Flooding in Detroit Hampers Carmakers

Record rainfall in metro Detroit that left sections of the region's expressways under five feet of water has disrupted auto industry production and staff operations in the area.

Rescue workers used scuba divers in some areas to search for people trapped in cars. Heavy downpours that began Monday afternoon dumped nearly 5 inches of rain and halted virtually all travel by expressway through Detroit Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Officials say widespread flooding blocked parts deliveries, hampered new-vehicle shipments and made it difficult for area workers to get to and from their jobs.

General Motors Co. closed its 330-acre Technical Center in Warren on Tuesday, idling 19,000 designers, engineers and other staff for the day.

Ford and Chrysler each reported production dips at four of their Detroit-area assembly plants Monday night. Ford said the flooding disrupted its operations in Illinois and Kentucky, Both companies say normal output levels were restored at all eight metro Detroit facilities by midday Tuesday.