Tropical Storm Imelda hit Houston with a vengeance bringing life to a standstill. The storm has dumped torrential rains over the area flooding roads and houses. 2 persons were killed and many more rescued as rescuers pulled hundreds safely from their flooded cars on the highways. The airports too stopped functioning and tens and thousands of people lost power.
Hundreds of motorists were stranded in their vehicles as some of Houston’s main roadways flooded, submerging cars. Firefighters, police and ordinary citizens were out in boats and all-terrain vehicles to pick up people trapped in their homes by the rising waters.
Though the heavy rains have abated by Thursday evening , flash floods remain a major concern. Rescuers were still busy trying to reach stranded motorists and those trapped in their homes late into the night. Official asked residents to stay put as the floodwaters would take time to abate.
The storm also knocked out power to around 100,000 people in Houston and southeast Texas. Work at oil refineries in the area was slowed or halted. The small town of Winnie, about 60 miles (100 km) east of Houston, was also badly hit. Officials there evacuated Riceland Hospital and tried to rescue people marooned in their vehicles after roads turned into lakes.
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