Catastrophic Flooding Happening Now in Houston as Harvey’s Death Toll Rises to 3

Weather Channel

Thousands of homes are taking on water and hundreds of people are trapped and stranded in rising floodwaters across the Houston metro after Harvey dumped more than 20″ of rain. The death toll from Harvey has risen to at least 3 as hundreds of water rescues are underway across the area.

“There is life-threatening, catastrophic flooding happening now in Southeast Harris County,” Jeff Lindner of the Harris County Flood Control District told The Weather Channel.

Lindner said water had overtopped Interstate 10, that there had been more than 400 water rescues overnight in the Houston area and that hundreds more were stranded in cars across roadways in the area.  

Flash flood emergencies have been issued area where the extreme rainfall has inundated homes, vehicles and killed at least two people. There are now three confirmed deaths in Harvey.

The Harris County medical examiner’s office confirmed a woman was killed in flooding, according to the Associated Press. She appeared to have exited her vehicle in high water and was found 30 yards away by neighbors. The Houston Fire Department said a man died in floodwaters overnight Saturday into Sunday. More details on the third death were not immediately available.

Residents have been forced to climb into their attics to escape rising water, KTRK-TV reports.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reports some homes are flooded with more than 6 feet of water.

(MORE: The Latest Forecast for Hurricane Harvey)

Parts of southeast Houston received 12-19 inches of rain in just six hours Saturday night into early Sunday, according to the Houston Flood Control District.

Jersey Village officials suggested residents northwest of Houston along the White Oak Bayou consider whether they need to evacuate. The city issued a notice saying the bayou could rise out of its banks before long.

“It’s quite possible that the streets could get impassable so we wanted to get that recommendation out,” Jersey Village City Manager Austin Bleess told the Associated Press.There have been reports of multiple water rescues from cars and homes in Houston. A Cadillac is now completely submerged in water after a man tried to drive down a flooding road near White Oak Bayou. Crews performed a water rescue to bring the driver to safety.

Buffalo and Brays Bayou on the west side of The Loop are climbing out of their banks due to torrential rainfall. Floodwaters in  In addition, Mary’s Creek in Friendswood has surged out its banks, surpassing its 500-year water mark.

Houston’s Hobby airport was closed Sunday morning due to the storm.

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds will persist in the Houston area for days, according to weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam.  Feet of rain is expected with rainfall totals in excess of 40 inches possible in local areas.

Earlier in the storm, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged more people to flee, however, local authorities told people to remain in their homes and recommended no widespread evacuations, AP reports. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner addressed the decision during a press conference, saying there may be a “greater danger” in having people who don’t need to be evacuated on roads that could flood.

In Houston, a group of roughly 40 people living underneath a section of Highway 59 said they planned to ride out the storm in their tents despite available social services, according to Chron.com.

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives Marc Eichenbaum told Chron.com. “Homeless outreach teams have been out for days informing our unsheltered homeless individuals about the weather and offering them immediate placements in shelters.”

Friday Harris County officials declared a state of disaster for the Houston area.

Wind and Rain Forecast

In nearby Galveston, the local Independent School District announced that classes at all locations have been canceled on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All non-essential staff were released at 11:00 am on Friday.

Because of the storm, four cruise ships due this weekend to Galveston with a combined 20,000 people on board will wait until Tuesday to return to port, WFAA reports.

Galveston tourist attractions announced they would be closed throughout the weekend, including “Galveston Historical Foundation attractions; Bishop’s Palace, Pier 21 Theater, Harbor Tours, Tall Ship ELISSA, Texas Seaport Museum, Salvage Warehouse and the Eighteen Seventy One store on The Strand will be closed,” according to Galveston.com.

Officials say rain from Hurricane Harvey could inundate Houston roads and neighborhoods as early as Saturday night, but Lindner told the AP that two key reservoirs in the flood control system — at the Addicks and Barker dams — are currently near-empty and are in no danger of flooding neighborhoods close by.

