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Ex-hurricane Harvey: Houston flooded as catastrophe unfolds in Texas – latest updates Ex-hurricane Harvey: Houston flooded as catastrophe unfolds in Texas – latest updates
(35 minutes later)
3.55am BST
03:55
Dallas – which is 240 miles (390km) north of Houston – has so far opened up three shelters to take in the displaced. It plans to open the city’s main convention center, the Kay Bailey Hutchison convention center, to offer another 5,000 beds by Tuesday morning.
3.51am BST
03:51
3.46am BST
03:46
Tom Dart
Rain in far west Houston is now the strongest it has been all weekend and radar images suggest no let-up for several hours, bringing added anxiety to residents close to the Barker and Addicks reservoirs, which collect water and protect central Houston by reducing the impact of flooding along the Buffalo Bayou.
The Army Corps of Engineers is set to release water from the reservoirs in the coming hours, in effect allowing some neighborhoods to flood in order to keep a bigger disaster from unspooling downriver. Some are already under a voluntary evacuation order. Population growth in this part of Houston has been explosive over the past decade, fueled by the oil boom. It’s close to a quarter known as the Energy Corridor, where many oil companies big and small are headquartered. That means more houses and apartments built close to the bayou and the reservoirs. And where once were fields helping to absorb rainwater are now large areas of non-porous concrete.
3.43am BST
03:43
In this press briefing, the US Coast Guard says it has conducted more than 1,000 rescues, of which 200 were from the air.
US Coast Guard: We've rescued 1,200 from the #HoustonFloods - 200 from the air pic.twitter.com/v9Suvxrxjz
3.41am BST
03:41
People who fled Aransas County – where Hurricane Harvey made landfall – have been urged not to return yet by Sheriff Bill Mills as the search for any missing people continues. There is no running water, power or phone service in the area yet.
Mills said search and rescue teams – some of which have arrived from as far away as New York and North Carolina – had covered 85% of the county and so far encountered one death. That was a person whose body was so badly burned in a mobile home fire in Rockport that medical examiners have been unable to determine the sex.
3.34am BST
03:34
A1 of Monday's Houston Chronicle. @stevegonzaleshc/@MPhillip_hc photos, design by @clarooz19. Read it all: https://t.co/zpf3pXIxa1 pic.twitter.com/ulPaKrvVQg
3.22am BST3.22am BST
03:2203:22
Major water releases planned to protect HoustonMajor water releases planned to protect Houston
The US military has said it plans to release water from two reservoirs south-west of Houston in a bid to protect the city and surrounds. Water is to be released from the Addicks reservoir from 2am on Monday and from the Barker Reservoir about 24 hours later, the Army Corps of Engineers said.The US military has said it plans to release water from two reservoirs south-west of Houston in a bid to protect the city and surrounds. Water is to be released from the Addicks reservoir from 2am on Monday and from the Barker Reservoir about 24 hours later, the Army Corps of Engineers said.
The release will cause a rise of up to 6 inches (15 cm) per hour in the Buffalo Bayou – which runs through Houston – and will cause water levels to rise both upstream and downstream for a time. “This flood event will exceed the 2016 tax day flood elevations,” said Colonel Lars Zetterstrom at a press briefing. “Structures will be impacted upstream from both locations; the number of structures affected will depend on weather conditions.”The release will cause a rise of up to 6 inches (15 cm) per hour in the Buffalo Bayou – which runs through Houston – and will cause water levels to rise both upstream and downstream for a time. “This flood event will exceed the 2016 tax day flood elevations,” said Colonel Lars Zetterstrom at a press briefing. “Structures will be impacted upstream from both locations; the number of structures affected will depend on weather conditions.”
The corps said the flooding around the Barker reservoir might affect several thousand homes.The corps said the flooding around the Barker reservoir might affect several thousand homes.
It will take up to three months to empty the reservoirs, according to Zetterstrom.It will take up to three months to empty the reservoirs, according to Zetterstrom.
More details (in Spanish and English) can be found here.More details (in Spanish and English) can be found here.
3.06am BST3.06am BST
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Tornadoes are still a major risk. This alert applies for the next 30 mins, east of Houston.Tornadoes are still a major risk. This alert applies for the next 30 mins, east of Houston.
Tornado Warning including Anahuac TX, Oak Island TX, Double Bayou TX until 9:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/Oir2QSobfnTornado Warning including Anahuac TX, Oak Island TX, Double Bayou TX until 9:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/Oir2QSobfn
3.05am BST3.05am BST
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2.58am BST2.58am BST
02:5802:58
Here is an interactive map showing mandatory and voluntary evacuation areas. It has a feature to type in an address and see if it is affected. It is updated in real time. It currently shows a mandatory evacuation area along the San Bernand river, south-west of Houston, a voluntary evacuation area along the Brazos river. It also shows the area likely to be affected by the planned release of the Barker reservoir.Here is an interactive map showing mandatory and voluntary evacuation areas. It has a feature to type in an address and see if it is affected. It is updated in real time. It currently shows a mandatory evacuation area along the San Bernand river, south-west of Houston, a voluntary evacuation area along the Brazos river. It also shows the area likely to be affected by the planned release of the Barker reservoir.
