Pounding rain swelled creeks and rivers across Texas County on Tuesday, damaging roads and stranding some residents. The historic rainfall closed highways and made others nearly impassable.
Rain received over a more than 24-hour period fell on already saturated ground, measuring nearly six inches in some rain gauges in the Houston area. Brushy Creek, which runs through the city, swelled to levels not seen in recent years, closing bridges on North Grand Avenue and near Oak Hill Drive. West of Houston, the Big Piney River quickly expanded out of banks at Dog’s Bluff access and rose to levels near a driveway and Highway 17. The scene was the same at river access points from the southern part of the county at Cabool onward north to Licking.
Yards turned into ponds, water shot out of manhole covers and roared along ditch lines.
A trouble spot in the past – Brushy Creek – jumped out of its banks. A business, A-1 Towing, moved vehicles from a parking lot near the stream as the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the region. The Missouri Department of Transportation closed several highways in the county after they became impassable, and Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt called a state of emergency in the state, activating the Missouri National Guard to assist as flood waters rose.
The deluge came just a month after an ice storm devastated Houston, downing trees and cutting electricity for some for two days. The cleanup continues from that round of weather.
Roads Closed: The Missouri Department of Transportation listed these roads in Texas County as closed: Highway M in western Texas County, Highway ZZ near White Rock, Brushy Creek Bridge in Houston, Highway 137 north of Raymondville, Highway BB southwest of Licking, Highway VV southeast of Licking and Highway U near Highway 137 in southern Texas County.