Record Rainfall Brings Flooding, Road Closures
After months without much in the way of measurable rainfall, Dallas received anywhere from one inch of rain to as much as about 13 inches within 12 hours, beginning overnight Sunday and into Monday morning.
The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth reported the 9.19 inches of rainfall reported at DFW airport late Sunday and Monday is only 0.38 inches shy of the record rainfall total for a 24-hour period set in 1932.
The city reported 9.06 inches within the past 24 hours at Inwood and University Boulevard as of 2:37 p.m. Monday, 9.29 at Turtle Creek and Wilwood, and about 4.45 inches during the same period at Northwest Highway and Edgemere, according to the Dallas Water Utility’s floodway operations map. For the latest rainfall updates, check the map.
Dallas Fire-Rescue says crews responded to 195 high-water incidents from 6 p.m. Sunday to 1:37 p.m. Monday.
“We want to remind everyone to be careful while on the roads and be prepared to find alternative routes today,” said Senior Cpl. Brian Martinez, public information officer for the Dallas Police Department.
The Highland Park Department of Public Safety (HPDPS) reported road closures where St. John’s Avenue, Fitzhugh Avenue, and Turtle Creek Boulevard come together for a little over two hours Monday because of flooding.
“We were busy overnight with stalled cars due to high water, but no major incidents occurred,” HPDPS spokeswoman Lt. Jessa Russell said.
HPDPS also reported flooding in the Bradfield Elementary and University Park Elementary parking garages Monday, causing additional vehicles to have to park on nearby streets.
Highland Park ISD chief of staff Jon Dahlander said the garages were still being cleared of debris Tuesday, but are set to reopen Wednesday.
“We’ve had some issues with the parking garages before, but this is a pretty unique flood,” Dahlander said. “There was just so much water that came in and then, of course, part of the problem was it damaged the doors. It damaged the garage doors and so more water was able to get in.”
Dallas ISD also warned parents to be prepared for potential bus delays Monday.
SMU likewise experienced problems with water coming into buildings, but classes were able to continue.
“SMU has experienced some episodes of water coming into buildings underneath exterior doorways, but nothing that has impacted operations or classes,” SMU spokeswoman Nancy George said Tuesday. “Approximately 200 students were moved to other residential commons for a little more than an hour early this morning after an alarm was triggered in Morrison-McGinnis Commons, but students were cleared to return to their own rooms by 6:45 a.m.”
Also at SMU, Brad Sutton with SMU athletics said the turf at Gerald J. Ford Stadium also took on water during the rain.
“The turf got a little too much rain, but we’ve already been in contact with Paragon Sports, a local company who installed the turf, and they were out here today to inspect it,” Sutton said Tuesday. “They’ll address any issues well before our first home game. We‘ll practice as we normally do – on the Pettus Practice Fields or in the Indoor Performance Center.”
Weather delays also put Love Field and DFW Airport near the top of the worldwide list for flight cancelations and delays Monday.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins declared a state of disaster Monday afternoon after the deluge of rain. Those whose homes sustained damage are asked to report their damages here.
Gov. Greg Abbott visited Dallas Tuesday and followed suit with a statewide disaster declaration for 23 counties impacted by flooding, including Dallas.
“No challenge is too great for Texans to address, and I commend Mayor Johnson, the City of Dallas, and emergency response personnel for their prolific life-saving response to yesterday’s unprecedented flooding event in North Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “The State of Texas will be ready and available to help all impacted communities every step of the way as they begin to navigate the recovery process in the aftermath of this storm. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in prayer for all communities affected by this severe weather and for the family and loved ones of Jolene Jarrell who lost her life in the flooding.”
Abbott also encouraged those impacted by the flood to file insurance claims with their providers and to complete TDEM’s Self Reporting Damage Survey.
More rain is forecasted for this week, and we’ll update this post as we receive additional information.
The flooding was awful. I live off of Lomo Alto Ave between Beverly and Rollins, I share an alley with Highland Plaza apartment building and on the other side of Lomo Alto is the Cresent Park apartment building, both buildings are high rises and just to the left side of The Crescent Park apartment building, is the mid rise, the Savoy. All three underground parking garage is were flooded and almost 200 Teslas were destroyed, lol! My jeep Laredo did just fine…😉