2.52am BST2.52am BST
02:5202:52
This National Weather Service map from about 20 minutes ago gives an idea of the areas most at risk from the downpours. The orange and red areas of highest rainfall are focused south-west of central Houston, where authorities are planning to release dams. Victoria can be seen in the lower left corner and Beaumont and Lake Charles on the right hand side.This National Weather Service map from about 20 minutes ago gives an idea of the areas most at risk from the downpours. The orange and red areas of highest rainfall are focused south-west of central Houston, where authorities are planning to release dams. Victoria can be seen in the lower left corner and Beaumont and Lake Charles on the right hand side.
8:30 PM CDT radar shows two heavy rain bands setting up, giving a better idea of which areas will see 5-10" of rain and isolated 15-25" pic.twitter.com/hKRD9RvLn08:30 PM CDT radar shows two heavy rain bands setting up, giving a better idea of which areas will see 5-10" of rain and isolated 15-25" pic.twitter.com/hKRD9RvLn0
2.46am BST2.46am BST
02:4602:46
We are expecting a briefing soon on the planned releases of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. This is part of central Houston’s flood control system.We are expecting a briefing soon on the planned releases of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. This is part of central Houston’s flood control system.
2.41am BST
02:41
Kevin Simmons, an economist specialising in natural hazards at Austin College in Texas, points out there is $325bn of residential property at risk in the Houston metropolitan area. If only a tiny percentage of that is damaged, we are still talking about a clean-up bill that goes into billions, on top of which comes the commercial, infrastructure and transport costs.
2.35am BST
02:35
This is one of the many, many stories of rescues emerging across Houston.
A powerful moment on @CNN just now -- a flood rescue with @edlavaCNN https://t.co/4Icgn35WzV
2.30am BST
02:30
This map gives a clearer idea of the areas at greatest risk of flash flooding through until 10.45am on Monday.
This is the largest flash flood emergency I've ever seen issued by @NWSHouston. "Epic catastrophic flooding." pic.twitter.com/U9BmtJJbNN
2.25am BST
02:25
Reservoir to be released to protect Houston
Fort Bend County, south-west of Houston, has issued a voluntary emergency evacuation order for a neighborhood next to a reservoir that is set to see water released to protect much of central Houston.
A statement said: “Imminent flooding is expected in the area. Residents are advised to make preparations now to remove all persons, pets, and livestock out of the flood-prone area.”
2.23am BST
02:23
The topography of the disaster-hit area is crucial to understanding how this torrential rainfall could bring disaster. As Tom Dart explains, more than 6.5 million people live in the region, which is one of the country’s most flood-prone.
As Houston’s population has expanded, thousands of homes have been built near the reservoirs, which are under repair because the Corps classified them as “extremely high risk” several years ago, though the federal agency has in the past denied they are under imminent danger of failing.
2.20am BST
02:20
Harris County official says controlled releases of reservoirs tomorrow will flood homes. Water will stay in them for *two* months. Stunning.
2.17am BST
02:17
Tom Dart
Here is the latest overview of events from our correspondent, Tom Dart, in Houston. It paints a picture of a city under huge strain. The bayous are being breached, there are more than 200 road closures as the main routes turn into rivers, thousands of people are calling to be rescued, and emergency services are answering only those emergencies that are life-threatening.
Steve Bowen, meteorologist at reinsurance firm Aon Benfield, said: “What we’re seeing is the most devastating flood event in Houston’s recorded history. We’re seeing levels of rainfall that are unprecedented.”
It remains to be seen whether the state governor’s praise of the federal response as “A+” is justified. President Trump is due to visit the area tomorrow.
2.10am BST
02:10
The mayor also defended his decision not to order the city to evacuate. “The decision that we made was a smart one. It was in the best interest of Houstonians. It was the right decision in terms of their safety ... absolutely no regrets. We did what was the right thing to do,” he said.
This is an issue that will no doubt be much-discussed at a later date.
2.04am BST
02:04
The mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, has said that as of 5pm on Sunday – or about three hours ago – Houston emergency services had received nearly 6,000 calls for rescues and had rescued more than 1,000 people. Many of them had been trapped on their roofs or in their attics.
He said 22 aircraft were scouring the area to identify people stranded on roofs. Thirty-five boats and 93 trucks were being used by the city for high-water rescues.
He confirmed one fatality from Saturday evening, when a woman was found dead after getting out of her car in a flooded street.
2.01am BST
02:01
The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brock Long, has predicted that the aftermath of the storm would require the agency’s involvement for years.“This disaster’s going to be a landmark event,” Long said.
Meanwhile, the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, heaped praise on the agency and Donald Trump. “I’ve got to tell you, I give Fema a grade of A+, all the way from the president down,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the president several times, to his cabinet members, such as secretary of homeland security, such as the administrator of Fema, such as Tom Price, the secretary of health and human services.”
“All across the board, from the White House to the federal administration to Fema, they’ve been very helpful,” Abbott said.