Ad specialty companies in Dallas are bracing for the aftereffects of Tropical Storm Bill, waiting to see whether the rainfall would bring a new round of flooding to the already drenched region.

Steve Hildreth, sales rep for supplier Holden Brand (asi/58745), said it was “business as usual” at his company, so far. Robbie Weinberg, managing director of supplier Purple Giraffe (asi/80086), said the storm had not affected operations at his company either. However, Weinberg added, several employees living in the worst-hit areas are choosing to telecommute. During the heavy rains in May, commute times for some employees jumped from 15 minutes to an hour and a half, he said. “Our offices are within sight of the Trinity River, so fingers crossed, we’ll be OK,” Weinberg said.

Although Tropical Storm Bill had weakened to a tropical depression early Wednesday, the rain has still been significant. Officials expected the full impact of the storm to come 24 to 36 hours after the initial downpour, as storm water pours into sewers, streams and swollen reservoirs. The reservoirs could then discharge more water into the Trinity, potentially threatening downtown Dallas. “The rain event itself is not as worrisome to us as what could happen two days after the rain has ended,” said Rocky Vaz, of the Dallas Office of Emergency Management.

By early Wednesday, a flood advisory had been issued for Dallas and several Texas counties. Half of the reservoirs along the Trinity River were already above flood stage and discharging waters from earlier rains.