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| Version 17 | Version 18 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Harvey: powerful storm makes landfall in Texas – latest | Hurricane Harvey: powerful storm makes landfall in Texas – latest |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.47pm BST | |
| 12:47 | |
| Summary | |
| If you’re just joining us, here’s a summary of where things stand: | |
| Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Friday night, and has now stalled over the south-east of the state, where it is pummelling the Gulf Coast with strong winds and heavy rain. Experts fear it could stay in place for days, causing extensive damage. | |
| Forecasters predict life-threatening storm surges and “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” for the state, with up to three feet of rain forecast. | |
| It hit the coast as a category 4 storm – the fiercest to hit the US in more than a decade with 130mph winds. But it has since been downgraded to Category 1 and the winds have dropped to 90mph. | |
| Tens of thousands of residents have fled inland. No deaths had been confirmed by Saturday morning local time, but emergency crews could not get to many places due to the high winds. | |
| More than 100,000 people are without power, and people in the city of Corpus Christie have been urged to boil their water. Reports of significant damage are emerging in Rockport, which was directly in Harvey’s path when it came ashore. The mayor of urged residents who chose to stay to write their social security numbers on their arms to make it easier for rescuers to identify them. | |
| Even if the storm retreats to the Gulf of Mexico in a few days, meteorologists fear it could turn back to land for a second assault. | |
| There was some confusion in Houston, after Texas governor Greg Abbott urged people to flee but the city authorities told people to remain in their homes, saying there might be a “greater danger” in having people who don’t need to be evacuated on roads that could flood. All seven Texas counties on the coast from Corpus Christi to the western end of Galveston Island ordered mandatory evacuations from low-lying areas. Four counties ordered full evacuations and warned there was no guarantee of rescue for people staying behind. | |
| The storm poses the first major emergency management test for Donald Trump, who signed a disaster proclamation on Friday night, releasing federal response funds and resources, and has been tweeting about the storm on Saturday morning. The president will remember the damage caused to George W Bush’s reputation by his slow response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Louisiana. His Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) chief, Brock Long, was only confirmed on 20 June, three weeks into the Atlantic hurricane season, and the president has not yet nominated a permanent head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which plays a key role in weather forecasting. | |
| Swells generated by Harvey are affecting the Texas, Louisiana, and north-east Mexico coasts. Multiple tornado warnings have been issued and one has been spotted at Sienna Plantation just south of Houston. Tornadoes are possible through Saturday in middle and upper Texas and far south-west Louisiana. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.05pm BST | |
| 12.10pm BST | 12.10pm BST |
| 12:10 | 12:10 |
| FEMA chief: Harvey turning into 'deadly inland event'. | FEMA chief: Harvey turning into 'deadly inland event'. |
| FEMA chief Brock Long has said Hurricane Harvey is turning into a “deadly inland event”. | FEMA chief Brock Long has said Hurricane Harvey is turning into a “deadly inland event”. |
| Citizens of TX, this is now turning into a deadly inland event. Thoughts and prayers are with you. https://t.co/2qqTnl1Anj | Citizens of TX, this is now turning into a deadly inland event. Thoughts and prayers are with you. https://t.co/2qqTnl1Anj |
| 12.08pm BST | 12.08pm BST |
| 12:08 | 12:08 |
| The destruction that heavy rain and floods from Hurricane Harvey could inflict on Texas would add to the pile of debt owed by a federal flood insurance program that is due to expire in September, advocacy groups have said. | The destruction that heavy rain and floods from Hurricane Harvey could inflict on Texas would add to the pile of debt owed by a federal flood insurance program that is due to expire in September, advocacy groups have said. |
| The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) owes $24.6 billion to the Treasury, Reuters reports. | The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) owes $24.6 billion to the Treasury, Reuters reports. |
| Most of it covered claims from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and floods in 2016, the program’s third most severe loss-year on record with losses exceeding $4 billion, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which manages it. | Most of it covered claims from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and floods in 2016, the program’s third most severe loss-year on record with losses exceeding $4 billion, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which manages it. |
| The NFIP was extended 17 times between 2008 and 2012 and lapsed four times in that period. A 2012 law extended the program to September. | The NFIP was extended 17 times between 2008 and 2012 and lapsed four times in that period. A 2012 law extended the program to September. |
| The only source of flood insurance for most Americans, it will be in place for homeowners and businesses in Harvey’s path along the central Texas coast. | The only source of flood insurance for most Americans, it will be in place for homeowners and businesses in Harvey’s path along the central Texas coast. |
