5 Dead as Record Rainfall Floods Houston

Area residents were told: "Stay where you are"

More than a foot of rain deluged parts of Houston on Monday, leaving five dead as surging waters flooded homes and highways, NBC News reports.

Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in nine counties, hundreds of flights were canceled, mass transit was shut down and schools were closed. Almost 17 inches of rain had inundated the city by 2 p.m. ET.

Bush Intercontinental Airport grappled with nearly 650 flight cancellations and more than 1,100 delays. METRO Houston also suspended all rail and bus services, as swaths of the city and nearby Waller County were walloped with 16.8 inches of rain before noon, according to the National Weather Service.

Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist with the Harris County Flood Control District, warned of a "life-threatening situation" due to flash flooding developing in northwest Harris County. "Stay where you are," Lindner added.

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