HOUSTON – Police were put on high alert Friday morning after heavy rains and high water threatened morning commuters.
One of the hardest hit areas was in southeast Houston. About 5 a.m. Friday, a section of Polk Road near Lansing was covered in more than one foot of water.
Robert Cuellar said he was driving home from work when he ended up stranded in the area and had to call for a tow truck to pick him up.
"I thought I was going to make it through but apparently not," said Cuellar.
Alonso Robinson said he was walking home from work when he noticed the high water.
"I live just two blocks from the job and I walk every night," said Robinson. "I've never seen this before. I've been straddling the fence for a block. I'm almost there now."
Several University of Houston students braved the high water on Old Spanish Trail near Martin Luther King Boulevard but ended up stranded. They were shocked when they learned a tow for the vehicle would set them back around $160. The wrecker driver told the students the repairs to their car could run them as much as $5,000.
The wrecker driver said he'd already towed five other vehicles overnight that were stuck in high water.
Officials said if you're in doubt about how deep the water is, don't try to drive through it.
The water has since receded in many areas around town, but more rain is expected later in the morning.