Central Texas floods strand some on roofs

MARBLE FALLS, Texas — Storms dumped up to 18 inches of rain on parts of central Texas, flooding several towns and stranding dozens of people on rooftops and in cars and trees Wednesday.

No deaths were immediately reported in the latest in a series of storms blamed for at least 11 deaths in the past week and a half. The downpour and winds were so treacherous early Wednesday that helicopters were forced to halt efforts to rescue people from rooftops.

The rain was heaviest in the Marble Falls area, about 40 miles northwest of Austin, where Mayor Raymond Whitman said there were 32 high-water rescues.

Much of the water had receded by Wednesday afternoon, but up to 10 inches of rain were forecast to fall in the region overnight.

Residents in two subdivisions near Buchanan Dam, northwest of Marble Falls, were asked to leave their homes. About seven families were being taken out by helicopter because the roads were not passable.

"The ground is fully saturated. ... It could be severe," Whitman said.

Parts of Oklahoma also were soaked Wednesday, with rain falling on Oklahoma City for the 15th consecutive day, breaking a 70-year record.