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Next version
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 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) | |
| 6.14am BST | |
| 06:14 | |
| 6.04am BST | |
| 06:04 | |
| Summary | |
| Catastrophic flooding is hitting Houston as ex-hurricane Harvey continues to stall onland. It has dumped as much as 26 inches (66cm) of rain in some counties in the past 72 hours and much more is expected through til Friday. | |
| Thousands of people have fled to their rooftops or higher ground as rescuers struggled to keep up with calls for help. Houston emergency services have received nearly 6,000 appeals for rescues. The Coast Guard said it had rescued 1,200 people, of which 200 were from the air. | |
| 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. | |
| The US military plans to release water from two major reservoirs to protect central Houston, a move that could itself flood several thousands homes. 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 push up the Buffalo Bayou – one of Houston’s major waterways – by up to 6 inches (15 cm) per hour. The bayou is already suffering catastrophic flooding in the west of the city, at more than 7ft above flooding point. | |
| The tropical storm has strengthened slightly and there are fears it could return to the coast, where it would gather more power, before coming back to land. | |
| The damage bill is already drawing comparisons to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which caused $108bn of losses (including $80bn of insured losses). | |
| About 3,000 national and state guard member have been activated in Texas, and disaster relief crews have arrived from as far away as New York and South Colorado. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has deployed more than 1,800 staff. | |
| Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, has defended his decision not to evacuate the flood-prone city, saying he had “no regrets”. No one knew where the hurricane would go, so it was impossible to send people away from danger, Turner said. | |
| As of Sunday night, 54 counties in Texas have been declared state disaster areas by the governor, Greg Abbott. | |
| A Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has been set up to take donations from the public. It will be administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Donations can be made via its site. | |
| People have been urged not to return to Aransas County – where the hurricane hit – as emergency services continue the search for any missing people. The area has no water, power or communications. | |
| 5.34am BST | 5.34am BST |
| 05:34 | 05:34 |
| ABC Houston has frightening footage showing the rescue of two people from the Katy Freeway, one of the major thoroughfares feeding Houston from the west. | ABC Houston has frightening footage showing the rescue of two people from the Katy Freeway, one of the major thoroughfares feeding Houston from the west. |
| AMAZING RESCUE: A person was holding on to their car and trying to survive when two men saved him on the Katy Frwy https://t.co/pIUUByO9QM pic.twitter.com/42JevueFc3 | AMAZING RESCUE: A person was holding on to their car and trying to survive when two men saved him on the Katy Frwy https://t.co/pIUUByO9QM pic.twitter.com/42JevueFc3 |
| 5.22am BST | 5.22am BST |
| 05:22 | 05:22 |
| 5.20am BST | 5.20am BST |
| 05:20 | 05:20 |
| 5.19am BST | 5.19am BST |
| 05:19 | 05:19 |
| 5.17am BST | 5.17am BST |
| 05:17 | 05:17 |
| Here’s what the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has done so far. It has also issued safety tips and contact numbers here. | Here’s what the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has done so far. It has also issued safety tips and contact numbers here. |
| Here's a look at our response operations for #Harvey. For resources: https://t.co/QYz65o9EIG pic.twitter.com/sVQqoxiFX8 | Here's a look at our response operations for #Harvey. For resources: https://t.co/QYz65o9EIG pic.twitter.com/sVQqoxiFX8 |
| 5.14am BST | 5.14am BST |
| 05:14 | 05:14 |
| As of Sunday night, 54 counties in Texas have been declared state disaster areas by the governor, Greg Abbott. Texas has 254 counties. | As of Sunday night, 54 counties in Texas have been declared state disaster areas by the governor, Greg Abbott. Texas has 254 counties. |
| Houston’s George Bush intercontinental airport and William P Hobby airport halted all commercial flights on Sunday. Nearly 1,500 flights in and out of Houston have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com. | Houston’s George Bush intercontinental airport and William P Hobby airport halted all commercial flights on Sunday. Nearly 1,500 flights in and out of Houston have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com. |
