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| Version 44 | Version 45 |
|---|---|
| Tropical storm Harvey: thousands await rescue amid 'catastrophic' flooding – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.04am BST | |
| 05:04 | |
| Tom Dart | |
| At least 10 cities in the Houston suburbs have instituted nighttime curfews. | |
| Katy, nearly 30 miles (48km) west of downtown Houston along Interstate 10, added its own dawn-till-dusk curfew on Monday “to protect our citizens and property from unauthorised individuals entering our city”, mayor Chuck Brawner said in a statement. | |
| Houston police chief Art Acevedo told reporters on Monday that four suspected looters had been arrested and his department is on the lookout for people who may “move in from around other states and even other cities in other regions to loot and create problems”. He added: | |
| If you try to commit a criminal offence or especially try to take advantage of our citizens that have already been victimised enough by Mother Nature, you can be assured you’ll be arrested. | |
| 4.55am BST | |
| 04:55 | |
| At almost 11pm local time, search and rescue efforts are continuing in the dark: | |
| Police and coast guard teams have each rescued around 3,000 people, officials said. | |
| Those still trapped in their homes have been urged to hang sheets or towels from their windows so they can be spotted by rescue teams. | |
| 4.43am BST | |
| 04:43 | |
| We will not ask for immigration status or papers from anyone at any shelter. This rumor is FALSE! | |
| 4.28am BST | 4.28am BST |
| 04:28 | 04:28 |
| Col Steven Metze, public affairs officer, Texas military department, told CNN that rescuers would not be taking a break as night fell: | Col Steven Metze, public affairs officer, Texas military department, told CNN that rescuers would not be taking a break as night fell: |
| The men and women of the Texas military are working round the clock and they’re going to keep working. We’ve got to plan to keep it going 24/7. | The men and women of the Texas military are working round the clock and they’re going to keep working. We’ve got to plan to keep it going 24/7. |
| Officials do not know how many people still need to be rescued, Metze said: | Officials do not know how many people still need to be rescued, Metze said: |
| We’re still getting plenty of calls … those have not slowed down, so I know we still have a lot of work to do. | We’re still getting plenty of calls … those have not slowed down, so I know we still have a lot of work to do. |
| The biggest issue right now is just time: getting to everyone we need to reach. | The biggest issue right now is just time: getting to everyone we need to reach. |
| The Texas military would be bringing in more people, lifting the numbers engaged in rescue work from 3,000 to 12,000. Fourteen helicopters were originally deployed; that is now raised to 22, and will be 46 by Tuesday. | The Texas military would be bringing in more people, lifting the numbers engaged in rescue work from 3,000 to 12,000. Fourteen helicopters were originally deployed; that is now raised to 22, and will be 46 by Tuesday. |
| 4.18am BST | 4.18am BST |
| 04:18 | 04:18 |
| Rainfall 'as high as 50 inches' still to come | Rainfall 'as high as 50 inches' still to come |
| A fresh statement from the National Hurricane Center warns of “ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” spreading from Texas to Louisiana – with effects also felt in Mississippi and Alabama: | A fresh statement from the National Hurricane Center warns of “ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” spreading from Texas to Louisiana – with effects also felt in Mississippi and Alabama: |
| Ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding will continue across southeastern Texas. Additional rainfall accumulations of 10 to 20 inches are expected across the upper Texas coast, with isolated storm totals as high as 50 inches. | Ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding will continue across southeastern Texas. Additional rainfall accumulations of 10 to 20 inches are expected across the upper Texas coast, with isolated storm totals as high as 50 inches. |
| Please heed the advice of local officials. Do not attempt to travel if you are in a safe place, and do not drive into flooded roadways. | Please heed the advice of local officials. Do not attempt to travel if you are in a safe place, and do not drive into flooded roadways. |
| The flood threat has spread farther east into Louisiana. Additional rainfall amounts of 10 to 20 inches are expected in southwestern Louisiana, with rainfall amounts of 5 to 15 inches expected in south-central Louisiana. | The flood threat has spread farther east into Louisiana. Additional rainfall amounts of 10 to 20 inches are expected in southwestern Louisiana, with rainfall amounts of 5 to 15 inches expected in south-central Louisiana. |
| Rainfall amounts of 5 to 15 inches are expected in south-central Louisiana and coastal Mississippi and Alabama. | Rainfall amounts of 5 to 15 inches are expected in south-central Louisiana and coastal Mississippi and Alabama. |
