Information about the massive storm battering the Houston-area is pouring in as historic rains continue to lash the Gulf Coast without any sign of relief.
CTVNews.ca is combing through the latest news from the fourth largest city in the United States and the surrounding area as Harvey extends into its fifth day since making landfall Friday night.
Where is the storm?
The southeast coast of Texas is currently being lashed with the heaviest rains and experiencing the most serious flooding as Harvey parks itself over the Gulf Coast region.
You can follow its path with our tracker here.
Houston is the largest urban centre being impacted. The city is the fourth largest in the U.S. and home to over 2.3 million residents. Southeastern Louisiana and parts of Mississippi are also in the storm’s path.
What’s in the forecast?
The U.S. National Weather Service is calling for more rain in southeastern Texas and southwest Louisiana. Up to 38 centimetres are expected through Wednesday in those regions.
Southeast Louisiana could see up to 25 centimetres by Thursday, with higher amounts possible in some areas, depending on where the storm cell settles.
Data from the U.S. National Weather Service some regions have received over a metre of rain as of Tuesday morning.
Harvey has set a new continental U.S. record for rainfall from a tropical system. The previous record was set in 1978 in Medina, Texas during Tropical Storm Amelia.
What’s happening on the ground?
Floodwaters have reached the rooflines of some homes in the Houston area as more rain continues to fall. The storm is officially being blamed for at least five deaths.
Six members of a family, including four children, are also presumed dead after floodwaters engulfed a van in northeast Houston.
Authorities in a small city neighbouring Houston said a boater located a deceased man floating in the water. It is not known how the man died.
An 83-year-old woman also died after her vehicle was caught in floodwaters north of Houston.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said on Tuesday that many people are missing and he is “really worried about how many bodies we're going to find.”
He announced a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time, starting Tuesday night, to ensure public safety.
Unlike other cities in the storm’s path, Houston residents were not ordered to evacuate. Many are seeking shelter on the upper floors of their homes as the water level continues to rise.
Acevedo warned residents not to hide in their attics unless they have an ax or other means of escaping to their roofs in a tweet on Sunday.
In a press conference Monday, Acevedo said residents should remain in their homes if they feel safe and avoid travel at all costs.
“There is a lot of water on the roads. With night coming and more rain predicted, it is going to get very precarious,” he said.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged residents not to use social media to call for help and to go to the nearest shelter if necessary, regardless of which county they reside in.
Turner added that he has been inspired by the courage and spirit of Houstonians as they endure the hardships brought on by the storm.
“One thing I was impressed by is people who have lost everything, coming to the shelter wet, but they have still maintained their sense of humor,” he said Monday evening. “For people to be able to come up to you and joke and laugh and say thank you to Houston. That was just overwhelming.”
The American Red Cross says there are more than 17,000 people in Texas seeking refuge in shelters.
The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said dozens of off-shore oil and gas platforms and rigs have been evacuated. Texas is a key hub for North American oil and gas production and refinement.
There have been some reports of looting.
Who is responding and how?
U.S. President Donald Trump has said protecting American lives is his top priority and vowed to deploy “every asset” he can to bolster the resources of local officials.
Trump and the first lady travelled to Corpus Christi and Austin on Tuesday for briefings. In Corpus Christie, he stood on a ladder in between two fire trucks to address hundreds of people, drawing cheers as he waved a Texas flag.
“This is historic. It's epic what happened, but you know what, it happened in Texas, and Texas can handle anything,” he said.
Trump’s optimistic assessment stood in contrast with local officials, who continue to warn that the situation remains highly dangerous.
Houston police said they have rescued over 3,000 people. The city’s 911 system has received 75,000 calls since Harvey’s arrival.
An official with the U.S. Coast Guard said they are receiving over 1,000 calls per hour and rescued another 3,000 people on Monday alone.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from two at two reservoirs in order to protect downtown Houston from flood waters. Hundreds have been asked to evacuate from subdivisions in the area. The reservoirs are overflowing, despite the controlled release.
Are any Canadians involved?
Yes. A number of expats living in Texas are being impacted by the storm.
A couple from North Vancouver is also stuck on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that is unable to dock due to heavy rain and high winds. They are being told they will not be able to come ashore until Friday.
What can I do to help?
Many organizations are accepting online donations to help the victims of the storm.
Houston’s Mayor Turner established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
The Houston Food Bank, the Galveston County Food Bank and the Food Bank of Corpus Christi are accepting online donations.
TheUnited Way of Greater Houston has established a food relief fund.
Donations can also be made on crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe. However, donors should be wary of scammers who may be using the storm to exploit their generosity.
With files from The Associated Press
