Driver Rescued After Car Stuck in Flooded Houston Underpass

Underpass Flooding Incident

• 🚗 A driver was rescued after his car became stuck in approximately 2.5 feet of flood water in an east Downtown Houston underpass.
• 📍 The underpass, located near Navigation Boulevard and Franklin Street, is known for being flood-prone.
• 🚨 While police cones were used, official barricades were not deployed because forecast models did not predict the severity of the rainfall.

City Response and Protocols

• 📊 The Houston Office of Emergency Management states this underpass is on a priority list for public works regarding flooding.
• ⚠️ Barricades are typically pre-staged or deployed when four inches or more of rain is forecasted, a threshold not met in this instance.
• 🚧 Public works is evaluating long-term solutions, including a permanent manual gate system for flood-prone locations.

Dangers of Driving Through Flood Waters

• 🌊 Experts emphasize the danger of driving through flood waters, as it's difficult to gauge the actual depth of standing water.
• ⚠️ Driving through floods can cause vehicles to stall, lead to severe damage, and potentially result in injury or death.
• 🚦 Flood gauges are installed at some locations to indicate when water levels are unsafe, even if barricades are absent.
• 🚫 The message remains: Turn around, don't drown.