So, tropical storm Allison just went through Houston -- record floods and millions upon millions of dollars in property damage. Well, here's the story of what happened to me Friday night during the flood.
I worked until about 11:30 p.m. I watched the news before I left to see how my side of town was handling the flooding. Well, everything seemed ok, so I left work (where it was merely sprinkling) and headed home. Shortly after getting onto I-10 I ran into the heavy rains. After passing 610, traffic completely stopped. Knowing I wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, I pulled onto the shoulder (on the left side of the highway next to the concrete wall). I opened my door and saw about an inch of water on the highway, so I thought I'd settle in for the night.
About 15 minutes later, an 18-wheeler pulled up next to me and I felt the water splash under the car. I opened the door and the water was already up to the bottom of my door. I saw the cars in front of me starting to back up, so I did as well. One of the drivers from up ahead came back and directed the cars as we turned around and fled from the rising water. It was cool. A line of cars were driving the wrong direction on the highway in high water as stupid people were still charging into the water. Smoke started coming out of my engine and my battery light came on, so I killed the engine and stepped out of the car to assess the situation. I saw some cars trying to reach some grass to get to an exit ramp, so I started the car (hoping it would still run), and followed those cars through the traffic that faced the opposite way.
I drove the car up a grassy hill and onto the ramp. I had no idea where it led or what I was going to do, but I drove on. When I reached the top, I had to turn left and drive over the highway. I couldn't see anything, so I just drove until I reached a bunch of stranded cars, and then I turned onto another street. I saw a parking lot that wasn't flooded yet, so I pulled into it. I spent the next 5 or 6 hours there moving my car around, looking for the highest spot in the lot as it began to flood. The only exit, the street next to the lot, was now several feet underwater, so I couldn't go anywhere. I eventually gave up and took a nap.
In the morning, I only had a little bit of water in my car and the window tinting was destroyed (having to wipe the wet windows constantly to see). Luckily, my car still worked and I managed to get home safely.
I'm one of the lucky ones. I know plenty of people with damage to their homes, and people who totally lost their cars. I'm just glad that my old Pontiac was able to drive through the water as long as it did. If I hadn't turned around on the highway when I did, my car would have been one of the hundreds of submerged cars at I-10 and TC Jester.
Back to my news page.
Or you can go home.