GALLERY: Flooding causes water rescues, road closures in Abilene

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Heavy flooding is causing water rescues and road closures across the City of Abilene Tuesday.

Emergency crews have already responded to water rescues in the areas of N 18th Street and Treadaway Boulevard, N 10th Street and Westmoreland Street, and along S 1st Street.

Occupants were helped out of vehicles submerged under high water.

The Cedar Street underpass is currently closed due to the flooding and more closures are expected as the rain continues.

TxDOT offers the following Tips for Driving in Heavy Rain/Flood-Prone Areas:

• Turn on your headlights and slow down, allowing extra distance for braking.
• Be cautious when traveling through flood-prone areas. Flash floods can come rapidly and unexpectedly—within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall. Flash flooding is common in many areas of Texas, especially the Texas Hill Country.
• Never attempt to drive through flooded roadways. Water covering roadways may hide washed-out bridges or gouged-out roadbeds, and even in relatively shallow water, tires can act as flotation devices, lifting up big vehicles and sending them downstream. It takes only two feet of water to float a 3,000-pound car.

Storms are expected to stick around for awhile – get the most up-to-date weather information and storm tracking on BigCountryHomepage.com .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.