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News

Flooding forces classes to close

UH among several schools to cancel summer classes in the wake 
of torrential rains Monday

Cougar News Services

A storm system that brought torrential rain early to Houston and surrounding areas Monday morning caused widespread flooding to streets and neighborhoods, bringing the city to a stop.

Mayor Bill White and other city officials asked residents to stay home.

The flash flooding prompted the city to follow its emergency plan which was revised just in time for storm season.

The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management Web site reported that more than 10 inches of rain fell in some parts of Houston area. Between June Monday and Tuesday, a total of 187 homes were reported to have water damage.

At one point after the downpour, several thousand homes were without power, an official from CenterPoint Energy reported.

The city's emergency and rescue services were active in helping people out of their water-infiltrated homes and removing drivers from stalled vehicles.

One of the hardest hit areas was the southeast part of town. The Gulf Freeway at Monroe was a trouble spot for commuters. The rising water caused people to seek safety and dry land at a nearby gas station.

Monday's deluge surprised many residents and brought back memories of Tropical Storm Allison and the similar flooding it caused five years ago. 

Many schools, including UH, were forced to cancel summer classes as flooded streets posed a challenge for drivers trying to get to work during the morning rush hour.

UH officials announced Monday afternoon that campus was closed for both day and night classes because of the inclement weather.

Forecasters predicted more rain on Tuesday for Houston and surrounding areas, but the heavy rains were restricted to Fort Bend and Matagorda counties. 

The outcome spared the city from what could have turned into a dangerous scenario for Houston.

Classes resumed for UH Tuesday. There has been no word from the administration thus far on whether the lost class day is going to be made up later in the summer.
 

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