HOUSTON – In April 2016, a storm system dumped more than a foot of rain on the Houston area, resulting in catastrophic flooding and the deaths of eight people.
From April 17 to 18, an average of 12 to 16 inches of rain fell on the region in the span of 12 hours, flooding neighborhoods from Katy to Meyerland to Greenspoint. At one point, the rainfall rates reached an estimated 4 inches per hour.
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The timing of the storm and corresponding water rise earned it the name of “Tax Day Flood.”
Greenspoint was one of the hardest-hit areas, where hundreds of families had to be rescued from their homes. Nearly 300 people had to abandon their apartments along Greens Road.
“I woke up at 3 (o’clock) in the morning, and I was walking in puddles of water,” said Kimberly Terry. “I had to come down to my daughter’s house.”
Pictures showed feet of water covering roads in the city's western sections, especially near the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. Some highways in the area were closed for days after the storm.
No description foundHOU AirportNo description foundNorth Houston sent in by viewer LisaNo description foundSent in by viewer Ronald RiveraNo description foundViewer picture sent in to Share@Click2Houston.comRoad closure near Addicks Reservoir.Viewer picture sent in from Paige in Spring, TXTimber Lakes Timber RidgeFlooding near Addicks ReservoirKuykendahl and Loretta in Spring.Sent in by viewer Trish GaroneBrazos River East ColumbiaTierra Grande Drive in Ft Bend CountyCourtesy: FBOEMGeroge Bush Park, Barker CypressRain coming down in SpringNo description foundHumble floodingNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundAtria Cypresswood assisted living facilityRiata RanchRiata RanchRiata RanchRiata RanchRiata RanchRiata RanchGreenspointGreenspointGreenspointGreenspointGreenspointRavenswayGreenspointBaker CypressWhite Oak TownhomesHoover Coles Crossing ApartmentsLent ParkGrand Lakes subdivisionCypressRio VillaNo description foundLodge in CypresswoodNo description foundColes Crossing SubdivisionNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundPhoto: KPRC2 StormPins user BibliosNo description foundNo description foundHigh water on Chimney Rock in Westbury610 West Loop at WestparkNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description foundNo description found2920 Grand Parkway and 99Downed tree in WestburyAllen Parkway and Memorial at StudemontHail in KatyNo description foundNo description foundBear CreekGessner and Plantation Rd.I-10 and Beltway WestFM 1094 between new Ulm and Cat SpringStorm pins user blmarkBayouAllen Parkway and Memorial at StudemontFM 1094 between New Ulm and Cat SpringFM 1094 between New Ulm and Cat SpringCountry Lake Estates in SpringNo description found249No description foundHuffmeister and 290Huffmeister and 290SeabrookMeyerland FloodingMeyerlandMeyerlandMeyerlandMeyerlandWestbury floodingHempsteadMissouri CityLake Harbor SubdivisionPasadenaSandpiper and Teal RunRankin and Greens RdLa Porte High SchoolSeabrookI45 & QuitmanSam Rayburn High SchoolBellaireBellaireSam Rayburn High SchoolNo description foundImperial ValleyDeer Park High School
An estimated 9,820 structures were flooded in Harris County.
The storm was blamed for the deaths of six people in Harris County, one person in Waller County and another person in Austin County. All of the victims died in their cars.
In the days that followed the storm, officials promised reforms to prevent drainage problems outside of the overflow from creeks and bayous.
Houston is no stranger to flooding. There have been several major floods, including Memorial Day 2015, Halloween 2015, Memorial Day 2016 and the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.
