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It never ceases to amaze me that people don't take the "Flash Flood" warning seriously here in Houston.
http://abc13.com/news/video-reporter-steve-campion-rescues-driver-from-flood/1296639/
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I hope my fellow DUers are safe. Roads are impassable here. So far, my only casualties are two brand new lawn chairs. That was a rough one last night.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)Their imagination is that it takes hills to make a "flash flood" as they've likely learned from watching video of that happening in central Texas. They simply do not imagine what happens when a flood plain floods.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Many haven't experienced it. In Detroit, the Lodge used to be a drainoff (kid you not), and we would see people stuck there all the time.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)You're going to have to explain that one to me
And yes, transplants (and immigrants) don't know what things are like here until they experience it. I can only guess that many of them didn't pay any attention to the news over the decades when we've gone through major floods.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)of downtown. It was also constructed (back in the day) as a runoff to prevent flooding. In the 80s, people used to get stuck on that segment in their cars... up to their chests in water.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)I would assume they've at least installed storm-drain systems by now to divert the water through instead of the roadway? Because otherwise, that's extremely dangerous. Not to mention being a lawsuit magnet.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)The big difference between there and here is that our freeways run over city streets while Detroit's freeways run under city streets (in the older sections).
2naSalit
(86,743 posts)I'm invincible in my little metal container on wheels!
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)2naSalit
(86,743 posts)That a significant portion of drivers in the US think that way.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)zalinda
(5,621 posts)which is why they try to drive through it. If there were some sort of markers in those deep spots, people would be able to notice whether it's deep or not.
Although, signs don't always work, as most people know who live in towns with low bridges. We always have trucks smack into those bridges, no matter how many signs are put up.
Z
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Like we learned in the backwoods of Missery...Shit, not even up to my knees...Going through!
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)know the depth of the water. They need that in Houston. I have seen it on country roads, but not the freeways.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)Most Houstonians know to stay away from the sunken portions of I-10, 288, and 59 inside the loop. Most of the freeways are actually built up higher than the surrounding lands, even over the bayous.
Now I did see 610 W flood near Braes last May, but it wasn't the bayou flooding, it was a ditch/tributary that had backed up and couldn't drain. The road planner obviously hadn't considered that when they rebuilt the West Loop fifteen years ago.
Most times people flood their vehicles on the feeder roads. Those are significantly lower than the freeways and almost always flood in situations like this. And then there are some underpasses that were dug out to prevent making a typical overpass bridge on the freeway. Those always turn into small lakes.
christx30
(6,241 posts)I was caught about 6 months ago on my way to work. Huge, scary flood. I don't go through any backwoods areas. Just normal city streets. Drove through floodwaters at Stassney and Manchaca in Austin, tx. Check it out on Google. It doesn't look like a flood area. But that day, I had water a lit 3/4 the way up my car door. I'm lucky I made it through there.
KatyMan
(4,206 posts)All night. It would crash down rain for about an hour, stop for a bit and just when you thought it was over it would start again. The lightning was something else though, very bright and at times almost constant.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)I was super grateful when they called school for my kid.
malaise
(269,144 posts)Many people don't take Flash Floods seriously anywhere.
Stay safe
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)It got really dicey from 12-4-ish a.m. here in Spring.
panader0
(25,816 posts)there is a "stupid motorist" law. When the normally dry arroyos are running and the barricades are put
up, anyone who tries to cross and is unsuccessful, must pay all expenses incurred and any fines.
Several years ago, in Tucson after a big summer storm, my friend and I went to the (now dry) Pantano
Wash to see about his truck. It had been swept off the road the evening before. He was lucky to get out.
We found the truck about 100 yards downstream. The only part visible was the roof of the cab. The rest of the
truck was under the sand.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Truck vs Flood
Crazy Fire Truck driving through flood
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Texasgal
(17,047 posts)in Central Texas. We are the flash flood capitol! Amazed at how many doofuses will drive through! I'll never understand it. SMH
I hope you are okay! Austin missed the brunt of the heavy rain. Looks like more is on the way! Stay safe!
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Spring Creek just burst its banks and is up over 249 and Cypress Creek has washed out a lot of the Champions area. It will be interesting to see what tonight brings.
Fun side note: I keep threatening to buy my mother in law a map of Texas for her birthday. Whenever something happens in Austin or Dallas, she calls to check on us. I haven't heard from her today.
Texasgal
(17,047 posts)Who cares about Houston? Only the largest city in Texas and in the top 10 of the USA! Lordy!
Lots of water heading down stream, it's not gonna be good for alot of folks.
Lurker Deluxe
(1,038 posts)I have not wandered out today, just no reason to.
However, it would seem like we may be neighbors, I live at Champions/1960.
And yea, it was crazy last night.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)I'm at Louetta, just east of Champions.
There's a higher ground video of your neighborhood making its way around the 'net. You were smart to stay in.
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.barris.5/posts/10206234301003951?fref=nf
I found myself begging the storm (at about 1:30) to stop for just 20 minutes so I could fall back asleep.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)They have many very nice maps, and not just of Texas. Plus, they sell globes.
I keep a Houston Key Map in my car. Better than gps
jpak
(41,758 posts)or impaired...
yup
Skink
(10,122 posts)Sometimes the freeways are safer than local roads
liberal N proud
(60,339 posts)Ignoring Warning Signs, Cleveland Meteorologist Dick Goddard Required Rescue from Flash Flood
This happened in 2014...
Turning off of I-71 onto State Route 3, en route to his home in Medina, the 83-year-old Channel 8 weatherman noticed the car in front of him slam into what looked like a raging river, according to the Medina Gazette.
Deciding to proceed anyway, Goddard soon found his car submerged in the tempestuous waterway.
"Anyway, I begin to move, and then all of the sudden I can't move," Goddard said in an interview with cleveland.com. "The water's coming up, I'm stuck, I can't go anywhere, the electronics are out, I can't put the window down."
Well, it was a flash flood, Dick! Shouldn't a seasoned weatherman be able to spot such a dangerous situation?
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2014/05/14/ignoring-warning-signs-cleveland-meteorologist-dick-goddard-required-rescue-from-flash-flood
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Jeepers
Skittles
(153,174 posts)you don't have to be a great swimmer but you need to know enough to tread water and move in water!