Unprecedented flooding beyond anything expected inundates Houston area; weather service says
Houston is being inundated with "unprecedented" flooding after the ferocious Hurricane Harvey set in over the Texas Gulf Coast this weekend, dumping torrential rain on the city with no end in sight for days.
"This event is unprecedented and all impacts are unknown and beyond anything experienced. Follow orders from officials to ensure safety," The National Weather Service (NWS) said Sunday morning.
The flooding comes after the hurricane, which has now left at least three dead after it bashed the Texas coast, left buildings and parts of communities submerged. In Houston, there were more than 1000 calls for rescues and people were forced to their rooftops.
A third death was confirmed Sunday by La Marque, Texas Mayor Bobby Hocking. The body of a 52-year-old man was found at the Walmart on I-45. La Marque is about 38 miles southeast from Houston on the Gulf Coast.
"At this time it is unknown if the subject passed away from health conditions or due to drowning, there was high water in the area of Walmart last night," the La Marque Police Department said in a statement.
The second person who died in Houston was “swept away” according to Art Acevedo, Houston’s Chief of Police.
"Sadly we have lost one female member of our community who encountered floodwaters in her vehicle, got out and was swept away," Acevedo said. "We also have reports of one other brutality but have not confirmed it."
Officials said another person died in the coastal city of Rockport.
The 911 dispatchers in the US fourth-most populous city have received 2,000 requests for rescue, Mayor Turner said. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said his department had responded to 2,500 calls and have about 1,000 more waiting to be serviced.
The US National Hurricane Center has said at least 50 inches of rain has fallen in some areas, and one meteorologist estimated that upwards of 340 billion gallons of rainfall inundated the area. Downgraded to a tropical storm as it drifts over the state. 250,000 are without power on Sunday, many roads impassable.
"This event is unprecedented and all impacts are unknown and beyond anything experienced. Follow orders from officials to ensure safety," The National Weather Service (NWS) said Sunday morning.
The flooding comes after the hurricane, which has now left at least three dead after it bashed the Texas coast, left buildings and parts of communities submerged. In Houston, there were more than 1000 calls for rescues and people were forced to their rooftops.
A third death was confirmed Sunday by La Marque, Texas Mayor Bobby Hocking. The body of a 52-year-old man was found at the Walmart on I-45. La Marque is about 38 miles southeast from Houston on the Gulf Coast.
"At this time it is unknown if the subject passed away from health conditions or due to drowning, there was high water in the area of Walmart last night," the La Marque Police Department said in a statement.
The second person who died in Houston was “swept away” according to Art Acevedo, Houston’s Chief of Police.
"Sadly we have lost one female member of our community who encountered floodwaters in her vehicle, got out and was swept away," Acevedo said. "We also have reports of one other brutality but have not confirmed it."
Officials said another person died in the coastal city of Rockport.
The 911 dispatchers in the US fourth-most populous city have received 2,000 requests for rescue, Mayor Turner said. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said his department had responded to 2,500 calls and have about 1,000 more waiting to be serviced.
The US National Hurricane Center has said at least 50 inches of rain has fallen in some areas, and one meteorologist estimated that upwards of 340 billion gallons of rainfall inundated the area. Downgraded to a tropical storm as it drifts over the state. 250,000 are without power on Sunday, many roads impassable.
Boat moving on flooded road
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