Skip to main content

Twisters, Floods Continue to Slam South Central US

Share This article

A round of powerful thunderstorms that began Memorial Day weekend is continuing to hammer the south central parts of the country.

At least eight people have died in Oklahoma and Texas in the past three days, and the Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared states of disaster in 24 counties.

Residents in the Houston area are experiencing what they say is the worst flooding they've ever seen.

"I am standing in about eight inches of water in my living room," resident Joe Cox said.

Gov. Abbott said, "You cannot candy coat it. It's absolutely massive."

It was like 6-foot deep at the beltway, underneath the beltway at I-10, and that's where I picked up eight people there," another person said.

The Lone Star State has been pounded by tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms. Flash flooding in some areas swept homes off their foundations, mowed down trees, and forced evacuations.

"It sends a powerful message that is the relentless tsunami-type power that this wave of water can pose for people. When elected officials say evacuate, the devastation is a reminder to heed those warnings," Abbott said.

Neighboring Oklahoma saw many of the same problems. Four people there are confirmed dead, including a firefighter who died during a water rescue.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the chance of severe thunderstorms expands farther east, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast.

Forecasters warn that severe weather is expected to continue across the south central part of the country throughout the rest of this week.

Share This article

About The Author

Caitlin Burke Headshot
Caitlin
Burke

Caitlin Burke serves as National Security Correspondent and a general assignment reporter for CBN News. She has also hosted the CBN News original podcast, The Daily Rundown. Some of Caitlin’s recent stories have focused on the national security threat posed by China, America’s military strength, and vulnerabilities in the U.S. power grid. She joined CBN News in July 2010, and over the course of her career, she has had the opportunity to cover stories both domestically and abroad. Caitlin began her news career working as a production assistant in Richmond, Virginia, for the NBC affiliate WWBT