Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Van Rental Company Gives Update on Houston Location

With heavy rains still coming down, there is no way to get in and out of Airport Van Rental’s (AVR) location near Houston International Airport.

by Staff
August 28, 2017
Van Rental Company Gives Update on Houston Location

Houston's 69 freeway has been shut down. Photo courtesy of Airport Van Rental.

2 min to read


Houston's 69 freeway has been shut down. Photo courtesy of Airport Van Rental.

With heavy rains still coming down, there is no way to get in and out of Airport Van Rental’s (AVR) location near Houston International Airport.

“The exit to our Houston location is closed and the street that the location sits on is flooded,” says Cesar Leyva, AVR’s vice president of fleet operations. “Both airports in Houston are closed and all freeways are closed or impassable.”

Ad Loading...

At this point, Yaz Irani, founder and CEO of AVR, doesn’t know the extent of flooding to AVR’s location in Houston. With no way in or out, the store can’t be open at this time.

“Located outside Houston International Airport, our location sits a little higher so we are hoping that the location hasn’t flooded,” says Irani.

This photo was taken at a hotel near Houston International Airport by Executive Editor Chris Brown's wife Silvia Krasuk.

Many employees can’t leave their homes to try to go to work. With the heavy flooding, Leyva said that four employees are stuck inside their homes. One employee named Johneishia left her home and is now stuck in a hotel. Unfortunately, Johneishia lost her car and her home is completely flooded.

“We have told employees that their safety is the top priority,” says Irani. “We don’t want them to even consider trying to get to work until they feel that they can safely leave their homes. Safety of employees and their families is No. 1 right now.”

Johneishia, an employee at Airport Van Rental's location in Houston, had to be rescued from her car. She lost her car and her home was completely flooded.

Although AVR doesn't have a location in Dallas, the company has set up a temporary drop-off location in a parking lot in Dallas for customers to drop off their rental vans.

Ad Loading...

“We are contacting ou  r renters in Houston from our company’s central calling center,” says Irani. “They tell us where they are, and we are working with them to have them drop off the rental van at a convenient location. We will pick up the van later, whether that’s in Dallas or another area.”

The eye of the storm system is expected to make its second landfall in Houston on Tuesday afternoon.  In addition to the rain, the other threat is the overflowing of rivers and bayous. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has instructed for controlled releases of reservoirs around the city before they burst and the dams break.

“Unfortunately by slowly releasing the overflowing water, it will cause more flooding in Houston,” says Leyva. “The mayor has instructed that everyone stay inside until told it is safe to be on the road.”

Irani and other AVR employees are staying in touch with managers in Houston to offer any help.


More Rental Operations

Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Ad Loading...