‘Catastrophic and life-threatening’ Harvey continues to pound Texas
Now downgraded to a tropical storm,“Harvey” hit the Texas coast on Friday night between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor as a category 4 hurricane near Rockport with maximum winds reaching 130 miles per hour, according to The National Weather Service. Tropical Storm Harvey is still producing record rains in parts of Texas between 15 and 30 inches in many spots with some areas expected to see up to 40 inches. The National Hurricane Center is warning that flooding will be “catastrophic and life-threatening” in southeastern Texas.
Parts of Houston have been paralyzed by flood waters with more than 1,000 rescues performed overnight as the storm continues to pound residents and first responders, according to CNN. Although winds in those areas have diminished to 45 miles per hour, flooding has devastated the area with The National Weather Service advising residents to “stay put.” A second person is confirmed dead as result of the storm. Police in Houston reported that the death occurred when a woman drove her vehicle into high flood waters. She drowned when she exited her vehicle to try and make dry land on foot.
On Saturday evening, CNN quoted Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, as saying that the rains were going to last at least through Thursday as he urged drivers to stay off the roads. The first of the two fatalities attributed to the monster storm was first reported yesterday in the coastal city of Rockport, where a person died in a house fire not too long after Harvey made landfall. At least another dozen Rockport residents sustained injuries during the height of the storm.
By Saturday morning, “nearly 300,000 consumers were without power in the coastal region, and nearly 20 inches of rain had fallen in some places,” according to Fox News. Flooding will continue to play a significant role in southeastern Texas for the early part of this week. Officials warned that the worst may still be yet to come with forecasts of torrential rain accumulations to reach 40 inches in many areas including Houston. Houston residents are being encouraged to get to the highest areas in their homes, and getting on their rooftops if necessary.
On Saturday night, President Donald Trump tweeted “Wonderful coordination between Federal, State and Local Governments in the Great State of Texas – TEAMWORK! Record setting rainfall.” Trump’s earlier tweets on August 26 included “THANK YOU to all of the great volunteers helping out with #HurricaneHarvey relief in Texas!” and “Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey from Camp David. We are leaving nothing to chance. City, State and Federal Govs. working great together!”
Written by: Ace News Today Staff
