The Houston area hasn’t been hit with a tropical storm in years; since Hurricane Ike. That is about to change. Tropical Storm Cindy is on her way.
Already, we have had a voluntary evacuation issued for residents of Bolivar Peninsula, including the unincorporated areas of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, High Island and Gilchrist. Richard Pasch at the National Hurricane Center says the storm is getting some stronger winds to it.
“Hurricane hunters founds that winds increased a little bit with gusts up to 60 miles an hour,” Pasch said.
So how much rain can we expect?
“Two to four, or three to five inches is reasonable,” Pasch stated, adding the rain will move in at some point later today or tonight.
Don't be fooled by the term 'Tropical Storm'. It may not sound as bad as hurricane, but can be just as destructive. Former Harris County Judge Robert Eckles told KTRH Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 is proof of that.
“The storm itself came over our community two to three times in some cases and dumped as much as 36 inches of rain,” Eckles said of the storm that hit in 2001.
Every storm is different and can do different kinds of damage. Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal told KTRH Hurricane Ike did a boomerang effect and hit that northern county hard.
“They are all different. We saw areas of heavy rain in one area and not another. We saw flooding in some parts of the county and not others,” Doyal stated.
And since there have been so many people moving into the Houston area over the years, both Eckles and Doyal say you should talk to your neighbors to try and get more of an appreciation for what kind of damage these storms can do.
“Visit with your neighbors, find out where high water areas are likely to occur,” Doyal said.
Stay tuned to Newsradio 740 KTRH throughout the day for continuing coverage of Tropical Storm Cindy.