The National Weather Service issued multiple flood warnings for the region.
City offices and schools were closed, as was public transit. The Bush Intercontinental Airport issued a ground stop for departures and arrivals, leading to over 300 cancellations as of 8:30 a.m. CDT.
Images on social media showed submerged roads and vehicles. One video replayed on TV news stations showed the rescue of a civilian from a quickly sinking car.
WATCH: Houston reporter rescues man trapped in high water on live TV https://t.co/RCHmLiasW8https://t.co/SUTZnCyV3D
- ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) April 18, 2016
The Harris County Flood Control District reported that over 80 "high water rescues" had been completed or requested of emergency services and that not all rescue calls had been accessible to responding agencies.
@TheRitaGarcia sun is creeping in and we're finally getting a better view of just how bad it is #houstonflood pic.twitter.com/6iLiAzHqKh
- Jalisa Eneias (@Ja1i5a7) April 18, 2016
Drivers push through the #houstonflood pic.twitter.com/yxoEChLrHb
- Dylan Baddour (@DylanBaddour) April 18, 2016
Here are rainfall amounts for the last 24hrs...greater than 12" of rain in many areas. #houwx #txwx pic.twitter.com/A1dExIhb71
- NWSHouston (@NWSHouston) April 18, 2016