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Harvey Live Updates: Storm Barrels Into Texas and Louisiana After Second Landfall Harvey Live Updates: Storm Barrels Into Texas and Louisiana After Second Landfall
(35 minutes later)
Tropical Storm Harvey made a second landfall in Louisiana early Wednesday morning, but the danger was far from over in southeastern Texas, with cities there battling new emergencies as water poured into houses and shelters in Beaumont and Port Arthur.Tropical Storm Harvey made a second landfall in Louisiana early Wednesday morning, but the danger was far from over in southeastern Texas, with cities there battling new emergencies as water poured into houses and shelters in Beaumont and Port Arthur.
“Our whole city is underwater right now but we are coming!” Port Arthur’s mayor, Derrick Freeman, said in a Facebook message overnight, as desperate residents sent out calls for help on social media.“Our whole city is underwater right now but we are coming!” Port Arthur’s mayor, Derrick Freeman, said in a Facebook message overnight, as desperate residents sent out calls for help on social media.
In Houston, residents woke up after a citywide curfew to face another difficult day, with shelters filled with people still seeking information about their families and friends, and the state of their homes and their city. Officials are counseling patience and resilience there, as beleaguered residents continued to struggle against rising floodwaters caused by six days of rainfall.In Houston, residents woke up after a citywide curfew to face another difficult day, with shelters filled with people still seeking information about their families and friends, and the state of their homes and their city. Officials are counseling patience and resilience there, as beleaguered residents continued to struggle against rising floodwaters caused by six days of rainfall.
Here is the latest:Here is the latest:
• The storm made its second landfall at 4 a.m. Wednesday just west of Cameron, La., near the Texas border, the National Hurricane Center said. Harvey was expected to move northeast, gradually weakening and becoming a tropical depression by Wednesday night.• The storm made its second landfall at 4 a.m. Wednesday just west of Cameron, La., near the Texas border, the National Hurricane Center said. Harvey was expected to move northeast, gradually weakening and becoming a tropical depression by Wednesday night.
• Local officials have reported at least 30 deaths that were related or suspected to be related to the storm.• Local officials have reported at least 30 deaths that were related or suspected to be related to the storm.
• Parts of the Houston area set a record for rainfall from a single storm anywhere in the continental United States, with a top reading on Wednesday morning of 51.88 inches since the storm began.• Parts of the Houston area set a record for rainfall from a single storm anywhere in the continental United States, with a top reading on Wednesday morning of 51.88 inches since the storm began.
• There are more than 30,000 people in 230 shelters across Texas, said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials on Wednesday, but they cautioned that number would likely change dramatically as more people arrived. About 1,800 people have been transferred from shelters to local motels and hotels.
• Times journalists are chronicling the storm and its aftermath. Here is a collection of the most powerful photographs, and a guide to our coverage.• Times journalists are chronicling the storm and its aftermath. Here is a collection of the most powerful photographs, and a guide to our coverage.
• Follow Times correspondents covering the storm on Twitter: Manny Fernandez, Alan Blinder, Julie Turkewitz, Jack Healy, Dave Philipps, Annie Correal, Rick Rojas, Monica Davey, Richard Fausset, Richard Pérez-Peña and Audra Burch. A collection of their tweets is here.• Follow Times correspondents covering the storm on Twitter: Manny Fernandez, Alan Blinder, Julie Turkewitz, Jack Healy, Dave Philipps, Annie Correal, Rick Rojas, Monica Davey, Richard Fausset, Richard Pérez-Peña and Audra Burch. A collection of their tweets is here.
• Are you in an affected area? If you are safe, and are able to, share your story by email to hurricane@nytimes.com. And here are ways you can contribute to relief efforts.• Are you in an affected area? If you are safe, and are able to, share your story by email to hurricane@nytimes.com. And here are ways you can contribute to relief efforts.
Those cities and other places in Jefferson County, Tex., east of Houston, were desperate for help Wednesday morning after heavy rain there overnight caused floodwaters to rise precipitously.Those cities and other places in Jefferson County, Tex., east of Houston, were desperate for help Wednesday morning after heavy rain there overnight caused floodwaters to rise precipitously.
Local news reports from Port Arthur showed that shelters and homes were flooded and residents and reporters said that there were not enough people answering emergency calls. Calls for help from residents surged on social media.Local news reports from Port Arthur showed that shelters and homes were flooded and residents and reporters said that there were not enough people answering emergency calls. Calls for help from residents surged on social media.
