Head to Netsuite.com

slash Briefing Now for their one-of-a-kind flexible financing program.

Hello from CNN, I'm Joe Beck, with the five things you need to know

for Friday, May 17th.

The Gulf Coast is bracing things you need to know for Friday, May 17th.

The Gulf Coast is bracing for more dangerous flooding today after deadly storms battered Texas

and Louisiana last night.

At least four people were killed in Houston, as winds damaged buildings

and knocked down trees, as well as power lines. Earlier this morning, more than a million

homes and businesses were in the dark across the two states, and the Mayor of Houston

was warning people to stay home.

Later today, the storms are expected to head east, bringing the high risk of flash flooding.

We ask CNN's Alisa Raffer what to expect.

Joe, the severe threat continues along the Gulf Coast today. We have that level two out of

five slight risk of severe weather from New Orleans stretching into Mobile in

Montgomery, Alabama we can still find some damaging winds, large hail, and a

couple of tornadoes. We're still holding on to that flesh flooding risk as

well that moderate level three out of four risks stretch to that

moderate level three out of four risk stretches across parts of Mississippi and Alabama

where we could find two to five inches of rain

some totals even up to eight inches possible

and remember the soil is already saturated from a very

...