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Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas - latest updates Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas - latest updates
(35 minutes later)
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Reports of damage are starting to filter in, though we are unable to confirm them at this stage. Rockport high school has reportedly suffered significant damage, large fishing boats have been pushed inland at Port Aransas and the waterfront there has been devastated.
Rockport, where Hurricane Harvey made landfall, has enjoyed relative piece in the eye of the storm but it appears the back end of the storm is about to hit.
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Thousands of Corpus Christi residents have opted to leave the city. They gathered at the city’s gym, where they were registered and taken by bus to San Antonio. Officials have no idea how many people decided to remain in Corpus Christi after the voluntary evacuation announcement.
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As many as 5.8 million people are believed to be in the path of Hurricane Harvey, as well as the heart of America’s oil refining operations. The storm’s impact on refineries has already pushed up gasoline prices.
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Large road signs down over I-37 near Corpus. #ksatwx #harvey pic.twitter.com/GvYidqyOeU
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The message from Houston mayor Sylvester Turner is clear: this is just the beginning. On Friday he voiced fears that people would suffer from “storm fatigue” and start to venture out on Sunday, putting themselves in danger, the Houston Chronicle reports.
“That would probably be the worst time to do that,” Turner said. “People are going to have to be very, very patient ... We may get our greatest rainfall on Sunday, Monday or possibly Tuesday.”
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Front page of Saturday's @HoustonChron as #HurricaneHarvey makes landfall. Our latest story: https://t.co/IWrGvlF9kv pic.twitter.com/ckKPyjlkXP
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The local weather service has now expanded its floodwatch to include Houston. The alert has been put in place until Tuesday evening, demonstrating just how long Harvey is expected to linger on land, either as a hurricane or tropical storm.The local weather service has now expanded its floodwatch to include Houston. The alert has been put in place until Tuesday evening, demonstrating just how long Harvey is expected to linger on land, either as a hurricane or tropical storm.
Flash Flood Watch is now in effect through Tuesday evening, and has been expanded to include Houston, Polk, and Trinity counties. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/kW3fj6MsWYFlash Flood Watch is now in effect through Tuesday evening, and has been expanded to include Houston, Polk, and Trinity counties. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/kW3fj6MsWY
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Tom DartTom Dart
Harvey is the strongest hurricane to hit the US since the category 3 Wilma battered Florida in 2005.Harvey is the strongest hurricane to hit the US since the category 3 Wilma battered Florida in 2005.
The previous hurricane to make landfall in Texas was Ike, which caused serious damage and loss of life in the Caribbean. It landed in Galveston in September 2008 as a category 2 hurricane with maximum 110mph winds. In the US it caused over $30bn in damage and killed 112 people.The previous hurricane to make landfall in Texas was Ike, which caused serious damage and loss of life in the Caribbean. It landed in Galveston in September 2008 as a category 2 hurricane with maximum 110mph winds. In the US it caused over $30bn in damage and killed 112 people.
Coming less than a month after Hurricane Katrina inflicted $108bn of damage and caused roughly 1,500 fatalities in Louisiana alone, Rita is perhaps largely forgotten outside Texas. But it came ashore along the Texas-Louisiana border in September 2005 as a category 3 hurricane with 120mph winds and caused $12bn in damage.Coming less than a month after Hurricane Katrina inflicted $108bn of damage and caused roughly 1,500 fatalities in Louisiana alone, Rita is perhaps largely forgotten outside Texas. But it came ashore along the Texas-Louisiana border in September 2005 as a category 3 hurricane with 120mph winds and caused $12bn in damage.
With fears high after Katrina, several million people evacuated from Houston and the Texas coast in intense heat to escape Rita. The storm, traffic accidents and deaths from health problems in gridlocked traffic caused a reported 107 deaths.With fears high after Katrina, several million people evacuated from Houston and the Texas coast in intense heat to escape Rita. The storm, traffic accidents and deaths from health problems in gridlocked traffic caused a reported 107 deaths.
Memories of the nightmarish evacuation seem to have influenced current Houston mayor Sylvester Turner’s response to Texas governor Greg Abbott’s recommendation at a Friday press conference that people from Corpus Christi to Houston consider evacuating. Turner tweeted: “Chaotic 2005 traffic with Hurricane Rita lurking was tragic. No official has issued evac order for Houston now. Calm and care!”Memories of the nightmarish evacuation seem to have influenced current Houston mayor Sylvester Turner’s response to Texas governor Greg Abbott’s recommendation at a Friday press conference that people from Corpus Christi to Houston consider evacuating. Turner tweeted: “Chaotic 2005 traffic with Hurricane Rita lurking was tragic. No official has issued evac order for Houston now. Calm and care!”
