Harvey Brings Devastating Flooding in Texas
Hurricane Harvey has dumped torrential rains since it made landfall in Texas, causing catastrophic flooding over the largest second state of the United States of America.
Authorities have predicted widespread devastation as meteorologist forecasted historic rainfall totals up to 50 inches by Wednesday. The rain showed no sign of slowing for the coming days. Some places even far inland were predicted to get as much as 40 inches of rain through Wednesday. Thus, weather experts warned residents to be more vigilant.
CNN meteorologist and severe weather expert Chad Myers warned residents of Houston to move to higher ground.
“The storm isn’t moving, but the rain bands are moving like a pinwheel,” he said. “You are going to get a pinwheel (Saturday night) that will wake up–or you’ll wake up with 12-18 inches of new rainfall on the ground.”
Heavy flooding was evident in Houston where buildings and parts of communities were submerged. There were more than 1,000 calls for rescues and people were forced to their rooftops.
Hurrican Harvey was predicted to be far more powerful but it weakened upon landfall. Harvey became a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 70 mph, Saturday afternoon. It is expected to weaken into a tropical depression that hangs in the region through Thursday.
Fatality of the Storm
Authorities could not give accurate records of human casualties as the tropical storm continues to ravage Texas. However, initial report said the hurricane left at least three people dead after it hammered the Texas coast.
The first fatality was reported in the hard-hit coastal city of Rockport, where the person died in a house fire during the storm, Aransas County Judge Burt Mills said Saturday afternoon. At least a dozen people were injured.
In addition, fatalities were feared in Rockport, where an estimated 5,000 residents had stayed put for the storm that blasted ashore as a Category 4 around 11 p.m. ET Friday between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor.
The Response
President Trump tweeted about the storm, saying “experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood.” However, the US president assured his administration is ready to “an all out effort going” in response to it.
The response included the deployment of 3,000 national and state guard service members, 500 vehicles, and 14 aircrafts.
In addition, 400 people have been deployed by the U.S. Department of Transportation in response to the danger and 250 highway closures were established statewide.
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