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Tropical storm Harvey: officials confirm eight fatalities – live updates Tropical storm Harvey: officials confirm eight fatalities – live updates
(35 minutes later)
11.17pm BST
23:17
Harvey slightly increased in strength as it went back to warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a new update from the National Hurricane Center.
The AP reports that the tropical storm now has sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph), up 5 mph (8 kph):
Forecasters expect Harvey to stay over water and at 45 mph (72 kph) for 36 hours and then head back inland east of Houston sometime Wednesday. The forecast has the storm then zipping north and losing its tropical storm strength and then its tropical characteristics.
11.01pm BST
23:01
A 60-year-old was killed on Monday after a tree fell on her trailer, according to local reports. The woman, who lived in Porter, was reportedly sleeping when her home was crushed.
The Associated Press reports: “Porter Fire Department firefighters had to wade through chest-level water to evacuate the woman’s husband, remove the tree and extract the body.”
60-year-old woman dies after tree falls on trailer while she slept in Porter https://t.co/VKXGmn44pU pic.twitter.com/maoqFhdKRA
Authorities are also investigating reports that a family of six may have drowned in a van Sunday afternoon while trying to escape the floods, according to KHOU 11 News, which called the fatalities the “single deadliest incident resulting from the storm” thus far.
Police official Art Acevedo told the AP he didn’t have information on the report but said he’s “really worried about how many bodies we’re going to find”.
10.25pm BST10.25pm BST
22:2522:25
Footage of flooding and rescuesFootage of flooding and rescues
Here’s a compilation of footage from the ongoing flooding in Texas, where 30,000 people are expected to be displaced to shelters:Here’s a compilation of footage from the ongoing flooding in Texas, where 30,000 people are expected to be displaced to shelters:
9.59pm BST9.59pm BST
21:5921:59
Trump defends Arpaio pardon during HarveyTrump defends Arpaio pardon during Harvey
Trump was questioned about his decision to pardon former sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday as Hurricane Harvey hit Texas. The president said he did it because of the “ratings”:Trump was questioned about his decision to pardon former sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday as Hurricane Harvey hit Texas. The president said he did it because of the “ratings”:
A lot of people think it was the right thing to do, John. And actually in the middle of a hurricane, even though it was a Friday evening, I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they would be normally, you know the hurricane was just starting. And I put it out that I had pardoned, as we say Sheriff Joe.A lot of people think it was the right thing to do, John. And actually in the middle of a hurricane, even though it was a Friday evening, I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they would be normally, you know the hurricane was just starting. And I put it out that I had pardoned, as we say Sheriff Joe.
Trump claimed Arpaio was “treated unbelievably unfairly” and listed off controversial pardons under previous presidents. Arpaio was found guilty of contempt for his refusal to stop racially biased patrols.Trump claimed Arpaio was “treated unbelievably unfairly” and listed off controversial pardons under previous presidents. Arpaio was found guilty of contempt for his refusal to stop racially biased patrols.
Pres. Trump: "I assumed the ratings would be far higher" for Arpaio pardon, despite approach of Hurricane #Harvey. https://t.co/Ih4gJ7lTCP pic.twitter.com/sUWCEr8hdMPres. Trump: "I assumed the ratings would be far higher" for Arpaio pardon, despite approach of Hurricane #Harvey. https://t.co/Ih4gJ7lTCP pic.twitter.com/sUWCEr8hdM
9.44pm BST9.44pm BST
21:4421:44
Trump: 'You’re going to get your funding'Trump: 'You’re going to get your funding'
At his afternoon press conference, a reporter questioned Trump on his threats to shutdown the government if Congress does not agree to fund his border wall and whether the dispute could affect funding for the recovery in Texas. The president responded:At his afternoon press conference, a reporter questioned Trump on his threats to shutdown the government if Congress does not agree to fund his border wall and whether the dispute could affect funding for the recovery in Texas. The president responded:
It has nothing to do with it, it is separate. This is going to go very quickly...It has nothing to do with it, it is separate. This is going to go very quickly...