| But Harvey-related claims covered under the program could push it deeper into the red and possibly toward its borrowing limit of just over $30 billion, said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan budget watchdog in Washington, D.C. | But Harvey-related claims covered under the program could push it deeper into the red and possibly toward its borrowing limit of just over $30 billion, said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan budget watchdog in Washington, D.C. |
| 11.38am BST | 11.38am BST |
| 11:38 | 11:38 |
| Hurricane Harvey downgraded to category 1 storm | Hurricane Harvey downgraded to category 1 storm |
| Harvey has now been downgraded to a category 1 storm. But flooding fears remain. | Harvey has now been downgraded to a category 1 storm. But flooding fears remain. |
| The National Hurricane Center is expecting “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” across the middle and upper Texas coast. | The National Hurricane Center is expecting “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” across the middle and upper Texas coast. |
| Moderate to High Risk of power outages over a large part of souhteast Texas thru Sunday morning. #harvey #txwx pic.twitter.com/u5MB7Hzq6l | Moderate to High Risk of power outages over a large part of souhteast Texas thru Sunday morning. #harvey #txwx pic.twitter.com/u5MB7Hzq6l |
| 11.11am BST | 11.11am BST |
| 11:11 | 11:11 |
| Here is advice on what to do if a flash flood warning is in effect. | Here is advice on what to do if a flash flood warning is in effect. |
| Know what to do if a Flash Flood Warning is in effect? #txwx #houwx #bcswx #Harvey pic.twitter.com/sdwTlLsI4r | Know what to do if a Flash Flood Warning is in effect? #txwx #houwx #bcswx #Harvey pic.twitter.com/sdwTlLsI4r |
| 10.46am BST | 10.46am BST |
| 10:46 | 10:46 |
| Cameras outside the International Space Station captured views of hurricane Harvey during a flyover on Friday. | Cameras outside the International Space Station captured views of hurricane Harvey during a flyover on Friday. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.10am BST | at 11.10am BST |
| 10.23am BST | 10.23am BST |
| 10:23 | 10:23 |
| This piece on ProPublica about why Houston was unprepared for a major hurricane is an interesting read. | This piece on ProPublica about why Houston was unprepared for a major hurricane is an interesting read. |
| This is terrifying. A major hurricane near Houston could devastate the global economy. #Harvey https://t.co/lG8gBJVXRs | This is terrifying. A major hurricane near Houston could devastate the global economy. #Harvey https://t.co/lG8gBJVXRs |
| 10.19am BST | 10.19am BST |
| 10:19 | 10:19 |
| While Harvey has weakened, flooding remains the big concern. | While Harvey has weakened, flooding remains the big concern. |
| #Harvey has weakened to a Cat. 2 with max sustained winds of 110 mph - flooding still the big concern: #Harvey2017 https://t.co/Ke3boeJPjt pic.twitter.com/IfNA070zoF | #Harvey has weakened to a Cat. 2 with max sustained winds of 110 mph - flooding still the big concern: #Harvey2017 https://t.co/Ke3boeJPjt pic.twitter.com/IfNA070zoF |
| 10.12am BST | 10.12am BST |
| 10:12 | 10:12 |
| Humans aren’t the only ones displaced by hurricane Harvey. | Humans aren’t the only ones displaced by hurricane Harvey. |
| Gators and flooding advice via @txgatorsquad: Expect them to be displaced. Simply looking for higher ground. Leave alone until water recedes pic.twitter.com/nN1B5jvMyV | Gators and flooding advice via @txgatorsquad: Expect them to be displaced. Simply looking for higher ground. Leave alone until water recedes pic.twitter.com/nN1B5jvMyV |
| 10.06am BST | 10.06am BST |
| 10:06 | 10:06 |
| This live stream of #HurricaneHarvey is NUTS. https://t.co/PQWAIOFrpG | This live stream of #HurricaneHarvey is NUTS. https://t.co/PQWAIOFrpG |
| 9.52am BST | 9.52am BST |
| 09:52 | 09:52 |
| Hurricane Harvey downgraded to Category 2 | Hurricane Harvey downgraded to Category 2 |
| Five hours after it made landfall, hurricane Harvey has been downgraded to a category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 110mph - down from 130mph. | Five hours after it made landfall, hurricane Harvey has been downgraded to a category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 110mph - down from 130mph. |
| #HurricaneHarvey is slowly weakening, now a Category 2. Rain bands inching closer to the Austin area. https://t.co/A8sAY5EeIw | #HurricaneHarvey is slowly weakening, now a Category 2. Rain bands inching closer to the Austin area. https://t.co/A8sAY5EeIw |
| It is feared the storm will create catastrophic damage from wind, storm surge and flooding caused by torrential rainfall. | It is feared the storm will create catastrophic damage from wind, storm surge and flooding caused by torrential rainfall. |
| Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell and Fayette counties. A flash flood watch is also in effect for Travis, Williamson, Hays, Blanco, Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays and Lee counties. And flood warnings have been issued for Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette and Hays Counties. | Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell and Fayette counties. A flash flood watch is also in effect for Travis, Williamson, Hays, Blanco, Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays and Lee counties. And flood warnings have been issued for Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette and Hays Counties. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.11am BST | at 11.11am BST |