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| Stories Emerge of Harvey’s Victims as Death Toll Rises | Stories Emerge of Harvey’s Victims as Death Toll Rises |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to deluge homes and sweep vehicles off roads in Texas and Louisiana, at least 38 deaths have been reported. Officials in affected counties are starting to learn the victims’ identities and piece together the circumstances around their deaths. | As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to deluge homes and sweep vehicles off roads in Texas and Louisiana, at least 38 deaths have been reported. Officials in affected counties are starting to learn the victims’ identities and piece together the circumstances around their deaths. |
| Here are details on some of those who died. Check back for updates. | Here are details on some of those who died. Check back for updates. |
| Since Sunday, six members of the Saldivar family had been missing: four children and their great-grandparents, last seen as their van sank into high water in east Houston. | Since Sunday, six members of the Saldivar family had been missing: four children and their great-grandparents, last seen as their van sank into high water in east Houston. |
| “Unfortunately, it seems that our worst thoughts have been realized,” Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of Harris County, said at a news conference on Wednesday. | “Unfortunately, it seems that our worst thoughts have been realized,” Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of Harris County, said at a news conference on Wednesday. |
| Belia and Manuel Saldivar and their four great-grandchildren — Devy, 16; Dominic, 14; Xavier, 8; and Daisy, 6 — were found dead in the van, which was submerged in at least four feet of water. The couple’s son, Sammy Saldivar, was driving the vehicle and managed to escape through a window, watching helplessly as it disappeared under the water. | |
| The authorities were first alerted to the submerged van around 10 a.m. on Sunday when they heard the screams of the children’s uncle, who was clinging to a tree after he had escaped through the partially open driver’s side window. | The authorities were first alerted to the submerged van around 10 a.m. on Sunday when they heard the screams of the children’s uncle, who was clinging to a tree after he had escaped through the partially open driver’s side window. |
| They were unable to check on the van until Wednesday, when the water had receded enough to gain access. | They were unable to check on the van until Wednesday, when the water had receded enough to gain access. |
| “It’s getting close,” Travis Callihan, 45, texted his brother, Troy Callihan, as Hurricane Harvey encroached on his Houston home last weekend. | “It’s getting close,” Travis Callihan, 45, texted his brother, Troy Callihan, as Hurricane Harvey encroached on his Houston home last weekend. |
| That was the last time Troy heard from his brother. On Monday, Mr. Callihan died in the storm, one of dozens of people in Texas whose deaths have been attributed to the hurricane. | That was the last time Troy heard from his brother. On Monday, Mr. Callihan died in the storm, one of dozens of people in Texas whose deaths have been attributed to the hurricane. |
| Troy said that in the chaos of the last few days, he has still not heard firsthand how his brother died. A neighbor told the family that Mr. Callihan had sought refuge in his pickup truck. Harris County officials say that he left his vehicle, fell into floodwaters and drowned. | Troy said that in the chaos of the last few days, he has still not heard firsthand how his brother died. A neighbor told the family that Mr. Callihan had sought refuge in his pickup truck. Harris County officials say that he left his vehicle, fell into floodwaters and drowned. |
| Mr. Callihan lived alone, his brother said. He kept to himself and quit working after he broke his back a few years ago in a boating accident. | Mr. Callihan lived alone, his brother said. He kept to himself and quit working after he broke his back a few years ago in a boating accident. |
| Before his injury, he was a different man. He spent his weekends hunting, fishing and scuba diving. He worked in information technology and pored over computers in his spare time. A science geek, his brother said. | Before his injury, he was a different man. He spent his weekends hunting, fishing and scuba diving. He worked in information technology and pored over computers in his spare time. A science geek, his brother said. |
| “He changed dramatically after he hurt himself,” Troy said. “But he’d still come over and visit my kids. We helped him recuperate. And even if we couldn’t see each other, we’d talk.” | “He changed dramatically after he hurt himself,” Troy said. “But he’d still come over and visit my kids. We helped him recuperate. And even if we couldn’t see each other, we’d talk.” |
| Around Clear Creek High School in League City, Tex., Ruben Jordan, 58, was an imposing presence: tall, barrel-chested, the coach with a voice that could reach across a football field. | Around Clear Creek High School in League City, Tex., Ruben Jordan, 58, was an imposing presence: tall, barrel-chested, the coach with a voice that could reach across a football field. |
| “‘Roger Lee!’” he would call out in a booming order to his son, a member of the football team. | “‘Roger Lee!’” he would call out in a booming order to his son, a member of the football team. |
