Death toll rises to 6 in Texas floods

KHOU-TV, Houston

Show Caption Hide Caption Loved ones swept away in devastating Texas floods The floods that ravaged so many Texas homes took an even heavier toll on some families.

HOUSTON — A sixth death has been confirmed in Texas after another band of storms spawned tornadoes and flooding in this area Saturday, the second day that extreme weather hit the state.

In the Houston area, some locations received nearly 12 inches of rain since Friday though it had mostly stopped by Saturday afternoon, and starting around 5 a.m. CT Saturday six tornadoes touched down in Alvin, Barrett, Danbury, Friendswood, Lake Jackson and Pasadena and La Porte. All are areas to the south and east of Houston.

Houston police discovered two bodies believed to be weather-related deaths, one in a flooded ditch and another in a wooded area where the water had been high, according to city spokesman Michael Walter. Those names have not been released.

Two bodies previously were recovered in the Austin and San Antonio areas Friday. Those names also have not been released.

Two more bodies were recovered Saturday in the Austin area: Edward Hernandez, 37, whose car was swept away Friday as he tried to drive home to check out reported flooding there; and Inez Garza, 67, who was swept away by flood waters Friday inside her home, family members of the victims said.

"It's very hard to see pictures of her smiling because that's pretty much all we have left of her," said Andrea Garza, Inez Garza's granddaughter. Her grandfather also was caught up in the flash flooding but was found alive.

He got out of the hospital Saturday, but the home he shared with his wife is a total loss and he preferred not to talk.

"I was scared, I never have been in that situation," said Juan Valdez, who was visiting his mother-in-law when the flood came. Inez Garza also had two dogs wash away. One has not been recovered.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport broke a rainfall record Friday with 14.99 inches recorded. The previous record, set in 1992, had been 0.92 inches.

The latest flash flood warnings were issued late Saturday for the Houston and San Antonio area, according to the National Weather Service. Austin, Houston and San Antonio expect to see a break from heavy rains Sunday but the ground remains saturated.

Contributing: Michael Perchick, KVUE-TV, Austin; KENS-TV, San Antonio; The Associated Press. Follow KHOU-TV on Twitter: @KHOU