“Our heart is breaking for our community,” said a Facebook post from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.“Our heart is breaking for our community,” said a Facebook post from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
About 254,000 people live in the county, which is about 100 miles east of Houston. The National Weather Service reported that the area had been hit particularly hard overnight, with about 12.5 inches reported at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport since 7 p.m. local time.
Meagan Johnson, a resident of Orange, said parts of that city that she does not remember ever flooding were now overflowing. Her home did not have water in it, but the water had blocked in her street, and she was staying in her house without power. Her husband was out helping with rescues, and her father, an electrician for the city of Beaumont, was stuck there at work, making sure the city’s water pumps were working.Meagan Johnson, a resident of Orange, said parts of that city that she does not remember ever flooding were now overflowing. Her home did not have water in it, but the water had blocked in her street, and she was staying in her house without power. Her husband was out helping with rescues, and her father, an electrician for the city of Beaumont, was stuck there at work, making sure the city’s water pumps were working.
“I can’t even wrap my mind around how much rain this storm brought,” Ms. Johnson said in a telephone interview. “It’s not comparable. I’ve never seen this much rain in my entire life.”“I can’t even wrap my mind around how much rain this storm brought,” Ms. Johnson said in a telephone interview. “It’s not comparable. I’ve never seen this much rain in my entire life.”
“I guess we’re really fortunate,” said Mike Steele, the spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.“I guess we’re really fortunate,” said Mike Steele, the spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
There were around two dozen rescues in southwest Louisiana overnight, Mr. Steele said, and around 200 people staying in shelters. Some of those in the shelter in Lake Charles were evacuees from Texas, which overnight took a punishing rainfall that seemed to almost taper off right at the Louisiana state line.There were around two dozen rescues in southwest Louisiana overnight, Mr. Steele said, and around 200 people staying in shelters. Some of those in the shelter in Lake Charles were evacuees from Texas, which overnight took a punishing rainfall that seemed to almost taper off right at the Louisiana state line.
“It’s incredible because it looks like a lot of the severe major problems kind of stopped right around Orange, Tex.,” he said, referring to a town on the state line.“It’s incredible because it looks like a lot of the severe major problems kind of stopped right around Orange, Tex.,” he said, referring to a town on the state line.
While concerns linger over flooding in southwestern Louisiana, the attention will be turning over the day to rainfall in central parts of the state, as Harvey travels northward, and in New Orleans, where the city’s drainage pumps have been plagued by problems.While concerns linger over flooding in southwestern Louisiana, the attention will be turning over the day to rainfall in central parts of the state, as Harvey travels northward, and in New Orleans, where the city’s drainage pumps have been plagued by problems.
We spoke with Jeffrey Lindner, a meteorologist for the Harris County Flood Control District, to put the rain totals in perspective. We spoke with Jeffrey Lindner, a meteorologist for the Harris County Flood Control District, on Tuesday to put the rain totals in perspective.
Of the 1,800 square miles of land that make up Harris County, which includes Houston, 25 to 30 percent “has been inundated,” Mr. Lindner said. Over four days, more than a trillion gallons of rain fell in the county — enough to “run Niagara Falls for 15 days,” he said, or fill the Houston Astrodome 3,200 times.Of the 1,800 square miles of land that make up Harris County, which includes Houston, 25 to 30 percent “has been inundated,” Mr. Lindner said. Over four days, more than a trillion gallons of rain fell in the county — enough to “run Niagara Falls for 15 days,” he said, or fill the Houston Astrodome 3,200 times.
On average, the depth of the floodwaters countywide was 33 inches. But now that the rain is moving into Louisiana, Mr. Lindner said the flooding — reservoirs excepted — should drain by Friday or Saturday.On average, the depth of the floodwaters countywide was 33 inches. But now that the rain is moving into Louisiana, Mr. Lindner said the flooding — reservoirs excepted — should drain by Friday or Saturday.
A citywide curfew has been imposed by the city’s mayor, from midnight to 5 a.m., until further notice.A citywide curfew has been imposed by the city’s mayor, from midnight to 5 a.m., until further notice.
The Houston Police Department requested the curfew partly in response to reports of “small-scale looting” and other crimes, Chief Art Acevedo said at a news conference Tuesday evening.The Houston Police Department requested the curfew partly in response to reports of “small-scale looting” and other crimes, Chief Art Acevedo said at a news conference Tuesday evening.
