Hurricane Harvey Causes ‘Catastrophic’ Damage in Houston

Storm causing historic flooding, damage across parts of Texas.

August 27, 2017 12:15 pm
Hurricane Harvey
In this NASA handout image, Hurricane Harvey is photographed aboard the International Space Station as it intensified on its way toward the Texas coast on August 25, 2017. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

Hurricane Harvey continued its steady rampage through Texas, slamming Houston with “unprecedented” rainfall and flooding that left thousands trapped.

Rescue workers scrambled in the heavy rains to rescue those stranded, including some that sought refuge on the roofs of their homes as the water level rose, according to The Houston Chronicle.

At least five deaths in the region are blamed on the storm, officials told the newspaper —including an unidentified woman who died attempted to exit a car she drove into floodwaters while attempting to escape.

“It’s catastrophic, unprecedented, epic — whatever adjective you want to use,” said Patrick Blood, a National Weather Service meteorologist to The Chronicle. “It’s pretty horrible right now.”

Hurricane Harvey
Firefighters search for survivors at an apartment complex in Rockport, TX as Hurricane Harvey hits the Texas coast on Saturday, Aug 26, 2017. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The National Weather Service reported on Sunday morning that over 24 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in Houston. The storm had caused tremendous damage to coastal communities in Texas since it made landfall on Friday night.

Though Hurricane Harvey has since weakened to a tropical storm, experts predict it will sit over the region for several more days causing more flooding and damage with heavy rains.

President Trump tweeted Sunday morning “experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood,” but that the U.S. had “an all out effort going” in response to it.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.