| While tropical storm warnings have been extended eastward along the coast of Louisiana and a storm surge watch has been issued, the impacts of winds and storm surge are expected to be secondary compared to that of the rains. | While tropical storm warnings have been extended eastward along the coast of Louisiana and a storm surge watch has been issued, the impacts of winds and storm surge are expected to be secondary compared to that of the rains. |
| 4.10am BST | 4.10am BST |
| 04:10 | 04:10 |
| Tuesday looks unlikely to bring respite from the battering effects of Tropical Storm Harvey, but the National Weather Service says it should be moving out of the area by Wednesday: | Tuesday looks unlikely to bring respite from the battering effects of Tropical Storm Harvey, but the National Weather Service says it should be moving out of the area by Wednesday: |
| Latest NHC update shows #Harvey centered in the Gulf, and we will finally see some relief as it moves out of the area on Wednesday #txwx pic.twitter.com/d0uV6IaAWl | Latest NHC update shows #Harvey centered in the Gulf, and we will finally see some relief as it moves out of the area on Wednesday #txwx pic.twitter.com/d0uV6IaAWl |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.12am BST | at 4.12am BST |
| 4.03am BST | 4.03am BST |
| 04:03 | 04:03 |
| The White House has confirmed some details of the president’s visit on Tuesday. | The White House has confirmed some details of the president’s visit on Tuesday. |
| Donald Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, will head to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they will receive a briefing on relief efforts from rescuers, before leaving for Austin. There, they will tour the emergency operations centre. | Donald Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, will head to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they will receive a briefing on relief efforts from rescuers, before leaving for Austin. There, they will tour the emergency operations centre. |
| 3.49am BST | 3.49am BST |
| 03:49 | 03:49 |
| Fort Bend county warning | Fort Bend county warning |
| Tom Dart | Tom Dart |
| One of the regions that appears most under threat in the coming hours is Fort Bend county, a fast-growing, ethnically diverse area of 750,000 people southwest of Houston that’s about two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island. | One of the regions that appears most under threat in the coming hours is Fort Bend county, a fast-growing, ethnically diverse area of 750,000 people southwest of Houston that’s about two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island. |
| Many people live near lakes or streams and the Brazos river is of particular concern; it might not crest until late Tuesday or Wednesday. We don’t need to imagine what happens when it floods – it did so last year, with dramatic consequences. And that was a storm far less dangerous than Harvey. | Many people live near lakes or streams and the Brazos river is of particular concern; it might not crest until late Tuesday or Wednesday. We don’t need to imagine what happens when it floods – it did so last year, with dramatic consequences. And that was a storm far less dangerous than Harvey. |
| Earlier today I visited a shelter set up in a giant furniture store, which, of course, had plenty of available mattresses. It had reached capacity, with a few dozen people sat outside. | Earlier today I visited a shelter set up in a giant furniture store, which, of course, had plenty of available mattresses. It had reached capacity, with a few dozen people sat outside. |
| Some had not yet endured flooding in their streets or homes but heeded advice that they were in peril and got out rather than take the risk of being stuck for days in cut-off neighbourhoods, or having to make an emergency call for a rescue if water did inundate their properties. | Some had not yet endured flooding in their streets or homes but heeded advice that they were in peril and got out rather than take the risk of being stuck for days in cut-off neighbourhoods, or having to make an emergency call for a rescue if water did inundate their properties. |
| A suburban Houston furniture store set up a shelter in its atrium pic.twitter.com/15jsEy3yHs | A suburban Houston furniture store set up a shelter in its atrium pic.twitter.com/15jsEy3yHs |
| With hotel rooms scarce and tricky or treacherous conditions on major routes making it hard to drive far, a shelter – even for days – seemed like the best bet. | With hotel rooms scarce and tricky or treacherous conditions on major routes making it hard to drive far, a shelter – even for days – seemed like the best bet. |
| Fort Bend county judge Robert Hebert gave a press conference on Monday night at which he brought up the spectre of Hurricane Katrina by warning that the county’s levee systems may not be able to withstand Harvey’s sustained rains. The defences, he said, were designed to withstand a so-called 100-year flood: an event with a 1% probability of happening in any one year. | Fort Bend county judge Robert Hebert gave a press conference on Monday night at which he brought up the spectre of Hurricane Katrina by warning that the county’s levee systems may not be able to withstand Harvey’s sustained rains. The defences, he said, were designed to withstand a so-called 100-year flood: an event with a 1% probability of happening in any one year. |
