Houston Flood Waters Force KHOU11 To Evacuate

Water seeped into the first floor of the KHOU 11 building early Sunday morning forcing employees to evacuate the building.

Buffalo Bayou, across the street from the station just outside downtown, was one of many locations seeing immense flooding as Tropical Storm Harvey dumped staggering amounts of rain on the Greater Houston area.

KHOU's Len Cannon was live on air when a puddle of water started crawling toward the anchor desk during extended coverage Sunday morning.

Quick look at what's going on here at #KHOU11.. By the time this post it will probably be worse. pic.twitter.com/6mK8LiGGRE

— Doug Delony (@DougDelonyKHOU) August 27, 2017

The broadcast, along with newsroom operations, were moved to a second-floor conference room.

But this didn't last long, the water from Buffalo Bayou kept rising and the main and back entrance doors started gushing water.

#khou11 evacuation #hurricaneharvey @BrooksKHOU pic.twitter.com/K4LLKdxFcP

— Sally Ramirez (@SallyKHOU11) August 27, 2017

Also Sunday, KHOU reporter Brandi Smith was broadcasting live from north Houston’s beltway when she saw a tractor-trailer surrounded by water, its cab filling up with water with the driver still inside. At least 20 inches of rain have already fallen on the city as the result of Hurricane Havey.
“The lights are going on this truck and the windshield wipers are going and as we get a little closer, it does look like there is someone inside. There is movement inside of this truck.”

When Smith realized a driver was inside, she called out to him.

“Sir, are you OK? Can you get to the top of your vehicle? Can you get to the top of your truck? Do not climb into the water.”

Moments later, a Harris County Sheriff’s Office truck and boat came in Smith’s direction. She flagged down the truck, whose passengers said they didn’t know about the stranded driver.

KHOU reporter Brandi Smith was broadcasting live from north Houston’s beltway when she saw a tractor-trailer surrounded by water, its cab filling up with water with the driver still inside. At least 20 inches of rain have already fallen on the city as the result of Hurricane Havey. “The lights are going on this truck and the windshield wipers are going and as we get a little closer, it does look like there is someone inside. There is movement inside of this truck.” When Smith realized a driver was inside, she called out to him. “Sir, are you OK? Can you get to the top of your vehicle? Can you get to the top of your truck? Do not climb into the water.” Moments later, a Harris County Sheriff’s Office truck and boat came in Smith’s direction. She flagged down the truck, whose passengers said they didn’t know about the stranded driver.


As the sheriff’s officials prepared to put their boat in the water, one of them told Smith that a truck driver in the same location last year died when he was stranded in flood waters.