| “He rode me like an old work mule,” Roger Jordan, a 35-year-old oil and gas executive, recalled on Wednesday. “He didn’t allow me to slack by any means.” | “He rode me like an old work mule,” Roger Jordan, a 35-year-old oil and gas executive, recalled on Wednesday. “He didn’t allow me to slack by any means.” |
| His fellow teachers adored him. | His fellow teachers adored him. |
| “The stare could be fierce,” said Wynette Jameson, a longtime friend and colleague. “But inside he was a little marshmallow.” | “The stare could be fierce,” said Wynette Jameson, a longtime friend and colleague. “But inside he was a little marshmallow.” |
| Mr. Jordan taught sociology and coached track and football; he was the “in-school suspension monitor,” chosen for his ability to talk down a misbehaving teenager. After he retired from teaching and coaching last year, he ran his own business teaching driving classes. | Mr. Jordan taught sociology and coached track and football; he was the “in-school suspension monitor,” chosen for his ability to talk down a misbehaving teenager. After he retired from teaching and coaching last year, he ran his own business teaching driving classes. |
| Mr. Jordan, who was divorced with two grown children and two grandchildren, disappeared during the storm, his family said. They do not know exactly what happened, but said they would not be surprised if Mr. Jordan, a man with large reserves of strength and confidence, had been trying to help people. | Mr. Jordan, who was divorced with two grown children and two grandchildren, disappeared during the storm, his family said. They do not know exactly what happened, but said they would not be surprised if Mr. Jordan, a man with large reserves of strength and confidence, had been trying to help people. |
| Roger, his son, said he had heard from countless people who knew his father: Mr. Jordan had friendships that stretched back 40 years. “He took pride in making sure that anything he touched, prospered,” Roger said of his father. | Roger, his son, said he had heard from countless people who knew his father: Mr. Jordan had friendships that stretched back 40 years. “He took pride in making sure that anything he touched, prospered,” Roger said of his father. |
| “That man was all about other people,” Ms. Jameson said. “I was saying just a few minutes ago, I’m so mad at myself for crying, because everything I think about Ruben, I just die laughing. He said the funniest things and they were always meant to make you feel better.” | “That man was all about other people,” Ms. Jameson said. “I was saying just a few minutes ago, I’m so mad at myself for crying, because everything I think about Ruben, I just die laughing. He said the funniest things and they were always meant to make you feel better.” |
| Sgt. Steve Perez, 60, a 34-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, was determined to report for duty on Sunday morning, despite the heavy rain. | Sgt. Steve Perez, 60, a 34-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, was determined to report for duty on Sunday morning, despite the heavy rain. |
| His wife said she had asked him not to go in, Chief Art Acevedo said at a news conference, and his father-in-law also urged him to stay home. But Sergeant Perez responded, “We’ve got work to do.” | His wife said she had asked him not to go in, Chief Art Acevedo said at a news conference, and his father-in-law also urged him to stay home. But Sergeant Perez responded, “We’ve got work to do.” |
| He left home at 4 a.m., driving for about two and a half hours on the dark roadways, Chief Acevedo said, before calling the station to say he could not make it. He then followed protocol by trying to reach another precinct house. But he never made it there either. | He left home at 4 a.m., driving for about two and a half hours on the dark roadways, Chief Acevedo said, before calling the station to say he could not make it. He then followed protocol by trying to reach another precinct house. But he never made it there either. |
| Eventually, it became apparent that Sergeant Perez was missing. Officers began searching, narrowing down his probable location. The dive team found him on Tuesday morning. He had reached an underpass, driven into the water and died in “a drowning-type event,” Chief Acevedo said. | Eventually, it became apparent that Sergeant Perez was missing. Officers began searching, narrowing down his probable location. The dive team found him on Tuesday morning. He had reached an underpass, driven into the water and died in “a drowning-type event,” Chief Acevedo said. |
| Sergeant Perez, who worked in the traffic enforcement division, was a dedicated worker and “a sweet, gentle public servant,” the chief said. | Sergeant Perez, who worked in the traffic enforcement division, was a dedicated worker and “a sweet, gentle public servant,” the chief said. |
| He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, “a grown son and daughter, and extended family,” the department said in a statement. | He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, “a grown son and daughter, and extended family,” the department said in a statement. |
| Officers will present Sergeant Perez’s family with the rain-soaked Texas flag that was flying over his station, Chief Acevedo said Wednesday on Twitter. | Officers will present Sergeant Perez’s family with the rain-soaked Texas flag that was flying over his station, Chief Acevedo said Wednesday on Twitter. |