Houston Flood Update: More Rain Forecast Even As Rescuers Work Amidst Damage

At least five deaths and more than a dozen injuries have been reported in the aftermath of Harvey, the hurricane that tore across the Gulf Coast of Texas over the weekend. The Weather Service issued repeated flash flood warnings throughout Saturday night, and dry city streets turned to speeding rivers in a matter of minutes.Emergency lines in the city were soon filled with people stranded on highways, and residents began sending desperate tweets directly to officials. In the aftermath, rescue teams within and outside the affected areas are fully engaged to make sure that people are gotten to safety.

Presently, the threat of floods is spreading east to Louisiana, according to the latest warning form the US National Weather Service. It said up to 25 inches (63.5cm) of rain is expected in southwestern parts of the state. Thousands of people have fled to their rooftops or higher ground as warnings of flash flooding continue through the night. Rescuers struggled to keep up with calls for help. Houston emergency services have received nearly 6,000 appeals for rescues. The Coast Guard said it had rescued 1,200 people, of which 200 were from the air. President Donald Trump will visit Texas on Tuesday as part of his response to the first natural disaster to test his presidency. 
He spent Sunday morning tweeting his thoughts from Camp David, from where he took part in a cabinet meeting. “Wow,” he wrote. “Now experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood! We have an all out effort going, and going well!” He would visit Texas, he added, “as soon as that trip can be made without causing disruption. The focus must be life and safety.”