More rain falling in flooded S. Plains

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Flood-weary residents of Texas and Oklahoma had no reprieve Friday as more rain fell in a region where two weeks of storms have swollen rivers and lakes beyond their limits.

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes, though some residents were holding out, saying conditions are no worse than floods they've weathered before.

A state of emergency was in place for all of Oklahoma on Friday, and flood watches and warnings were posted for river communities. A flood watch was in effect for large portions of Texas, where the storms have been blamed for at least 11 deaths.

The rains had tapered off and become more isolated, but National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Patrick said storms could cluster and create a more widespread threat of flooding by the weekend.

"The storms are very efficient rain producers, and if you happen to be under one of them you can pick up 1 1/2 or 2 inches an hour," said another meteorologist, Jesse Moore. "Right now with the ground being saturated, it's all run-off and that causes the flash flooding we've been seeing."
more from Top Nation