Flood Victims Try To Cope As More Rain Falls

The blazing sunshine in Houston seems like nature's attempt at dark humour.

For the hundreds dragging sodden carpets and belongings from their homes, the brief spells of good weather are small relief.

Every now and then another storm will sweep through, drenching the growing piles of personal possessions dumped along the streets in America's fourth most populous city.

John and Ali Stewart are still without electricity as they slosh through their home in Meyerland - their cats and dog looking on bemused.

The water had risen through the night and swamped their home of six years.

"We were in the dark, the power was out, it was pretty bad," said Mrs Stewart.

"The water kept coming and coming. You run out of high ground to put stuff. You get frustrated with yourself for hiding stuff under your bed."

Mr Stewart added: "Our boys woke up at six and their dreams had come true because they had a water park in the backyard."

Meyerland sits close to one of the bayous that drain water out of Houston towards the Gulf of Mexico. The water rose far enough to swamp four blocks away.

The Stewarts' neighbour has lived here for 50 years and never seen a flood like it, Mr Stewart said.

Parts of Houston, like lots of the state of Texas, remain awash. The extreme waters have receded but levels are high enough to create a surreal landscape.

Many driven from their homes are now sleeping at American Red Cross shelters.

Alba Mejia is at one in Houston's Chinatown with her two daughters. Their home at the Rockport Apartments was hit by a tornado wrapped up in the weekend storms.

She said: "It was horrible. They have been treating us really good in here but it is hard. From one day to another your life just changes completely."

She has no idea when her family will be able to return home.

If the most dramatic of the rain has passed, forecasters are warning the people of Texas that weeks of rain lie ahead.

Ground already saturated cannot cope with any more.