Rockport Shredded

A Rockport man was killed when his house caught fire at the height of the storm, according to media reports.

Aransas County Judge C.H. “Burt” Mills Jr. told the Austin American-Statesman 12 to 14 people were injured by Harvey, the Associated Press reports.

Officials in several coastal Texas towns asked residents to stay away until they could get a better scope of the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey, now a tropical storm, during its Friday night landfall.

A curfew was in place in Port Lavaca because all power, water and sewer services were down, the city’s police department said in a Facebook post.

In Port Aransas, Mayor Charles Bujan told The Weather Channel there was widespread damage – including a trailer park that is 100-percent destroyed. Search and rescue operations continued in the town Saturday afternoon, and all residents were asked to stay out of the town because damage was severe and authorities needed more time to survey, KIII-TV reported.

During a Saturday press conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that it’s too early to speculate how much property damage the storm has incurred, although one estimate has put it at up to $2 billion.

Buildings were ripped to shreds in Rockport and firefighters were unable to respond to pleas for help in the hours following Harvey’s Friday night landfall along the Texas coast.

In Rockport, a town of about 10,000 located on Aransas Bay, KTRK-TV reported 10 people sustained injuries when the roof of a senior housing complex collapsed during the storm. The severity of those injuries was unknown.

“We know there is widespread devastation,” Rockport Mayor CJ Wax said during a Saturday morning interview with The Weather Channel. “I think it’s safe to say we took a Cat. 4 (hurricane) right on the nose, and we’d appreciate everyone’s prayers.”

Officials estimate that 40 percent of residents did not heed voluntary evacuation orders and remained in the city as Harvey roared ashore.

Firefighters in Rockport said they wouldn’t be able to respond to emergency calls until conditions improved, KTRK also reported.

“There’s nothing we can do at this moment,” Rockport volunteer fire department Chief Steve Sims told KTRK. “We are anxious to get out there and make assessments, but we’re hunkered down for now.”

(MORE: Here’s Why Harvey Grew Into a Monster)

Rockport City Manager Kevin Carruth told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that an unknown number of buildings were destroyed by Harvey’s punishing winds. Earlier reports that Rockport High School had been destroyed were inaccurate, the report added, but the structure did sustain heavy damage.

“A part of the roof has caved in, but the reports that buildings have disappeared don’t appear to be accurate,” volunteer fire department spokeswoman Gillian Cox told the Caller-Times.

About 128 people were evacuated from a Fairfield Inn in Rockport after the hotel suffered severe damage, according to a National Weather Service report.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from the vessel Signet Enterprise Saturday near Port Aransas, according to DVIDS. In total, at least 20 people have been rescued from vessels.

Nearby Cities Prepare For Significant Rainfall

City officials in Rosenburg began calling for mandatory evacuations in parts of the city late Saturday morning, Chron.com reports.

Saturday the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management issued a mandatory evacuation orderfor residents living in low-lying areas near the San Bernard River and a voluntary evacuation order for those in low-lying areas near the Brazos River, according to a release.

Possible Tornadoes Leave Behind Damage in Nearby Cities

Storms that hit parts of Texas during Saturday left behind damages that may take days to be inspected by survey crews to determine if they were indeed tornadoes. Damage from these storms may be very similar to damage seen close to where the eyewall of Harvey pushed through along the coast at peak intensity, according to weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles.

Photos and videos posted to social media showed a possible tornado rolling through a neighborhood in Cypress, Texas, Saturday.

According to reports on the ground, it “touched town near the Berry Center in Cypress and damaged at least one home and a fence next door to the home.” No injuries were reported.

More than 50 homes in Missouri City were damaged by a storm when it hit the Sienna Plantation neighborhood, KHOU.com reports. Several homes had the roofs torn off and collapsed walls. A responding deputy was reportedly blown off the road.