| 5.09am BST | 5.09am BST |
| 05:09 | 05:09 |
| 'Catastrophic' flooding along Buffalo Bayou | 'Catastrophic' flooding along Buffalo Bayou |
| Buffalo Bayou has reached 69ft at a spot in western Houston called West Belt Drive. That is about 7ft over the stage at which it floods. It is predicted to rise at least another 4ft. | Buffalo Bayou has reached 69ft at a spot in western Houston called West Belt Drive. That is about 7ft over the stage at which it floods. It is predicted to rise at least another 4ft. |
| See here for more details on the status of Buffalo Bayou. | See here for more details on the status of Buffalo Bayou. |
| 5.00am BST | 5.00am BST |
| 05:00 | 05:00 |
| A Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has been set up by Houston mayor Sylvester Turner to take donations from the public. It will be administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Donations can be made via its site. | A Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has been set up by Houston mayor Sylvester Turner to take donations from the public. It will be administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Donations can be made via its site. |
| Turner said he was taking phone calls from across the country and “the generosity of people who understand this disaster is truly amazing”. | Turner said he was taking phone calls from across the country and “the generosity of people who understand this disaster is truly amazing”. |
| 4.57am BST | 4.57am BST |
| 04:57 | 04:57 |
| A picture of Houston right now: | A picture of Houston right now: |
| Widespread catastrophic and life threatening flooding continues #houwx #hounews #txwx pic.twitter.com/SzJUaGpVFS | Widespread catastrophic and life threatening flooding continues #houwx #hounews #txwx pic.twitter.com/SzJUaGpVFS |
| 4.52am BST | 4.52am BST |
| 04:52 | 04:52 |
| Below are two images of North Post Oak Lane in Houston. One is a historical Google Streetview image, the other is how it looked on Sunday. | Below are two images of North Post Oak Lane in Houston. One is a historical Google Streetview image, the other is how it looked on Sunday. |
| 4.41am BST | 4.41am BST |
| 04:41 | 04:41 |
| A voluntary evacuation order has been issued by Harris County flood control for the Inverness Forest area. It fears Cypress Creek will spill over the levee by Monday morning. See here for more details on which precise areas could be affected. | A voluntary evacuation order has been issued by Harris County flood control for the Inverness Forest area. It fears Cypress Creek will spill over the levee by Monday morning. See here for more details on which precise areas could be affected. |
| 4.37am BST | 4.37am BST |
| 04:37 | 04:37 |
| Tom Dart wrote this piece about Houston’s flooding problem a little more than two months ago. Some snippets: | Tom Dart wrote this piece about Houston’s flooding problem a little more than two months ago. Some snippets: |
| The Texas metropolis has more casualties and property loss from floods than any other locality in the US, according to data stretching back to 1960 that [flood expert Sam] Brody researched with colleagues. And, he said: ‘Where the built environment is a main force exacerbating the impacts of urban flooding, Houston is number one and it’s not even close.’ | The Texas metropolis has more casualties and property loss from floods than any other locality in the US, according to data stretching back to 1960 that [flood expert Sam] Brody researched with colleagues. And, he said: ‘Where the built environment is a main force exacerbating the impacts of urban flooding, Houston is number one and it’s not even close.’ |
| Near the Gulf coast, Houston is also at annual risk from hurricanes: it is now into the start of the 2017 season, which runs from June to November. Ike, the last hurricane to hit the Houston region, caused $34bn in damage and killed 112 people across several states in September 2008. | Near the Gulf coast, Houston is also at annual risk from hurricanes: it is now into the start of the 2017 season, which runs from June to November. Ike, the last hurricane to hit the Houston region, caused $34bn in damage and killed 112 people across several states in September 2008. |
| 4.34am BST | 4.34am BST |
| 04:34 | 04:34 |
| To report a #harvey emergency you must call numbers below or 911 for assistance. If busy keep trying. Do not report distress on social media pic.twitter.com/2YROOVWwDk | To report a #harvey emergency you must call numbers below or 911 for assistance. If busy keep trying. Do not report distress on social media pic.twitter.com/2YROOVWwDk |