Hurricane Harvey damage: Latest pictures as Texas ravaged by deadly flooding and storm
HURRICANE Harvey tore through the Texas coast, causing devastating damage to the state and killing at least five people. Here are the latest pictures as Americans try to recover from the damage.
Hurricane Harvey damage pictures Texas USA latest photographs
Hurricane Harvey, with wind speeds of up to 132 mph (212 km/h), slammed into the coast of Texas a as a deadly category 4 hurricane – the most powerful since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued across the coast, but up to 40 inches of rainfall left many Texans unprepared for the imminent flash flooding.
The city of Houston, with a population of 2.3 million, was completely left underwater and at least five people have died in the ensuing chaos.
According to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, at least 2,000 people had been reduced, but emergency services were overloaded with calls for help.
He told his residents: “We will get to you and we will get through this.”
Harvey made landfall in the city of Corpus Christi where it arrived with the full might of a tropical hurricane.
Thousands of people were left stranded on their roofs across the state as water dangerously broke into homes through doors and windows.
Meteorologists predicted that the “catastrophic” rain will likely continue for days, and the latest National Hurricane Center forecast predict that the flooding will affect Louisiana.
According to insurance company Hannover Re, unofficial figures so far estimate $3 billion (£2.3 billion) in insurance damages – less than the $80 billion (£62 billion) sustained by Hurricane Katrina and $36 billion (£27 billion) caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Earlier last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who declared a state of disaster in 30 counties, said: “I strongly urge all Texans to heed warnings from your local officials.
“I also urge that you immediately follow evacuation orders for all impacted counties, particularly in the Corpus Christi and Houston areas where the storm surges and flooding from Hurricane Harvey are most likely.
Hurricane Harvey will hit Texas as a category 3 hurricane
“Please take all necessary precautions to save your life and minimise risk.”
Please take all necessary precautions to save your life and minimise risk
He added: “Don’t take any chances and evacuate when you are ordered. Also be sure to avoid rising waters and take care of each other. May God bless you and keep you safe.”
Pictures from around Corpus Christi ahead of the hurricane already showed signs of the incoming bad weather, with dark skies looming on the horizon.
But the defiant Texans caught in lower-risk areas have been busy boarding up their houses and filling up sandbags for the imminent floods.
Hurricane Harvey: Business are closing down ahead of the storm
Hurricane Harvey: People are are stocking up on supplies
Hurricane Matthew: Stores along the Texas coast are being emptied
Many of them are keeping their spirits high in the face of disaster and have been approaching the situation with a bit of humour.
One Corpus Christi resident shared an Instagram photo of their boarded up house with a “Go home Harvey you’re drunk” sign on the front door.
Another person wrote “Kiss off Harvey” on their taped up front door, while one boarded-up building boldly announced: “We ready Harvey.”
Business owners are also going to take a hit this weekend because of the hurricane, which will most likely cause power outages in the region.
A laundrette in Corpus Christi was forced to board up its doors and windows with plywood and shut down for the time being.
Hurricane Harvey: people preparing for the incoming huricane
Hurricane Harvey: Families are packing up and leaving risk areas
Many residents are also stacking up on supplies of bottled water and food, with pictures revealing barren store-shelves.
One Houston resident shared a picture of an empty bottled water section with the caption: “Things getting real in Houston”.
Another way in which Texans are preparing for Harvey, is by stacking up rows of sandbags outside their properties.
One Galveston business owner was photographed placing sandbags alongside the front door to his store.
A group of Corpus Christi residents were spotted gathering sand from a nearby field for their makeshift sandbags.