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| Version 37 | Version 38 |
|---|---|
| Tropical storm Harvey: officials confirm eight fatalities – live updates | Tropical storm Harvey: officials confirm eight fatalities – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.04am BST | |
| 01:04 | |
| The latest on Harvey | |
| Record floods have hit Houston, with meteorologists calculating that Harvey is on track to saturate south-east Texas with enough water to fill every National Football League and Division 1 college stadium in the US more than 100 times over. | |
| Authorities said Monday that 2,000 people had been rescued from the city, and it is expected that 30,000 will need shelter. | |
| The death toll was rapidly rising on Monday, with reports of as many as nine dead, including a family reportedly killed when their van was swept away. | |
| Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Tuesday after facing sharp criticism for a series of unrelated tweets during the height of the hurricane and aftermath. | |
| The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said its response to Harvey was “quickly drawing down” the reserves in the agency’s disaster fund. | |
| Trump told reporters that his threats to shutdown the government over his proposed border wall would not impact funding for the storm recovery. | |
| The president also defended his controversial decision to pardon former sheriff Joe Arpaio during the hurricane on Friday, saying, “I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they would be normally.” | |
| Harvey flood damage is expected to reach into the tens of billions, causing the region’s economy to shrink for months. | |
| Texas governor Greg Abbott activated the entire state National Guard on Monday, tripling the number of active guardsman from 4,000 to roughly 12,000. | |
| Trump has also issued a federal state of emergency for Louisiana. | |
| The US Army Corps of Engineers began to release water from two Texas reservoirs, which officials say is causing flooding to surrounding homes, but is necessary to prevent greater damage. | |
| 12.11am BST | 12.11am BST |
| 00:11 | 00:11 |
| The Guardian’s Rory Carroll continues to report on the ground at the site of a volunteer rescue effort: | The Guardian’s Rory Carroll continues to report on the ground at the site of a volunteer rescue effort: |
| John Brown helped rescue dozens today with his boat even though his own home is under water. Texans rock. pic.twitter.com/SCaFxPjYmq | John Brown helped rescue dozens today with his boat even though his own home is under water. Texans rock. pic.twitter.com/SCaFxPjYmq |
| A mini-Dunkirk is playing out in parts of Woodlands, just north of Houston, where volunteers with boats and life jackets are extracting residents trapped amid rising floodwaters. In the High Oaks neighbourhood, at least five privately owned boats plucked people, pets and property from homes lining streets and avenues which had become waist-high bayous. | A mini-Dunkirk is playing out in parts of Woodlands, just north of Houston, where volunteers with boats and life jackets are extracting residents trapped amid rising floodwaters. In the High Oaks neighbourhood, at least five privately owned boats plucked people, pets and property from homes lining streets and avenues which had become waist-high bayous. |
| The Woodlands fire department supplied another two boats. “This is just beautiful, everyone wants to help out,” said one fire department official watching the scene. “I’ve never seen a flood or a response like this.” | The Woodlands fire department supplied another two boats. “This is just beautiful, everyone wants to help out,” said one fire department official watching the scene. “I’ve never seen a flood or a response like this.” |
| Impressive volunteer rescue effort extracting dozens of trapped Woodlands residents. pic.twitter.com/pghHReVIwz | Impressive volunteer rescue effort extracting dozens of trapped Woodlands residents. pic.twitter.com/pghHReVIwz |
| Mario Aguirre retrieves supplies from the family home. pic.twitter.com/G84Y3agAou | Mario Aguirre retrieves supplies from the family home. pic.twitter.com/G84Y3agAou |
| Yes it's blurry but in absence of a waterproof phone I'm shooting through a Jiffy bag. pic.twitter.com/7iTtWbVhof | Yes it's blurry but in absence of a waterproof phone I'm shooting through a Jiffy bag. pic.twitter.com/7iTtWbVhof |
| She bought a $9.95 life vest from Walmart and brought it to help a flooded, richer part of town. pic.twitter.com/Dqq77hgM1s | She bought a $9.95 life vest from Walmart and brought it to help a flooded, richer part of town. pic.twitter.com/Dqq77hgM1s |
| 11.50pm BST | 11.50pm BST |
| 23:50 | 23:50 |
| The nursing home residents who were trapped in a flooding facility – captured in a photo that quickly went viral on Twitter – have been rescued and are now “safe, warm and dry”. Here is a new photo of them: | The nursing home residents who were trapped in a flooding facility – captured in a photo that quickly went viral on Twitter – have been rescued and are now “safe, warm and dry”. Here is a new photo of them: |
| Remember the heartbreaking pic of Tx Sr Citizens stuck in chest deep water in #Harvey? New pic:They're safe, warm & dry! @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/T6RDVl9ggZ | Remember the heartbreaking pic of Tx Sr Citizens stuck in chest deep water in #Harvey? New pic:They're safe, warm & dry! @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/T6RDVl9ggZ |
| Tim McIntosh, whose mother-in-law owns the facility in Dickinson, Texas, told the AP that the National Guard rescued 20 people on Sunday, hours after he shared his photo on social media. | Tim McIntosh, whose mother-in-law owns the facility in Dickinson, Texas, told the AP that the National Guard rescued 20 people on Sunday, hours after he shared his photo on social media. |
| “They are all doing fine,” said McIntosh, who said the owner of the facility had made arrangements to evacuate the residents, but had kept them in place at the direction of local authorities. “The nursing home had to follow protocol because it’s a big ordeal to evacuate it. These ladies are on wheelchairs and most of them on oxygen.” | “They are all doing fine,” said McIntosh, who said the owner of the facility had made arrangements to evacuate the residents, but had kept them in place at the direction of local authorities. “The nursing home had to follow protocol because it’s a big ordeal to evacuate it. These ladies are on wheelchairs and most of them on oxygen.” |
| 11.17pm BST | 11.17pm BST |
| 23:17 | 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. | 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): | 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. | 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 | 11.01pm BST |
| 23:01 | 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. | 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.” | 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 | 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. | 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”. | 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 BST | 10.25pm BST |
| 22:25 | 22:25 |
| Footage of flooding and rescues | Footage 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 BST | 9.59pm BST |
| 21:59 | 21:59 |
| Trump defends Arpaio pardon during Harvey | Trump 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/sUWCEr8hdM | 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/sUWCEr8hdM |
| 9.44pm BST | 9.44pm BST |
| 21:44 | 21:44 |
| 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 BST | 9.35pm BST |
| 21:35 | 21:35 |
| 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 BST | 8.59pm BST |
| 20:59 | 20:59 |
| 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 BST | 8.07pm BST |
| 20:07 | 20:07 |
| Harvey death toll reaches eight, officials confirm | Harvey 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 BST | 7.38pm BST |
| 19:38 | 19:38 |
| Adam Gabbatt | Adam 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... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.47pm BST | at 7.47pm BST |
| 7.33pm BST | 7.33pm BST |
| 19:33 | 19:33 |
| Bulls on parade | Bulls on parade |
| WATCH: Texas police move a massive herd of cattle to higher ground outside of Houston pic.twitter.com/e6Dz2Dkrlr | WATCH: Texas police move a massive herd of cattle to higher ground outside of Houston pic.twitter.com/e6Dz2Dkrlr |