Remnants of Allison spin east

Texas could face more flooding

ATLANTA, Georgia CNN) -- The remnants of Tropical Storm Allison continued to spin to the east on Tuesday, dumping rain on Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas.

Meanwhile, parts of hard-hit Texas and Louisiana face the possibility of more flooding as rivers swollen by a weeklong deluge continued surging south. The storm has been blamed for at least 20 deaths in those areas.

Twenty-eight counties in Texas have been declared federal disaster areas. In Louisiana, 20 of the state's 64 parishes are under a state of emergency.

By midday Tuesday, the center of the storm was spinning toward Atlanta, Georgia, according to CNN Meteorologist Chad Meyers. Several counties are under flash flood watches.

Bands of rain from the stubborn system dumped about 7 inches of rain in Mobile, Alabama.

Relief information: FEMA has set up a toll-free number for Texas flood victims to apply for disaster assistance. That number is: 800-462-9029  VIDEO CNN's Sean Callebs talks with several Houston residents as they begin cleaning their waterlogged homes (June 11) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) National guard rescues victims of flooding in the Houston, Texas area (June 10) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    IN-DEPTH Hurricanes: How they form and tips on preparing for them     RESOURCES CNN weather forecast for Houston, Texas

Heavy rains and high winds, and possibly some tornadoes, pounded north Florida early Tuesday as the remains of Allison passed through the state.

The National Weather Service said tropical moisture following Allison's path will move north and east over the next several days, bringing much-needed rain to drought-plagued states in the Southeast.

Deadly, costly storm for Texas, Louisiana

In Texas, Allison caused at least $1 billion damage, making it the most expensive tropical storm in U.S. history. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Web site, the estimate surpasses the $500 million in damage caused by Tropical Storm Claudette in 1979 and Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994.

According to NOAA, Allison is also the third wettest tropical storm on record for Texas. The system dumped 35.94 inches on the Greens Bayou area in northeast Harris County. That is surpassed only by the 45 inches that fell on Alvin, Texas, during "Claudette" and the 40 inches that inundated Thrall, Texas, in 1921.

The 20 deaths were reported by the Harris County Emergency Management Agency. At least 17 people in the Houston area and one near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died as a result of the flooding. It wasn't immediately clear where the other two deaths occurred.

Officials estimate that 20,000 homes in the Houston area have water damage.

Monday night, 2,266 people spent the night at 21 area shelters. At the height of the storm, nearly 15,000 residents sought refuge at emergency housing set up by the Red Cross.

Chuck Burns thought his dog would be safe from the rising water inside his trailer home in Greens Bayou, about 12 miles northeast of Houston.

He was wrong. Three days ago, a 15-foot high wall of water hit his subdivision, wiping out everything inside his trailer.

"I've got my life, that's all that matters," he said.

Some Texas residents could face more flooding. The Trinity River, which runs from Lake Livingston to Galveston Bay, is expected to crest 29 feet above flood stage by Wednesday morning.

Rain from the north is flowing into Liberty County and it has taken two or three days to arrive, said Sgt. James Holland with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. Some areas of the county are reporting 6 feet of water on roadways.

In Louisiana, more than 500 homes have been damaged by flooding, according to NOAA. The southern parishes received from 8 to 20 inches, with an estimated 2 feet of rain recorded in the Thibodaux area, south of New Orleans.

CNN National Correspondent Brian Cabell contributed to this report.