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SummarySummary
Hurricane Harvey has made landfall in Texas between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor, after swiftly gathering strength over the Gulf of Mexico.Hurricane Harvey has made landfall in Texas between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor, after swiftly gathering strength over the Gulf of Mexico.
It made landfall as a category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 130mph (210km/h). It is moving north-west at 7mph. It is the strongest hurricane to hit the US since the category 3 Wilma battered Florida in 2005.It made landfall as a category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 130mph (210km/h). It is moving north-west at 7mph. It is the strongest hurricane to hit the US since the category 3 Wilma battered Florida in 2005.
More than 100,000 people are without power, and people in the city of Corpus Christie – the nearest big city – have been urged to boil their water.More than 100,000 people are without power, and people in the city of Corpus Christie – the nearest big city – have been urged to boil their water.
Multiple tornado warnings have been issued for the surrounding areas.Multiple tornado warnings have been issued for the surrounding areas.
The key concerns are storm surges and flooding, with the storm expected to linger for days, potentially depositing 25 inches (63cm) or more of rain in some areas. It is expected at some point to head near Houston, the state’s fourth-largest city and one that is flood prone.The key concerns are storm surges and flooding, with the storm expected to linger for days, potentially depositing 25 inches (63cm) or more of rain in some areas. It is expected at some point to head near Houston, the state’s fourth-largest city and one that is flood prone.
Donald Trump has signed a disaster proclamation at the request of the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. This will release federal disaster response funds and resources. Abbott has already declared a state of disaster in 30 counties to speed up deployment of state resources.Donald Trump has signed a disaster proclamation at the request of the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. This will release federal disaster response funds and resources. Abbott has already declared a state of disaster in 30 counties to speed up deployment of state resources.
The mayor of the town of Rockport, where the storm hit, has urged residents who chose to stay to write their social security numbers on their arms to make it easier for rescuers to identify them.The mayor of the town of Rockport, where the storm hit, has urged residents who chose to stay to write their social security numbers on their arms to make it easier for rescuers to identify them.
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Full fury #Harvey hitting now!!! Not for broadcast! Building shaking windows busting and fire alarms going off! pic.twitter.com/RbZrMdahRzFull fury #Harvey hitting now!!! Not for broadcast! Building shaking windows busting and fire alarms going off! pic.twitter.com/RbZrMdahRz
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People in the city of Corpus Christi are being urged to boil their water because the storm has made the water system “unstable”. Click here for the latest updates from the city’s authorities, including messages in Spanish.People in the city of Corpus Christi are being urged to boil their water because the storm has made the water system “unstable”. Click here for the latest updates from the city’s authorities, including messages in Spanish.
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Already reports of price gouging are emerging. The Houston Chronicle says one store was charging $7 for a bottle of water. The office of attorney general Ken Paxton has already received at least 75 complaints.
In a statement he said: “Unfortunately, in the wake of the damage from storms and flooding, we also see bad actors taking advantage of victims and their circumstances.” He cautioned people to be “extremely cautious with people who may offer to help residents with rebuilding or repairs”.
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The disaster preparedness effort is in full swing.
Reminder: American Red Cross is training volunteer shelter workers in Austin tomorrow. Join them! https://t.co/sIbr1ZIBM6 #ATXShelter
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The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Harvey officially made landfall as a category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 130mph (210km/h). It is moving north-west at 7mph.
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Federal authorities have put together this public health emergency site with a range of resources for those unsure what to do before during and after this storm.
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Harvey is the main event but alongside it is a range of tornado warnings - most recently for the areas of Rosharon, Bonney and Danbury, nearer Houston.
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This locator shows where Hurricane Harvey has hit. The key affected areas at the moment are the areas of Rockport and Port Aransas (which has been largely evacuated) plus the city of Corpus Christi, which has a population of 325,000. The storm is expected to move slowly north and linger near Houston, bringing with it days of torrential rain.
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Energy network corporation Ercot says 104,000 customers are already without power. Electricity company AEP Texas says it has 2,000 personnel ready to start restoring power once it is safe to do so. Ercot has urged people to stay away from downed power lines.
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The National Weather Service makes the point that the last category 4 storm to hit Texas was Hurricane Carla in 1961. It killed 34 people, destroyed thousands of buildings and led to a repair bill of at least $300m.
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Donald Trump has signed a disaster proclamation. This quickly unlocks federal funds and resources to deal with the disaster and was done at the request of Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas.
Abbott on Wednesday preemptively declared a state of disaster for 30 counties to speed up deployment of state resources.
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90% of the town of Port Aransas has evacuated ahead of the storm but officials have no idea how many people are still in the city of Corpus Christi just south of where Harvey has hit. The city has a population of 325,000.