Flood Damage in Texas, La. Tops $1 Billion

Severe flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison has killed at least 18 in Texas and Louisiana, caused more than $1 billion in damage and left thousands of homes and businesses without power, news services reported.

Many highways in and around Houston were still blocked late Sunday by high water and scores of cars and trucks abandoned in the middle of flash floods.

An estimated 25 inches of rain has fallen in the affected areas since Friday and some additional showers were expected on Monday.

President Bush declared a 28-county disaster area, and Houston Mayor Lee Brown estimated that 5,000 homes and businesses had been damaged since Friday. An-other 10,000 homes and businesses were damaged in surrounding Harris County.

Brown urged downtown employers to give workers the day off Monday so the city could begin the recovery process.

More than 1,000 flights were canceled over the weekend because crews and airline staff had trouble getting to the airport in Houston.

Military trucks big enough to navigate deep water were used to help rescue people trapped in there homes by the rising water. Many families had to climb to their roofs to find safety.