Imelda drenches Texas with more than 4.5 feet of rain expected in some areas; five other storms threaten U.S. coastlines

Tropical Depression Imelda is inundating East Texas with rainfall amounts that can be measured in feet instead of inches.

In Jefferson County, east of Houston, some areas have gotten more than 40 inches, or more than 3 feet, of rain. More is on the way. AccuWeather predicts some areas could get up to 55 inches, more than 4.5 feet, before the storm moves on tomorrow.

A different view of Imelda.

“It’s bad. Homes that did not flood in Harvey are flooding now,” Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick told the Beaumont Enterprise.

Houston officials say more than 1,000 rescues and evacuations have occurred, overwhelming the area’s first responders. Three people received minor injuries when the roof of a post office collapsed. George Bush Intercontinental Airport ordered a full ground stop, and public transportation in the city has been shut down.

“The Flash Flood Emergency has been continued and expanded,” the National Weather Service office in Houston told USA Today. “This is an incredibly dangerous, life-threatening situation.”

In Chambers County, east of Houston on the Gulf Coast, the sheriff’s office deployed high water rescue vehicles and airboats to pluck residents from flooded homes, USA Today reports.

Mo Danishmund, chief financial officer for Riceland Healthcare in Beaumont, Texas, told the Houston Chronicle the flooding was “worse than Hurricane Harvey.”

Satellite image of the U.S. from the National Hurricane Center.

Another five serious storms are threatening the mainland U.S.

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Jerry was upgraded to a hurricane today. It’s headed west toward Puerto Rico along a path similar to hurricanes Dorian and Humberto. The National Hurricane Center said Jerry’s center was expected to pass north of Puerto Rico on Saturday and east of the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday.

And speaking of Humberto, the Category 3 storm pounded Bermuda Wednesday. Humberto is likely to become a post-tropical cyclone by tomorrow, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Pacific Coast is threatened by three tropical storms: Kiko, Mario and Lorena. Lorena, the strongest of the three, is expected to hit southern Baja California with hurricane force winds and rain within the next 24 hours.

The six active storms are believed to tie a modern record, set in September 1992, National Hurricane Center forecaster Eric Blake said on Twitter.

“They are forming like roaches out there!” Blake tweeted Tuesday.

Anyone want a tropical storm? They are forming like roaches out there! 6 at once in both basins combined is thought to tie a modern NHC record , with two other disturbances adding the cherries on top of a crazy busy day! pic.twitter.com/yIi9PHIKSn

— Eric Blake 🌀 (@EricBlake12) September 17, 2019