Damage was also reported in Katy, Texas, Saturday morning, ABC13.com reports. A manager of RV, Boat & Mini Storage says the storm crossed the Katy Freeway before slamming into their offices, scattering metal debris and auto parts across the parking lot and lawn.  NWS

“We were here last night, and we basically had the place sealed up so water couldn’t get in,” the manager, only identified as BJ, told ABC13. “My partner called me in the morning at 6 o’clock and said everything was destroyed. A tornado had came through around 5:30 and crossed I-10. Totally ruined the office.”

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-harvey-houston-texas-impacts

35 thoughts on “Catastrophic Flooding Happening Now in Houston as Harvey’s Death Toll Rises to 3”

  1. Now for our current halftime score update.

    Brought 2U by …

    Roter Reuters plumbing.

    [Slogan]

    “We’ll UnClog Your Sh!t”.

    Our current halftime score is…

    Harvey’s = 3 Houston’s 0

    Now a word from our Sponsor’s.

    Reply

      1. 2008 wasn’t a joke to me when I lost my job , filed for bankruptcy and had my sons stolen from me in family court.
        There…now that’s funny huh.

        So I really don’t have any sympathy for humans that much anymore.

        To tell you truthfully. ..

        Most of them that I’ve run into …in my career.

        Should be wiped out by a hurricane.

        Because they are heathonous, idol and money worshiping mindless uneducated and morally bankrupt human beings….
        Oh I forgot….
        Liars and thieves too.

        Maybe the leftovers will learn how to help one another in a traumatic catastrophe.

        Sometimes these things just need to happen.

        Reply

        1. flee, I feel for you and know what emotional pain feels like, regardless of the reason.

          Sometimes the toughest part for me is not to grow stone cold bitter, and it’s not easy.

          Reply

          1. That was a very sweet reply to flee, Katie. 😉
            I’m choosing to hold my tongue. 😉

            I read your update on a different post. Are you still OK? Has the water risen any more on your property? Please stay safe.
            So far, our house isn’t flooded and the big oak in front hasn’t fallen on the house (yet). Have been in touch with most (still no word from some) family & friends and the ones I’ve heard from are safe (though some are stranded). Unfortunately, this storm is far from over.

          4. Well here is the deal..

            If you pussies have a problem with me and my comments.

            Then grow a pair of fkng balls like Henry.

            Here’s my goddamn ph #

            It’s 775 340 7067.

            Although I do have to say Henry did btch slap me pretty good..
            But in the end we worked it out.

            I still consider him an allie…not an adversary.

            Now if you want to hide behind your keyboard thats fine.

            Otherwise you need to sht the fk up.

            So be it…

            This is for angel.

          5. flee, You are the one who needs to shut the F up! I see no point in wasting my time calling you. It is quite obvious that (to use a phrase my husband often uses) you “don’t know, don’t care, don’t give a F_.” My husband (and several other Trenchers I personally know) have your sob story beat. They can see and raise you on every point. They hold a Royal Flush against your two pair. I’m NOT hiding behind a keyboard. I simply have bigger fish to fry and no time to deal with a piss ant like you. Now, have another drink, crap your whites again, kill some more rats, and Shut the F up! BYE, BYE!

          6. tc…trying to lighten the mood.
            Besides, I can’t get this song out of my head. Thanks, Ronnie Milsap.

          7. “Hurricane raaaaiiiiinnnnn…it keeps on flyin..
            I can’t go on boatinnnn this waaaAAAaaayyy…
            120 mph raaaaiiinnnnn I can’t go on traaawliinnnn…
            can’t go on fishiiiinnnnnnn…this waaaAAAaaaayyyy…
            I’m somewhere in the hurricane raiiinnnnn.”

        2. “Otherwise you need to sht the fk up.

          So be it…

          This is for angel.”

          THIS is where you crossed the line, F%&KNUTS!!!

          For Trenchers to argue is one thing, but to take it to that level is UNCALLED FOR. Angel was been posting here long before even I started, and she deserves a certain measure of respect for that alone. But then again, I’m likely talking to a moron who doesn’t even know the meaning of the word.

