This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41070237

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Storm Harvey: Houston battles 'unprecedented' floods Storm Harvey: Houston battles 'unprecedented' floods
(about 1 hour later)
The US city of Houston is in the grip of the biggest storm in the history of the state of Texas, officials say.The US city of Houston is in the grip of the biggest storm in the history of the state of Texas, officials say.
A record 30in of rain (75cm) has fallen on the city in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, turning roads into rivers.A record 30in of rain (75cm) has fallen on the city in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, turning roads into rivers.
The area is expected to have received a year's rainfall within a week. Five people are reported dead. Helicopters have plucked victims from rooftops.The area is expected to have received a year's rainfall within a week. Five people are reported dead. Helicopters have plucked victims from rooftops.
With rescue services overstretched as the rain continues, many people are having to fend for themselves.With rescue services overstretched as the rain continues, many people are having to fend for themselves.
Hospitals have been evacuated and thousands of people are without electricity. Harvey made landfall as a category-four hurricane late on Friday. It was later downgraded to a tropical storm.
Many schools are closed - as are the two main airports, with runways completely flooded. Up to 2,000 people have been rescued in and around Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, with about 6.6m people living in the metropolitan area.
Up to 2,000 people have been rescued in and around Houston, as the storm continues to batter Texas with heavy rains. An inundated care home in Dickinson, about 30 miles (50 km) south east of the city, has now been evacuated by helicopter after an image of several elderly women sitting in a lounge in waist-deep water went viral on social media.
There are reports of possible deaths in submerged vehicles, but investigations continue, Chief Darryl Coleman of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. The US National Weather Service (NWS) says conditions are "unprecedented". A "flash flood emergency" is in force across the Houston area, with travel near impossible.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) says conditions are "unprecedented". A "flash flood emergency" in in force across the Houston area, with travel near impossible. Thousands of homes are without electricity. Many schools are closed - as are the two main airports, with runways completely flooded.
Harvey began as a category four hurricane but was later downgraded to a tropical storm. It is moving slowly and is expected to remain over Texas until the middle of the week. Houston in crisis - James Cook, BBC News, Houston
Many shelters have been opened, including in a convention centre. Entire suburbs are under water, shops and businesses are shut and, with the motorways around the city cut off and both airports closed, travel is all but impossible.
The Houston Chronicle has published a photo of an unidentified man in Houston trying to catch a fish as he wades through floodwaters in his living room. A marooned hospital has been evacuated while, above the city, engineers are starting an emergency release of water from two bulging dams.
One woman posted a picture online of two alligators in her backyard, while other photos show people water-skiing near the centre of the city. They are warning families who live beside one of the dams to prepare for flooding within hours.
Like Houston, the island city of Galveston was also hit by "epic catastrophic flooding" overnight, the NWS added. Some residents have been critical of the preparations for this storm, which intensified rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico last week.
An inundated care home in Dickinson, about 30 miles (50 km) south-east of Houston, is reported to have been evacuated by helicopter after an image of several elderly women sitting in a lounge in waist-deep water went viral on social media. In at least one neighbourhood facing severe flooding, people are angry that they were told to stay put only to realise, as night fell, that the waters were rising fast and they could not get out.
Help for flood victims The authorities are being stretched to breaking point. It is difficult to see how they could accommodate President Donald Trump, who plans to visit Texas on Tuesday.
With the emergency services under intense pressure and complaints among some residents that emergency calls are not even being answered, hundreds of volunteers have made their way to Houston from all over the US. If he does decide to travel here, he will find a powerful oil city on its knees.
They face difficult conditions because many of those stranded can only be rescued by air or by boat. Is flooding showing signs of easing?
The US Coast Guard in Houston has requested more helicopters. No. As the storm continues to batter south-eastern Texas, swelling rivers are causing a surge that is heading for Houston.
President Donald Trump is due to visit Texas on Tuesday to see the damage for himself. He signed a disaster proclamation on Friday, paving the way for federal cash to go towards the relief effort. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told residents: "Don't get on the road. Don't assume this storm is over."
How serious is the flooding? Tens of thousands of people have been were ordered to leave parts of Fort Bend County, about 35 miles (55 km) south-west of Houston, where a river is set to crest this week.
Forecasters have warned that it could worsen and become historic. Houston authorities, however, have not issued a mass evacuation order.
Insurance experts quoted by the Reuters news agency say it could equal the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, widely reported to be the most expensive natural disaster in US history. What are the economic consequences?
It was estimated that Katrina caused about $15bn of flood damage in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. The Texas Gulf Coast is a key centre of the US oil and gas industry, and some of the largest refineries in the country have halted operations.
But experts say at the moment it is too early to make detailed estimates of the damage in Texas. This has raised concerns about fuel shortages and higher prices at the pump.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has urged residents not to call emergency services unless their situation is life-threatening and they need to be rescued. The wider economic damage from Harvey is being assessed.
"Don't get on the road. Don't assume this storm is over," he said. Insurance experts quoted by Reuters news agency say it could equal the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - reportedly the most expensive natural disaster in US history.
Katrina caused about $15bn (£11.6bn) of flood damage in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
In Rockport: Too poor to flee the hurricaneIn Rockport: Too poor to flee the hurricane
Officials in Harris County, of which Houston is the county seat, have asked boat owners to help with rescues.
In pictures: Houston havocIn pictures: Houston havoc
Rescue efforts are also being hampered by strong winds. with some predictions that there will be a further 40in of rain before the storm subsides.
Houston is the country's fourth biggest city, with 6.6m people living in the metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil has said it is shutting down the second-largest refinery in the country, at Baytown. The Texas Gulf Coast is a key centre of the US oil and gas industry.
Are you affected by Tropical Storm Harvey? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you affected by Tropical Storm Harvey? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below