Hurricane Harvey: Bayous And Creeks Overflow Banks Adding To Unprecedented Flooding

HOUSTON, TX — An unprecedented rain event resulting from the barrage of rain spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Harvey, has resulted in nearly every creek and bayou in the Houston to crest and overflow, surpassing what many witnessed with Tropical Storm Allison in 1989.

Long used as a barometer for worst case scenario forecasting, most now will like refer to Harvey as the worst they have ever seen in the Houston area. (Want to get daily updates about Hurricane Harvey and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

The rain has fallen steady over much of the Greater Houston area, since late Saturday setting into motion a marathon or water rescues from good samaritans and first responders.

On Sunday afternoon, Brays Bayou and and Buffalo Bayou, which meander through downtown and near the Texas Medical Center — home to Ben Taub Trauma Center and Texas Children’s Hospital — breached its banks.

Even before the waters rose substantially, the flood doors — in place at the hospital complex since 2001 — were closed, sealing off the basement and bottom floors to flood waters.

Coincidentally, the doors were put in place after Tropical Storm Allison devastated downtown, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Much of the water is coming from Cypress Creek and Spring Creek, which are both swollen, and White Oak Bayou which is also a flood stage.

According to the watershed map on the Harris County Flood Control District, the flood gauges indicated that all of the creeks and bayous have taken in nearly 20 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, with the most being at Clear Creek in Friendswood, where more than 23 h=inches of rain has fallen.

The entire Houston area is under a flash flood warning with more rain expected over the next 24-48 hours.

Image: Courtesy Danielle Davis

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