Rainfall Totals from Thursday and Flooding Still Present in Lubbock
Heavy rains made their way across Lubbock, Shallowater and the South Plains on Thursday.
Some rainfall totals from Thursday include: 1.81” inches of rain at the KFYO studios, 2.34” at the KAMC studios, 3.21” inches of rain at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, between 4 to 6 inches of rain in Shallowater, 1.4” inches of rain in Wolfforth, 2.3” in Reese Center, 0.82” inches of rain in Littlefield, 1.83” inches of rain in Levelland, 2.4” in Anton, 1” inch of rain in O’Donnell, 0.97” inches of rain in Sundown and 0.78” inches of rain in Tahoka. More rain is expected across the South Plains on Friday.
Over 75 homes were damaged in Shallowater Thursday afternoon due to the flooding. Most were damaged with 6” to 12” inches of floodwater, while some homes experienced flooding up to 2’ feet.
Thursday night, the 12th Street Church of Christ opened as an emergency shelter in Shallowater. The Salvation Army and South Plains chapter of the American Red Cross conducted relief efforts. Shallowater’s mayor told KAMC News that if Shallowater receives anymore flooding, it will ask for help from the state for relief efforts.
May 2015 is now officially the second wettest May on record for Lubbock. Lubbock is now at 11.64” inches of rain, behind the record of 12.69” inches set in 1941. The wettest month ever on record is 13.39” inches of rain from September 1936.
Thursday's heavy rains in Lubbock caused some roof damage to the terminal at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.
KAMC News reports that Lubbock Police had to conduct a few high-water rescues, including one at 23rd Street and Avenue W. Five people were rescued from a vehicle.
As of 10:30pm, Thursday night, Avenue Q was still closed between 23rd to 28th Streets due to flooding in downtown Lubbock. Also closed, a section of FM 179 south of Shallowater and a section of FM 835 going south to Buffalo Springs Lake.