Corpus Christi police recover body of missing driver as rain along Texas coast finally eases

Body of Texas man recovered as rain finally eases

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Storms partly fueled by Hurricane Karl finally began weakening along the Texas coast on Tuesday after dumping more than 10 inches of rain, and authorities found the body of driver who had been swept away by floods.

Widespread flooding closed schools and forced families into shelters, but forecasters said the lingering showers shouldn’t be as severe. “The worst is over,” National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Grantham said.

Corpus Christi police found the body of Kelechi Kinsley Nwogu, 36, who authorities said had dialed 911 on Monday after driving into Oso Creek, which had swelled to record levels after three days of relentless rain. The call got dropped before the driver was found.

Earlier this month, flooding caused by remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine killed at least eight people, including seven in Texas. Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday requested a disaster declaration for 13 counties hit hardest by Hermine, saying the storm caused more than $2.9 million in damage.

Drenching storms that began Saturday caused problems up and down the Texas coast. Pressure from heavy rains on an aging sewer system in Corpus Christi led to more than 100,000 gallons of raw sewage overflowing from a manhole, while emergency teams went door-to-door in some neighborhoods near the Mexico border that were under 2 to 3 feet of water.