Our luck just ran out. Harvey is no longer a hurricane, but he’s once again proving that tropical storms can be just as devastating, with 5 inches of rain an hour pummeling the fast-rising Brays Bayou in Meyerland earlier and flooding Bellaire streets and freeway feeder roads. Four lanes of the West Loop southbound at Bellaire Boulevard were also reported flooded, and live cameras showed the area around the Westpark Tollway and Post Oak Road near Bellaire to be filling fast.
Jeff Linder of the Harris County Flood Control District said tonight on Channel 2 that a flash flood emergency has been declared for the southwest area, and that Brays Bayou and Meyerland are being watched carefully as the bayou is about 3 feet from exceeding its banks. He said he does not expect flooding to reach the level of the 2015 and 2016 severe weather episodes that caused widespread flooding and property loss in Meyerland.
Live storm and traffic cameras along the West Loop show drivers driving into flooded areas, including at Bellaire Boulevard. Officials consistently warn to stay off streets in these conditions and to avoid driving into water, which can be deceptively deep and fast-moving.
KPRC-TV metereologist Frank Billingsley says what we began experiencing just before 8 p.m. is part of a band extending up from the Gulf of Mexico that could continue off and on.
The only good news is that tornado warnings — which were coming in rapid succession — have stopped since sundown.
Bellaire city officials are operating the Emergency Command Center with police, fire, Public Works crews and other essential city staff. Emergency calls should go to 911, with non-emergency calls to 713-662-8206.
Richard John Lindquist says
Any flooding at Kirby and Bellefontaine?