| The anticipated rise of the Brazos, Hebert said, “would constitute an 800-year flood … [Harvey] will far exceed the design criteria of these levee districts”. | The anticipated rise of the Brazos, Hebert said, “would constitute an 800-year flood … [Harvey] will far exceed the design criteria of these levee districts”. |
| He added that there are now 14 mandatory evacuation orders; combined with voluntary orders, that amounts to several hundred communities. More than 100 roads are now closed, including the Grand Parkway, a key north-south highway. | He added that there are now 14 mandatory evacuation orders; combined with voluntary orders, that amounts to several hundred communities. More than 100 roads are now closed, including the Grand Parkway, a key north-south highway. |
| There was a bright spot: so far, Hebert said, Harvey had not caused any fatalities in the county. | There was a bright spot: so far, Hebert said, Harvey had not caused any fatalities in the county. |
| 3.35am BST | 3.35am BST |
| 03:35 | 03:35 |
| Lauren Gambino | Lauren Gambino |
| Few events clarify a president’s effectiveness like a major natural disaster – and for Trump, the stakes are high following a tumultuous summer marked by a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, an escalating war of words with North Korea and multiple staff upheavals. | Few events clarify a president’s effectiveness like a major natural disaster – and for Trump, the stakes are high following a tumultuous summer marked by a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, an escalating war of words with North Korea and multiple staff upheavals. |
| Trump will travel on Tuesday morning with Melania Trump, the first lady, to Corpus Christi, a city along the Gulf of Mexico near to where Harvey swept ashore as a category 4 storm late Friday night, thrashing the central coast with torrential rain and 130mph winds. | Trump will travel on Tuesday morning with Melania Trump, the first lady, to Corpus Christi, a city along the Gulf of Mexico near to where Harvey swept ashore as a category 4 storm late Friday night, thrashing the central coast with torrential rain and 130mph winds. |
| Trump told reporters he was looking forward to touring parts of the storm-ravaged state, although he said travel will depend on the conditions. He also suggested that he may make a second trip to the region to visit Texas and Louisiana, which is now in the storm’s path. | Trump told reporters he was looking forward to touring parts of the storm-ravaged state, although he said travel will depend on the conditions. He also suggested that he may make a second trip to the region to visit Texas and Louisiana, which is now in the storm’s path. |
| In a pair of interviews on Monday, Mike Pence said Trump is “fully engaged” and “anxious” to visit Texas. | In a pair of interviews on Monday, Mike Pence said Trump is “fully engaged” and “anxious” to visit Texas. |
| The White House released photographs from the weekend of Trump leading a teleconference monitoring the storm. In the photos, Trump is sporting a USA cap available for purchase on his campaign website for $40. | The White House released photographs from the weekend of Trump leading a teleconference monitoring the storm. In the photos, Trump is sporting a USA cap available for purchase on his campaign website for $40. |
| On Friday night, Trump signed a federal disaster declaration to support the relief effort in Texas, and on Monday he also approved a federal disaster declaration in Louisiana to aid with relief efforts there. | On Friday night, Trump signed a federal disaster declaration to support the relief effort in Texas, and on Monday he also approved a federal disaster declaration in Louisiana to aid with relief efforts there. |
| 3.26am BST | 3.26am BST |
| 03:26 | 03:26 |
| The Houston police officers’ union says that hundreds of officers currently on rescue duty have yet to return to their own flooded homes – and some will have nothing to return to: | The Houston police officers’ union says that hundreds of officers currently on rescue duty have yet to return to their own flooded homes – and some will have nothing to return to: |
| Hundreds of officers lost everything in this flood and have yet to go home. If you can help please make a donation https://t.co/nMsKIkGp2C | Hundreds of officers lost everything in this flood and have yet to go home. If you can help please make a donation https://t.co/nMsKIkGp2C |
| 3.16am BST | 3.16am BST |
| 03:16 | 03:16 |
| Amid the reports from Harvey’s path are, inevitably, some that are untrue. | Amid the reports from Harvey’s path are, inevitably, some that are untrue. |
| For one, Barack Obama is not serving meals to displaced people in Houston (thank you, Snopes). | For one, Barack Obama is not serving meals to displaced people in Houston (thank you, Snopes). |
| And that photo of a shark apparently swimming in the flooded streets of Houston? No. (Here’s that one debunked by Politifact.) | And that photo of a shark apparently swimming in the flooded streets of Houston? No. (Here’s that one debunked by Politifact.) |
| 3.03am BST | 3.03am BST |
