Houston, East Texas Reel From Flooding Brought On By Tropical Storm Imelda

Residents of eastern Texas began cleaning up Friday following more than 3 feet of rain dumped by Tropical Storm Imelda in 24 hours, the worst deluge since Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Imelda made landfall Tuesday and the effect was almost immediate. Communities between Winnie and Beaumont reported as much as 43 inches of rain in about 24 hours.

Gov. Greg Abbott declared 13 counties disaster areas.

Houston was especially hard hit.

Houston ABC-affiliate, KTRK, reported the swollen San Jacinto River shut down major roadways in both directions. Several remained inundated Friday.

Several barges broke loose and stacked up on the Interstate 10 highway bridge, causing possible damage. The Harris County Sheriff's Office said one of the barges may be loaded with combustible liquid.

The situation was just as bad for students who were stranded in school Thursday night. Aldine Independent School District reported more than 200 who could not get home because of flooding and were forced to stay overnight.

Two deaths have were reported.

In Jefferson County, the body of a man identified as Hunter Morrison was found as floodwaters dissipated. Morrison was trying to move his horse to safety when he was “electrocuted and drowned,” the sheriff's office said.

A man found in Harris County drowned when he was trapped as his van was swamped by floodwaters.