You’re going to see very rapid action from Congress. You’re going to get your funding. It’s a terrible tragedy. You’ll have what you want very quickly.You’re going to see very rapid action from Congress. You’re going to get your funding. It’s a terrible tragedy. You’ll have what you want very quickly.
9.35pm BST9.35pm BST
21:3521:35
Sam Levin in San Francisco here, taking over our live coverage of Harvey. Trump is speaking now at a press conference:Sam Levin in San Francisco here, taking over our live coverage of Harvey. Trump is speaking now at a press conference:
“Tragic times such as these bring out the best in America’s character – strength, charity and resilience. ... We see neighbor helping neighbor, friend helping friend, and stranger helping stranger. ... We’re one American family. We hurt together. We struggle together, and believe me, we endure together...“Tragic times such as these bring out the best in America’s character – strength, charity and resilience. ... We see neighbor helping neighbor, friend helping friend, and stranger helping stranger. ... We’re one American family. We hurt together. We struggle together, and believe me, we endure together...
We ask God for his wisdom and strength. We will get through this. We will come out stronger. We will be bigger, better, stronger than ever before. The rebuilding will begin, and in the end, it will be something very special. It has been absolutely incredible to watch the spirit, the cooperation, the love.”We ask God for his wisdom and strength. We will get through this. We will come out stronger. We will be bigger, better, stronger than ever before. The rebuilding will begin, and in the end, it will be something very special. It has been absolutely incredible to watch the spirit, the cooperation, the love.”
8.59pm BST8.59pm BST
20:5920:59
With boat-owning good samaritans flooding into the Houston area to help with recovery and relief missions, especially from southern Louisiana bayou country, we thought it might be a good time to revisit this video on the so called “Cajun Army”.With boat-owning good samaritans flooding into the Houston area to help with recovery and relief missions, especially from southern Louisiana bayou country, we thought it might be a good time to revisit this video on the so called “Cajun Army”.
8.07pm BST8.07pm BST
20:0720:07
Harvey death toll reaches eight, officials confirmHarvey death toll reaches eight, officials confirm
KHOU is reporting that six residents died in a flooded van Monday bringing the storm’s death toll to at least eight. According to KHOU the victims were four minor siblings and their elderly great grandparents.KHOU is reporting that six residents died in a flooded van Monday bringing the storm’s death toll to at least eight. According to KHOU the victims were four minor siblings and their elderly great grandparents.
Two other storm-related fatalities in Rockport and La Marque, Texas had already been reported over the weekend.Two other storm-related fatalities in Rockport and La Marque, Texas had already been reported over the weekend.
7.38pm BST7.38pm BST
19:3819:38
Adam GabbattAdam Gabbatt
Our Adam Gabbatt talks to experts about what makes Houston so tragically flood prone:Our Adam Gabbatt talks to experts about what makes Houston so tragically flood prone:
Flooding is nothing new to Houston residents. Over the past five decades no other urban area in the country has experienced as many casualties and property loss from flooding.Flooding is nothing new to Houston residents. Over the past five decades no other urban area in the country has experienced as many casualties and property loss from flooding.
In 2015, eight people died in what local media described as “historic flooding”. In 2016, what became known as the “tax day floods” saw three waterways in the city exceed their “500-year flood levels”. Six people died.In 2015, eight people died in what local media described as “historic flooding”. In 2016, what became known as the “tax day floods” saw three waterways in the city exceed their “500-year flood levels”. Six people died.
The size of tropical storm Harvey – some experts estimate it has already dumped 12tn gallons of rain in Houston and south Texas – is unusual. But there is no single reason for the extent of the impact it has had at street level.The size of tropical storm Harvey – some experts estimate it has already dumped 12tn gallons of rain in Houston and south Texas – is unusual. But there is no single reason for the extent of the impact it has had at street level.
“It’s a combination of factors,” said Sam Brody, a professor in the department of marine sciences at Texas A&M University. “It’s a very low-lying coastal plain, with clay-based soils that do not drain very well. The city is subject to very heavy rainfall, as well as flooding from tidal events.“It’s a combination of factors,” said Sam Brody, a professor in the department of marine sciences at Texas A&M University. “It’s a very low-lying coastal plain, with clay-based soils that do not drain very well. The city is subject to very heavy rainfall, as well as flooding from tidal events.
