» Houston: Six deaths reported in flooding; flood warning extended, »
About 4,000 buildings thought to have flood damage.
Officials confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that a sixth fatality has been discovered from Tuesday’s record floods in Harris County, which are believed to have damaged 4,000 buildings.
Those killed in the floods include an 85-yearold woman found in Brays Bayou on South MacGregor near Cullen. The woman is believed to be one of three people swept away in flood waters during rescue efforts by the Houston Fire Department after their rescue boat capsized in high waters in Brays Bayou. She has been identified as Shirley Alter. Also swept away was her 87-year-old husband, who is still missing, and a 50-year-old Asian man. Search efforts continue for them.
As the number of structures believed to have been damaged rose from 1,400 to 4,000 on Wednesday, the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management announced it is continu- ing its assessment.
Storms had temporarily fizzled throughout the metro by about 11 a.m. Wednesday, however rains earlier in the morning exacerbated flooding concerns in many areas.
Mayor Annise Parker lauded the “very high” performance of first responders and city staff during massive flooding this week in a brief update Wednesday, noting the city’s focus is now shifting to rebuilding.
About 750 cars were towed Tuesday and city staff is now actively surveying damaged property. Parker urged property owners to report structural damage to the city’s 311 line. That data will be used to help the state potentially qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for the uninsured and underinsured.
Parker said the weeks of “soaking rain” that led up to the barrage of storms Monday night into Tuesday morning left the city particularly vulnerable to flooding, and there was nothing the city could have done to better brace for the weather.
“There’s not anything anybody can do to stop flooding under those circumstances,” Parker said.
Lightning strikes from the storm also sparked at least 10 fires in the greater Houston region, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office. The fires injured two firefighters, suffering from smoke inhalation and a leg injury, said HCFMO spokesman Dean Hensley.
Meanwhile, the San Jacinto River near Sheldon is expected to rise above flood stage of 10 feet on Friday morning, with a continued rise to near 11 feet by Saturday afternoon, the weather service said.
A flood warning for the west fork of the San Jacinto River in Humble continues until Sunday morning or until the warning is canceled. Moderate flooding was occurring Wednesday and was expected to continue, the weather service said.