| 03:03 | 03:03 |
| What could be the longer-term effects on health of Harvey? In the immediate aftermath, concern will focus on public health dangers associated with muddy floodwaters; later will come the lasting effects of trauma, Associated Press reports: | What could be the longer-term effects on health of Harvey? In the immediate aftermath, concern will focus on public health dangers associated with muddy floodwaters; later will come the lasting effects of trauma, Associated Press reports: |
| It’s not known yet what kinds or how much sewage, chemicals and waterborne germs are mixed in the water. For now, health officials are more concerned about drownings, carbon monoxide poisoning from generators and hygiene at shelters. In the months and years to come, their worries will turn to the effects of trauma from Hurricane Harvey on mental health. | It’s not known yet what kinds or how much sewage, chemicals and waterborne germs are mixed in the water. For now, health officials are more concerned about drownings, carbon monoxide poisoning from generators and hygiene at shelters. In the months and years to come, their worries will turn to the effects of trauma from Hurricane Harvey on mental health. |
| At a shelter set up inside George R. Brown Convention Center, Dr David Persse, Houston director of emergency medical services, is building a clinic of doctors and nurses: | At a shelter set up inside George R. Brown Convention Center, Dr David Persse, Houston director of emergency medical services, is building a clinic of doctors and nurses: |
| This is rapidly evolving. I always worry in these large congregations of people about viral outbreaks that cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. And we are just getting started. | This is rapidly evolving. I always worry in these large congregations of people about viral outbreaks that cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. And we are just getting started. |
| One of our goals is to appropriately treat people here with minor things so we don’t send everybody off to the hospital. | One of our goals is to appropriately treat people here with minor things so we don’t send everybody off to the hospital. |
| Many of the around 3,000 people who fled from Harvey’s flooding waited hours in water mixed with sewage, oil and gasoline. Some weren’t able to grab their medications or medical devices. | Many of the around 3,000 people who fled from Harvey’s flooding waited hours in water mixed with sewage, oil and gasoline. Some weren’t able to grab their medications or medical devices. |
| The US Environmental Protection Agency will begin sampling the floodwaters as soon as possible, said spokeswoman Liz Bowman. EPA teams will also be visiting water and sewage plants to offer help, she said. | The US Environmental Protection Agency will begin sampling the floodwaters as soon as possible, said spokeswoman Liz Bowman. EPA teams will also be visiting water and sewage plants to offer help, she said. |
| The most common flood-related deaths occur when people try to drive through flooded areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | The most common flood-related deaths occur when people try to drive through flooded areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| 2.48am BST | 2.48am BST |
| 02:48 | 02:48 |
| A further mandatory eviction notice has been issued, this time for residents in the Water District, Northwood Pines subdivision. It’s currently 8.50pm local time – the warning states that roads could become unpassable by 11pm. | A further mandatory eviction notice has been issued, this time for residents in the Water District, Northwood Pines subdivision. It’s currently 8.50pm local time – the warning states that roads could become unpassable by 11pm. |
| MANDATORY EVACUATION for the Northwood Pines Subdivision (The Water District) -"YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE WATER DISTRICT AFTER 11 PM" pic.twitter.com/2dViemAn0D | MANDATORY EVACUATION for the Northwood Pines Subdivision (The Water District) -"YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE WATER DISTRICT AFTER 11 PM" pic.twitter.com/2dViemAn0D |
| 2.36am BST | 2.36am BST |
| 02:36 | 02:36 |
| Houston’s major evacuation shelter is full – with many people still arriving. | Houston’s major evacuation shelter is full – with many people still arriving. |
| Lloyd Ziel, a Red Cross spokesman, said around 5,500 evacuees have reached the George R. Brown Convention Center, which has a capacity of 5,000. | Lloyd Ziel, a Red Cross spokesman, said around 5,500 evacuees have reached the George R. Brown Convention Center, which has a capacity of 5,000. |
| With only 5,000 cots available, some people will have to sleep on the floor or on chairs. | With only 5,000 cots available, some people will have to sleep on the floor or on chairs. |
| Sylvester Turner, Houston’s mayor, says plans are underway to set up a further major shelter, but the location for that hasn’t yet been revealed. | Sylvester Turner, Houston’s mayor, says plans are underway to set up a further major shelter, but the location for that hasn’t yet been revealed. |
| Other smaller shelters are named on this list. | Other smaller shelters are named on this list. |