Turner asks Houstonians to 'stay off the roads' as Tropical Storm Nicholas makes landfall

The City of Houston and other communities nearby are getting ready for the forecasted heavy rainfall and expected flooding as Tropical Storm Nicholas moves closer to the Texas coastline.

Mayor Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) has encouraged Houstonians to "stay weather alert," and encouraged residents to have enough food and water for everyone in their homes to last at least five days.

"The City of Houston urges residents to prepare for Tropical Storm #Nicholas as heavy rain is expected throughout the southeast Texas area," Turner wrote in a Facebook post the day before the storm was expected to make landfall.

His warning came the same day Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) increased the State Operations Center's readiness to help local agencies respond to whatever emergency situation is brought on by the storm.

"As this storm approaches Texas, I urge our Southeast Texas and Gulf Coast communities to prepare now to protect themselves and their loved ones from the severe weather conditions that Tropical Storm Nicholas will bring," Abbott said in a release posted on the Office of the Texas Governor's website.

On the morning of Sept. 13, Mayor Turner took part in a conference call with the Houston Office of Emergency Management and other community partners in order to get updates on the storm and plan the city's response, according to a post on his Facebook page. 

"We are expecting heavy rain tonight and going into tomorrow. I would strongly encourage you to stay off the roads this evening going into tomorrow. Please do not attempt to drive through flooded streets or go around barricades," Turner wrote in a tweet. 

As of 4:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 13, Nicholas had sustained winds of 60 mph and was anticipated to strengthen throughout the day as it made its way toward the state, according to Spectrum News.

Spectrum News reported the storm was expected to trek north and make its way northeast toward the middle of the week.

Several Houston-area school districts cancelled classes for Sept. 13, expect Galveston Independent School District, which had a half-day, KHOU reported.