Houstonians devastated as catastrophic flooding continues

For people who have lived in Houston for decades, they are seeing high water in parts of the city that normally never flood.

More than 6,000 people have already been rescued in Houston as of Sunday afternoon.

As the disaster unfolds in Houston, many watched the heroic efforts of first responders on live TV. Some homes saw water all the way up to the roofline.

Former FOX 4 Meteorologist Maria Sotolongo lives in Houston now with her family. They have had to evacuate twice. She left her home, which backs up to severely flooded Buffalo Bayou, and sought shelter at her sister's house a few streets away until water started rising there, too.Sotolongo lives in Houston now with her family. They have had to evacuate twice. She left her home, which backs up to severely flooded Buffalo Bayou, and sought shelter at her sister's house a few streets away until water started rising there, too.

“My family and I decided to leave from my sister's, who lives close to the Bayou, and now come to my mother's,” she explained. “So we have evacuated twice within the span of 24 hours.”

Her neighborhood is near Highway 6 and I-10. And the flood and tornado warnings keep coming.

“And as we speak, we're getting some sort of warning,” Sotolongo said.

Alex Younes has watched his neighbors help others.

“They've got canoes and boats they've been taking out,” he said. “They've had a couple high water rescues already.”

But Brad Janacek can't help his sister stranded in Galveston or aunt and uncle, whose home was destroyed in Rockport.

“It's almost like survivor's guilt, you know,” he said. “I'm stuck in a neighborhood surrounded by freeways that are all flooded.”

Janacek’s parents' home in Southeast Houston is flooded. He and many Houstonians are having to watch the coverage, horrified.

“It's flooded their cars, and they can't do anything,” Janacek said. “And they're just stuck, and it's terrible to see that from your friends.”