          In short, you can take that f%&ked up attitude of yours and SHOVE IT UP YOUR @SS, CLOWNBOY!!!!!

          …………………./´¯/)
          ………………..,/¯../
          ………………./…./
          …………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
          ………./’/…/…./……./¨¯
          ……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
          ……………………..’…../
          ……….”…………. _.·´
          ……………………..(
          …………..………….…

          Reply

          1. That was very fake azz christian of you.

            Can you get a better flip off finger.

            Maybe a real picture of a finger.

            Butt eye guess old dinosaur habits are hard to br8k.

            Would just fknng relax people.

            I’m here for your entertainment.

            You can take your online aggressions out me.

            I can take it..

            Just like a swat team and a chopper flying over my house.

            Hey . House that roommate thing going….?

          2. “I’m here for your entertainment.”

            Try Talmudvision then. I’m sure the stinking jews would get a kick out of your asininity. Your ‘brand’ of ‘comedy’ would fit right in with what they pass off as ‘comedy’ these days… best suited for unmitigated morons like yourself.

            Kick rocks, clownboy, I’m THROUGH wasting any more comment time on YOUR stupid @ss.

            We’re DONE here, LOP.

          3. All involved need to stop it right now. I’ve known Angel longer than any of you and I know Flee.
            A few heated words is not the end-all and be-all.
            Best to let Angel and Flee work it out as they must, as both care about what we are doing here too much not to.

          4. Angel is one of the few Trenchers (count ’em one one hand) who has my phone # & e-mail, Henry. She is more than just a ‘cyber’ friend, so when she is personally attacked by ANYONE, I will not stand idly by and allow it to go unchallenged.

            That’s my nature… I can’t change who I am.

            Nor do I care to. 🙂

          5. That aside, you should know me well enough by now that when I tell a poster “We’re done here”, that means not only with the particular thread we’re on, but all future conversation as well.

            Not to worry, I have absolutely nothing more to say to that loser from now on.

          1. Thank you… Bob a voice of wisdom reason and clarity.
            Unlike others.

            I can say…

            I was wrong.

            My deep apologies to Angel.

            Now… can you forgive me..?
            Where is your Christ concienseness now..?

            I feel the same pain..
            I feel the same struggle.

            Unfortunately the only way I can survive is to find some humor in this madness.

            Plus you get free jokes.

            I bow down and prostate myself.

            In front of you.

            In public…

            I’m glad to see some people still have hearts.

            I could still throw rocks…

            But I choose knot 2.

    1. LoL. Thanks for contributing to my musical brain death.
      Just jokin. Ronnie Milsap is pretty good, just not my music genre.
      my love songs usually sound more like this…and technically, I don’t think you can call this a love song.

      Reply

        1. Hi Angel,
          We are safe, just completely inundated with water everywhere.
          Have not been on the roads since Friday afternoon to go out to top off gas tank.
          Mandatory evacs were issued earlier today due to Colorado River cresting. We are west of there, so clear from this. Roads closed, bridges out, etc.. We have not lost power thank God. They lost it in Round Top last night and got it back up.
          Looking forward to some sunshine and dry land. Hope your people are and will remain safe.

          Reply

          1. Thank you for your update and well wishes. I’m so happy that you’re OK.

            Now, for the next week, we have to deal with flooding, flash flooding, and tornados… not necessarily in that order.

            Stay Strong and Stay Safe, Katie.

            Sunshine and dry land will eventually come and be most welcome. 🙂

  5. For privacy purposes I won’ say where but it concerns my son, daughter-in-law and grandson who live near I-45 between Houston and Galveston and their house was within a few feet of being flooded, but as if Sunday evening they are okay…and we narrowly escaped being in similar situation since we had been visiting them since August 20 and decided we had to head back to far west Texas Saturday afternoon so we really did get out just in time. Some are comparing this to Katrina in NOLA, since the storm is supposed to loop around and come back later this coming week. To all Trenchers having to deal with this, God be with you.

    Reply

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