-largest city were cautiously optimistic that the flooding would be less severe than last month, in part because they had more time to prepare. Bill’s centre was expected to make landfall about a hundred miles south-west of Houston and officials in the country’s fourth-largest city were cautiously optimistic that the flooding would be less severe than last month, in part because they had more time to prepare.
“What we are about to experience is a normal, heavy thunderstorm event for Houston as best we can tell,” Houston mayor Annise Parker told reporters.“What we are about to experience is a normal, heavy thunderstorm event for Houston as best we can tell,” Houston mayor Annise Parker told reporters.
Amy Gremillion stood in her front yard on Tuesday afternoon with her dog, watching workers in a disaster relief truck use a mechanical claw to clear tree debris and hundreds of pieces of wood that were once the floor of her house in Meyerland, a southwest Houston neighborhood bisected by a bayou.Amy Gremillion stood in her front yard on Tuesday afternoon with her dog, watching workers in a disaster relief truck use a mechanical claw to clear tree debris and hundreds of pieces of wood that were once the floor of her house in Meyerland, a southwest Houston neighborhood bisected by a bayou.
It was one of the worst affected parts of the city three weeks ago, and the cleanup operation is ongoing. The teacher and her family have been forced to move out of their house for several months. It was one of the worst-affected parts of the city three weeks ago, and the cleanup operation is ongoing. The teacher and her family have been forced to move out of their house for several months.
“We got about eight inches of water in our house, we had to pull out all the hardwood flooring. The water just came up over our ankles, I knew it was going to be a mess,” she said. “We got about 8in of water in our house, we had to pull out all the hardwood flooring. The water just came up over our ankles, I knew it was going to be a mess,” she said.
“This was my mother-in-law’s house. She had lived here since 1960 and it had never flooded, so we were surprised.”“This was my mother-in-law’s house. She had lived here since 1960 and it had never flooded, so we were surprised.”
With the bayou not close to overflowing on Tuesday at lunchtime and rainfall light, Gremillion was hopeful she and her neighbors would avoid the worst of Bill’s wrath. “I don’t think it’s going to be as bad,” she said. But with the house yet to be repaired, “I guess if it’s going to flood again, now would be a good time.”With the bayou not close to overflowing on Tuesday at lunchtime and rainfall light, Gremillion was hopeful she and her neighbors would avoid the worst of Bill’s wrath. “I don’t think it’s going to be as bad,” she said. But with the house yet to be repaired, “I guess if it’s going to flood again, now would be a good time.”
Last month was the wettest in Texas history, virtually eliminating the state’s drought conditions. Three month ago, much of the state was still drought-stricken. In 2011, Texas’ driest year on record, the average rainfall was less than 15 inches. Houston had already received more than 30 inches of rain this year, even before Bill’s arrival. Last month was the wettest in Texas history, virtually eliminating the state’s drought conditions. Three month ago, much of the state was still drought-stricken. In 2011, Texas’ driest year on record, the average rainfall was less than 15in. Houston had already received more than 30in of rain this year even before Bill’s arrival.