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Storm Beta Continues Slow Trek, Bringing Rain to Parts of Southern US

Associated Press

   HOUSTON - A weakened Beta continued its slow trek across several
   Southern states on Wednesday, bringing rainfall to parts of Louisiana,
   Arkansas and Mississippi after having flooded homes and roadways in
   Texas.

   Houston began drying out on Wednesday after some parts of the metro
   area got nearly 14 inches (35.6 centimeters) of rain over the last
   three days, according to the National Weather Service. Flooding from
   heavy rain prompted around 100 water rescues on city roadways.
   Preliminary reports showed at least 11 structures were flooded in the
   city limits.

   "It's not nearly as bad as it could have been," said Houston Mayor
   Sylvester Turner.

   By Wednesday morning, Beta was 60 miles (97 kilometers) west of Lake
   Charles, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (48 kph),
   the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm was moving
   east-northeast at 9 mph (14 kilometers).

   Flash flood warnings were issued Wednesday for parts of Louisiana,
   where up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain had fallen and up to 4
   more inches could fall on top of that, the Weather Service said. The
   southwestern corner of Louisiana is still recovering after getting
   pounded by Hurricane Laura last month.

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