“You take that flood-risk landscape and you put six million people on top, with prolific amount of pavement and roadways and a lack of collective and regional thinking about what that does to the natural drainage of that landscape, and you end up with disasters.”“You take that flood-risk landscape and you put six million people on top, with prolific amount of pavement and roadways and a lack of collective and regional thinking about what that does to the natural drainage of that landscape, and you end up with disasters.”
Read more here...Read more here...
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.47pm BSTat 7.47pm BST
7.33pm BST7.33pm BST
19:3319:33
Bulls on paradeBulls on parade
WATCH: Texas police move a massive herd of cattle to higher ground outside of Houston pic.twitter.com/e6Dz2DkrlrWATCH: Texas police move a massive herd of cattle to higher ground outside of Houston pic.twitter.com/e6Dz2Dkrlr
6.58pm BST
18:58
Talk about unprecedented...
National Weather Service Adds New Colors So It Can Map Harvey's Rains https://t.co/LFkAbwrIwv
6.48pm BST
18:48
Tom Dart
Our Tom Dart speaks with more Houstonians bearing the aftermath of Harvey’s landfall:
On an ordinary day, Judy Le lives in a four-bedroom house with her husband and two children.
But these are not ordinary times, and as Brays Bayou swelled early Sunday morning and burst its banks, inundating the Bellaire and Meyerland neighbourhoods, Le had 23 people under her roof. Not to mention eleven dogs and two cats.
Though her house lost power and is only a couple of blocks from the bayou, it is a new-build, in contrast to the old single-storey ranch style homes common in the area, and was protected by a berm that did its job.
Many of her neighbours were not so lucky.
Some had felt confident since their homes did not flood during tropical storm Allison, which hit Houston hard in 2001. “On Saturday all the kids were playing together, it was completely dry, all having a good time,” Le said by phone.
Then at 5am on Sunday, she got a text from a neighbour: things were getting very ugly, very fast. “We all kind of jumped into action,” Le said. “It was just go time from there.”
Neighbours helped neighbours along streets that were soon only navigable by boat, as helicopters rescued the most needy. And Le had a couple of dozen surprise, and very welcome, guests. “My family were Vietnamese refugees,” she said. “My refugee roots were serving me well.”
Updated
at 7.50pm BST
6.28pm BST
18:28
Guardian readers have been getting in touch to share their stories.
CJ Hall has told us that her husband witnessed a tornado touch down by the Berry Center, a sport complex in north-west Houston at 4pm on Saturday. “It tore out trees, the door off Walgreens and flipped a truck as if it was a toy. He and a few other guys helped the shocked driver out of the truck.”
Updated
at 8.00pm BST
6.01pm BST
18:01
Meteorologist weighs in on what's made Harvey such a uniquely devastating storm
Edward Helmore
Six trillion gallons of water, or 24in of rain, representing half Houston’s annual total, have fallen on the city in the past 48 hours. Even more has fallen on the much larger Houston metropolitan area. Scientific American just posted a fascinating interview with Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground, who explains Harvey’s extraordinary destructive potency.
On Wednesday it was a tropical storm. By Friday it had been supercharged from a category one hurricane to category four. That’s because Harvey passed over an area of extremely warm ocean water called an eddy. The hot spot was one to two degrees F warmer than the surrounding Gulf of Mexico, which is already one to two degrees F higher than normal at 85 or 86F in some places.
SA also explains that Harvey has become wedged between two areas of high-pressure, one system over the south-eastern US, the other over the south-western US. The dueling systems are trying to push Harvey in opposite directions, effectively wedging it in place.
The last time that happened to a comparable storm system was Hurricane Mitch in 1998 that killed an estimated 7,000 people in Honduras.
Masters also answers the question why Harvey is still producing so much rain despite being mostly over land. He says Harvey has dropped so much water over such a large area of south-eastern Texas that the storm is pulling that water back up into itself and dumping it again as more rain.
“You only need about 50% of the land to be covered with water for that to happen,” Masters told the magazine. “Obviously we have more than that in Texas.”
