Violent storms brings holiday weekend tragedy to the South

Downpours and thunderstorms will soak many parts of the central and eastern U.S. on Monday, threatening millions of Americans on Memorial Day.

The violent storms rumbling through Texas showed no signs of letting up, reports CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez.

Several people are dead and others missing after torrential rains unleashed devastating flood waters.

"The people that live across the street from me, it's flowing. Their whole front yard is under water," said one resident.

Search teams in Parker County, Texas gave up hopes of rescuing a 10-year-old swept away by the swollen the Brazos River. And the Brazos is still expected to rise more -- possibly peaking at more than 53 feet later this week, the highest ever recorded.

"We have the family here and they need some closure and we haven't been able to give it to them yet. So we're going to keep trying," said a rescue worker.

Rising rivers have forced the mandatory evacuation of several communities in Southeastern Texas.

"This is the first time I've seen water this high. I've lived in the Spring area for over 50 years and this is the highest I've ever seen Spring Creek," said a resident.

A lightning strike knocked the CBS station in Amarillo, Texas, off the air temporarily Sunday afternoon.

In Wichita, Kansas, firefighters are looking for the body of an 11-year-old boy who fell into an overflowing Gypsum River.

The rising rivers in Southeast Texas have also forced the evacuation of two prisons.

The remains of Tropical Storm Bonnie are also dumping more rain on the mid-Atlantic Monday. On Sunday, Charleston, South Carolina was pounded with record-setting rainfall of more than eight inches as Tropical Storm Bonnie came ashore with wind speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, reports CBS News correspondent David Begnaud.

In Jasper County, the water rose quickly, submerging gas stations, cars and homes.

"We woke up this morning and our whole yard was flooded," said a homeowner. "We have been living here almost 41 years and never experienced anything like this."

Even the local jail wasn't spared. The floods forced officials to evacuate the facility and transfer prisoners to neighboring counties.

But the greatest threat was on the roads, where flash floods transformed highways into treacherous waterways.

Some stranded travelers were rescued by boat after flood water overtook their car.

"Nothing could have forewarned us," said one traveler, who was stranded and rescued by boat.

On Interstate 95, traffic came to a standstill after flooding forced officials to close the southbound lanes all day Sunday.

One driver was stuck for three and a half hours, traveling only three miles.

In nearby coastal areas, beaches normally packed with tourists were all but deserted as high winds and dangerous rip tides kept swimmers away.

"It sucks, it does. But I guess we'll have to find something indoors to do," said a tourist.

No fatalities have been reported as a result of the storm in South Carolina, although officials continue to search for a swimmer who disappeared in the water off Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday.

Weather conditions are expected to improve throughout the day in Jasper County and the highway is now open.