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HOUSTON -- Floodwaters from heavy rains forced high-water rescues, soaked homes and businesses, washed out roads and closed schools in portions of Texas on Tuesday.
Authorities in Houston were investigating a report that a motorist's vehicle disappeared into a drainage ditch after the driver miscalculated during the morning rush hour. "The current was pretty strong," police spokesman Sgt. John Chomiak said. After floodwaters receded, rescue workers walked the bayou banks but had not found the car or driver by Tuesday evening.
Floodwaters receded later in the day.
"I noticed it's still high, and some water [is] still on some service roads," he said, "but it's a great improvement over [Tuesday] morning."
The city hall in Wortham in Freestone County was damaged by water and some roads were washed out in parts of the county in North Central Texas, officials said.
Heavy rains also flooded streets and stranded motorists in Mexia in Limestone County, said police dispatcher Vanessa Thomas. The town's only bridge was closed because of the flooding, she said.
Ted Ryan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, said 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in the Mexia and Fairfield areas between 2 and 6 p.m.
The disrupted commute around Houston prompted some school districts to cancel classes for the day, and Houston school district officials postpones the state-mandated Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exam until Wednesday.
Three shelters were opened for Harris County residents, but only one was going to operate overnight to accommodate six residents, officials said.
The rains came a day after tornadoes left damage in Corsicana and near Austin and Victoria.
Ten structures in Corsicana were damaged in the tornado that had winds of up to 90 mph and was on the ground for about four-tenths of a mile. Another tornado damaged more than 20 structures in the Williamson County community of Jonah, including 12 to 15 homes. In Yorktown, about 30 miles northwest of Victoria, a twister destroyed one home. No injuries were reported.
