This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/01/hurricane-harvey-death-toll-rises-houston-residents-return

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Houston residents begin 'massive' cleanup as Harvey death toll hits 45 Houston residents begin 'massive' cleanup as Harvey death toll hits 45
(about 1 hour later)
Families across Houston made grim and often heartbreaking treks back to flooded homes on Friday as the death toll from Hurricane Harvey rose to 45 and authorities called for “massive, massive” efforts to recover from the catastrophe.Families across Houston made grim and often heartbreaking treks back to flooded homes on Friday as the death toll from Hurricane Harvey rose to 45 and authorities called for “massive, massive” efforts to recover from the catastrophe.
Displaced residents who had moved to shelters, hotels and other accommodation started making forays home to assess damage and retrieve photos, valuables and other possessions.Displaced residents who had moved to shelters, hotels and other accommodation started making forays home to assess damage and retrieve photos, valuables and other possessions.
The Texas department of public safety said more than 185,000 homes were damaged and 9,000 destroyed, estimates which are likely to rise once receding waters give authorities access to heavily populated suburbs.The Texas department of public safety said more than 185,000 homes were damaged and 9,000 destroyed, estimates which are likely to rise once receding waters give authorities access to heavily populated suburbs.
Officials warned those returning home to do so in daylight, to throw away any food that came into contact with floodwater and to check for wildlife, including snakes.Officials warned those returning home to do so in daylight, to throw away any food that came into contact with floodwater and to check for wildlife, including snakes.
With swollen rivers and reservoirs still risking potentially deadly flooding, the Red Cross said the number of people in shelters across the region had increased to 42,000.With swollen rivers and reservoirs still risking potentially deadly flooding, the Red Cross said the number of people in shelters across the region had increased to 42,000.
Hurricane Irma, meanwhile, gathered strength in the Atlantic, but forecasters do not know where it will hit. Hurricane Irma, meanwhile, gathered strength in the Atlantic. Forecasters did not know where it would hit.
Harvey wrecked water pumping stations in the city of Beaumont, about 100 miles east of Houston, leaving residents without clean water. Many remain trapped by debris and waist-high murk which carries risk of disease.Harvey wrecked water pumping stations in the city of Beaumont, about 100 miles east of Houston, leaving residents without clean water. Many remain trapped by debris and waist-high murk which carries risk of disease.
Authorities in Crosby braced for potentially more explosions at the Arkema chemical plant which caught fire and exploded on Thursday, spewing toxic smoke over the city, which has been evacuated. Authorities in Crosby braced for potentially more explosions at the Arkema chemical plant which caught fire and exploded on Thursday, spewing toxic smoke over the city, which was evacuated.
Houston’s two principal airports have resumed limited service and traffic trundled through dry, sunny streets, giving a sense of normality. But some 37,000 homes in the region were still without power, about half the number from Thursday, said mayor Sylvester Turner. He urged conventions and visitors to come. “We will be ready,” he tweeted.Houston’s two principal airports have resumed limited service and traffic trundled through dry, sunny streets, giving a sense of normality. But some 37,000 homes in the region were still without power, about half the number from Thursday, said mayor Sylvester Turner. He urged conventions and visitors to come. “We will be ready,” he tweeted.
At a press conference, however, he said the US army corps of engineers needed to release water in reservoirs to create capacity lest more rain come and bring fresh disaster. He reiterated that people should not stay in homes if they had water. At a press conference, however, Turner said the US army corps of engineers needed to release water in reservoirs to create capacity lest more rain come and bring fresh disaster. He reiterated that people should not stay in homes if they had water.
The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, struck a bleak tone, saying recovery would be long and arduous. “This is going to be a massive, massive cleanup process,” he told ABC’s Good Morning America. “This is not going to be a short-term project. This is going to be a multi-year project for Texas to be able to dig out of this catastrophe.” The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, struck a bleak tone, saying recovery would be long and arduous. “This is going to be a massive, massive clean-up process,” he told ABC’s Good Morning America. “This is not going to be a short-term project. This is going to be a multi-year project for Texas to be able to dig out of this catastrophe.”
He said the cleanup would be bigger than 2005’s Hurricane Katrina because Harvey struck a much wider area. He said the clean-up would be bigger than that after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, because Harvey struck a much wider area.
The storm cut a devastating path through a 300-mile swathe of south-east Texas, a landmark storm which broke rainfall records in the continental US and left entire communities submerged. Cutting a devastating path through a 300-mile swathe of south-east Texas, it was a landmark storm that broke rainfall records in the continental US and left entire communities submerged.