Finally, he explains why the flooding in Houston is so severe. Masters calls it “compound flooding” when water swollen rivers heading to the sea meet a storm surge coming inland. In Galveston the sea surge was about three feet, but the actual water surge was about nine feet. “The water piles up from both sides,” Masters says.
But the good news in what is otherwise an apocalyptic scenario for the residents of Houston, is that a low-pressure trough system has been setting up north of Harvey and could being to pull it northward by the end of the week.
Updated
at 6.22pm BST
5.38pm BST
17:38
Tom Dart
Our correspondent has more from Houston:
Flood waters were rising to a foot and higher at an intersection to the west of George Bush Park on Monday morning, making the crossroads impassable to all but a few drivers with elevated pick-up trucks and an elevated taste for risk.
Mike Schulz and his friend Jason Horn arrived on bicycles to survey the scene, which is likely to worsen as the US Army Corps of Engineers releases more water from an overtaxed nearby reservoir.
Asked if he had ever seen anything like it, Schulz said: “On TV … not here. It’s like monsoon season.”
The men live about a mile away from the voluntary evacuation zone but planned to stay put. Schulz, 43, said his home was currently dry and he felt property damage was more of a risk than loss of life.
He was unfazed about the notion that the Corps’ decision to open the dam for the greater good – rather than the direct impact of water straight from Harvey – could contribute to submerging the area for days, seeing short-term pain but gain in the long run.
“It’s a long-term solution to release the pressure up here,” he said.
Even in these exceptional circumstances, obedience to the rules of the road was on show. Before sending their vehicles into ever-deeper water, truck drivers waited patiently at the empty intersection for the red lights to turn green.
Updated
at 6.49pm BST
5.14pm BST
17:14
Texas Governor Greg Abbott activates entire state National Guard
This triples the number of guardsman active in the state from about 4,000 to about 12,000. “It is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the lives and safety of people across the state of Texas as we continue to face the aftermath of this storm,” Abbott said.
Guardsmen are expected to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts, and to be “heavily involved” in the recovery effort after the storm finally passes, according to the governor’s office.
Updated
at 6.08pm BST
5.07pm BST
17:07
Tom Dart
After giving the city of Houston a welcome break for much of the early morning, the rain has returned – and hard, with some areas now seeing in excess of an inch in the past hour. It’s one of Harvey’s cruel tricks: a pause in precipitation gives rise to hopes that we may be coming towards the end of the worst, then the rain returns with a vengeance.It’s especially bad news for those living near bayous, where water levels had started to dip slightly in some places, and in the badly-hit neighborhoods to the west around Buffalo Bayou where the US Army Corps of engineers is making controlled releases of rapidly-rising reservoir water. One sensor along Buffalo Bayou close to downtown indicates that the water has risen to nine foot above the top of the bank.
Updated
at 6.10pm BST
5.02pm BST
17:02
Trump is Texas bound
The White House is thought to be planning for a morning or mid-afternoon visit from Donald Trump to Corpus Christi on Tuesday, about 200 miles south-west of Houston. Trump is avoiding the hardest hit areas because of the challenges a president presents for local officials. First lady Melania Trump is expected to accompany Trump.
Updated
at 6.11pm BST
4.45pm BST
16:45
As seen in the situation room?
Trump has used his Harvey meetings as product placement for hats he sells for $40 two days in a row now... pic.twitter.com/EQcPkS8Yit
4.42pm BST
16:42
Speaking with CNN, Democratic Texas congressman Al Green, whose district was hard hit by Harvey, defended the Houston mayor’s decision not to order mandatory evacuations by raising the example of troubles the city faced during the 2005 evacuation for Hurricane Rita.
With Rita we had maybe 2-3 million people out on the road. They were out there with heatstroke, people were out there literally fighting... People literally lost their lives while out on the road trying to get to another city...
The mayor has the resources here. Trying to get resources to people who are on the road, in cars, don’t know what the weather is going to be like, out of gas, it can be very difficult...
I think the mayor made the right call. There will always be people who will second guess but if you had a million people out on the roads, trying to take care of them when your resources are here in Houston, it could be very difficult.”
Updated
at 6.11pm BST