He added that the curfew would help search and rescue teams get around without interference.He added that the curfew would help search and rescue teams get around without interference.
Sylvester Turner, Houston’s mayor, warned that people had been impersonating law enforcement officers in some neighborhoods, going door to door and telling residents falsely that there was a mandatory evacuation order in place.Sylvester Turner, Houston’s mayor, warned that people had been impersonating law enforcement officers in some neighborhoods, going door to door and telling residents falsely that there was a mandatory evacuation order in place.
Water began flowing over an emergency spillway at a major Houston flood-control reservoir on Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers said, adding to flooding in the area about 15 miles west of downtown. Juan Machado, 37, an auto mechanic, hiked a child’s flotation ring up around his chest and entered the dark water on Tuesday.
So far the overflow at the Addicks Reservoir dam is minor, about 100 cubic feet per second, Edmond Russo Jr., deputy district engineer for the Army Corps’ Galveston district, said at a news conference. But it should rise to about 4,500 cubic feet per second — about 120 million gallons per hour — by Thursday, he said, as the reservoir levels peak. He’d come with his wife and her cousins to East Houston, an industrial part of the city filled with mechanic shops and dumpsites, as well as the homes of many working-class immigrants. “We’re here for his dog,” his wife, Marisela Arevalo, 25, said.
The rate should decline to current levels two days after that, he said. But the large flow could bring up to two feet of water to the streets east of the reservoir. The water will eventually flow into Buffalo Bayou, which passes through downtown. They were among a crowd of people that formed by a flooded stretch of highway. Some of them were residents who had come to see if they could reach flooded homes to recover a few belongings from high-up places. The place reeked of a gasoline, and a crossing train alarm refused to cease, clanging for hours.
Dr. Russo said that dam safety operators were monitoring the structure and that it was not in danger. Ms. Arevalo said their house had been flooded up to their knees, and they had to leave without their dog, Camilo. “He left him over there,” she said, pointing to Mr. Machado’s mechanic shop, “on top of a trailer.”
Levels at a second reservoir nearby, Barker, are increasing as well and its two spillways are expected to overflow starting Saturday, he said. Mr. Machado trudged through the water, and nearly disappeared at the horizon. An hour later, he returned, shivering, his lips blue, to his waiting family. “The current was too strong,” he said, head bowed. He couldn’t reach the shop. Camilo, it seemed, would not be rescued.
Water in the two reservoirs, which are normally dry, has risen quickly since Harvey first began inundating the area. Efforts to reduce the levels by controlled releases through gates in both dams have not been sufficient. The Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday morning that efforts to slow the rise of water levels at two large flood-control reservoirs west of downtown were succeeding, reducing the risk of additional flooding.
In addition to the flooding over the spillway, both reservoirs have been spreading into nearby subdivisions as the water has risen. A spokesman for the Harris County Flood Control District said that about 2,500 homes near Addicks Reservoir, and 670 near Barker, have flooded already. Edmond Russo Jr. of the Galveston District said a decision to increase controlled flows through dam gates at the reservoirs, Addicks and Barker, to a total of about 13,000 cubic feet per second had slowed the rise of the water, and that both reservoirs were expected to peak soon at levels that are slightly below previous estimates.
The city also has to worry about having enough potable water. Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant, one of three plants that supply water to the city, is flooded. While the system is still working, even with much of its equipment underwater, city officials are worried about their ability to keep it running. He said only a small amount of water was now flowing over a spillway at the north end of Addicks dam, and the volume was not expected to increase. No similar uncontrolled releases are expected at Barker.
Still, a spokesman for the Harris County Flood Control District said that about 4,000 homes, mostly west of the reservoirs, have been flooded as the rising reservoirs have encroached on private land. Water is as much as six feet deep in some subdivisions, and some homes will likely remain inundated for weeks, said Mr. Lindler, the flood control district meteorologist and spokesman.
The controlled releases through the gates are draining into Buffalo Bayou, causing a local increase of one to three feet in the waterway. But farther east, he said, levels of the bayou — a source of much flooding downtown — are declining, he said.
Separately, Mr. Lindner said that authorities were maintaining a mandatory evacuation order for part of a subdivision along Cypress Creek, north of downtown. Seepage was noticed near a levee protecting the subdivision, Inverness Forest, and crews were trying to determine the cause. Seepage can be a sign of imminent levee failure.