A category 4 hurricane when it made landfall, it is now a tropical depression and still packing a wallop as it moved north-east, prompting flood warnings in Kentucky and Tennessee. A category 4 hurricane when it made landfall, Harvey is now a tropical depression, still packing a wallop as it moves north-east, prompting flood warnings in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Donald Trump is due to visit Houston on Saturday, his second visit to the region this week. On Friday he tweeted that “Texas is heeling fast” (sic). Donald Trump is due to visit Houston on Saturday, his second visit to the state this week. On Friday he tweeted that “Texas is heeling fast” (sic).
Neighbourhoods around Buffalo bayou in west Houston could only hope so. They live near two flood-control reservoirs and dams and faced continued disruption. Neighbourhoods around Buffalo bayou in west Houston could only hope so. They live near two flood-control reservoirs and dams and face continued disruption.
Several residents said that even as rainfall rates eased earlier in the week and parts of the city dried out, flooding worsened in their streets as army engineers deliberately released water into the bayou. For some here, access to their streets – let alone starting cleanup work in their homes – remains days away. Several residents said that even as rainfall rates eased earlier in the week and parts of the city dried out, flooding worsened in their streets as army engineers deliberately released water into the bayou. For some here, access to their streets – let alone starting clean-up work in their homes – remains days away.
Water may remain there for two weeks, officials warned.Water may remain there for two weeks, officials warned.
Next to the bayou, some of Houston’s wealthiest suburbs have been among the worst hit. Oliver Navratil stood on a street corner, wondering how to reach his uncle’s home; the man’s young family had fled to safety as their house took on 8 or 9ft of water. Next to the bayou, some of Houston’s wealthiest suburbs were among the worst hit. Oliver Navratil stood on a street corner, wondering how to reach his uncle’s home; the man’s young family had fled to safety as their house took on 8ft or 9ft of water.
The street was still under 3-5ft of water the colour of milky coffee. A newly bought blue Mercedes waited at a stop sign – presumably permanently, with water lapping over its front hood. The street was still under 3-5ft of water the colour of milky coffee. A newly bought blue Mercedes waited at a stop sign – presumably permanently, as water lapped over its front hood.
Navratil said he was “trying to run some reconnaissance. Just trying to see if we can grab a canoe or some kind of floating vessel to get across.” Navratil said he was “trying to run some reconnaissance. Just trying to see if we can grab a canoe or some kind of floating vessel to get across”.
Adrian van Rensburg, a South African whose house flooded west of Barker reservoir, stood next a a pile of cleaning supplies in a strip mall’s parking lot. He was picking up some bleach. “I’ve been here for five years and I’ve experienced a 100-year, a 500-year and a thousand-year flood,” he said. “Something is not working out here.” Adrian van Rensburg, a South African whose house flooded west of Barker reservoir, stood next to a pile of cleaning supplies in the parking lot of an animal clinic. He was picking up some bleach.
“I’ve been here for five years and I’ve experienced a 100-year, a 500-year and a thousand-year flood,” he said. “Something is not working out here.”
The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an emergency $5.9bn (£4.6bn) package in Harvey recovery aid. It is expected to be followed by further requests that could exceed the $110bn to victims of Hurricane Katrina.The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an emergency $5.9bn (£4.6bn) package in Harvey recovery aid. It is expected to be followed by further requests that could exceed the $110bn to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Analysts said storm had tempered Republican in-fighting in Washington that had threatened a government shutdown. Analysts said the storm had tempered Republican infighting in Washington that had threatened a government shutdown.
At least many residents in middle-class areas are insured and have savings: the means to recover and rebuild however delayed the process may prove. In the historically black neighbourhood of Kashmere Gardens, six miles north-east of downtown, streets were dry on Friday but wrecked furniture was piled outside some houses.
Here, the average household income is about $33,000 and properties can be bought for under $60,000 – less than a 10th of what they can cost where the home of Navratil’s uncle was inundated.
Luis Ayala does not have flood insurance even though the home in Kashmere Gardens where he lives with his wife and two children is only 400ft from Hunting Bayou.
“It is too expensive and I never thought about it,” he said, standing in a damp kitchen.
On Friday afternoon, he and a friend placed destroyed armchairs, sofas, mattresses and chests of drawers on piles either side of the driveway outside the long, thin, single-storey ranch house where he has lived for five years.
“As you can see I lose everything, everything,” the 36-year-old truck driver said. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
Water rushed in on Saturday night and stayed for two days. Birth certificates and family photographs of smiling people on sunny days lay on his front lawn, curled at the edges.