The water is already in the streets. Driving toward a relative in Katy through a drowned underpass is how families end up on the news.
Stay if the road in front of you is brown, moving, or deeper than the bottom of a door. A second-story bedroom beats a stalled SUV in a Brays feeder dip.
Houstonians often report they “knew that street.” Knowing it dry does not tell you where the open grate is tonight.
Do this now
- Look at the street. If you cannot see the curb or the water is moving, do not drive.
- Move people and pets to the highest dry floor with a way out.
- Call 911 if water is entering the house and you cannot get to safe height.
- Text your location to one person who is not in the same building.
The roads that lie
Underpasses on 59, 45, 288, and the Beltway swallow cars in minutes. Feeder lanes look shallow at the intersection and drop a foot in the next block.
Bayou crossings that were fine at lunch can be a lake after a reservoir release or a thunderstorm on already-soaked ground. Harris County Flood Warning gauges tell you the bayou story. They do not tell you the pothole in front of your bumper.
If a high-water truck is working the block, you are not the exception in a sedan.
How to stay put without getting stupid
Cut power at the breaker only if you can stand on a dry floor and reach a dry panel. If the garage is already wet, leave the panel alone and get up.
Do not climb into an attic with no roof exit. Take water, meds, and a flashlight to the high room. Crack a window if you need to flag rescuers.
When the water drops, that is when you leave. Not during the peak.
Do this next
- Where to find an open shelter in Houston right now
- What to bring if you have 20 minutes to leave
- Shelters & evacuation hub
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