Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding continued in Texas, forcing residents of the US city to flee their homes in anticipation of several more days of "unprecedented" rainfall.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Houston and an ever-expanding swath of cities and towns in the region remained under siege on Monday morning by torrential rain and surging floodwaters, the Washington Post reported.
Some areas were deluged with more than 30 inches of rainfall in the last 72 hours, according to the latest figures from the National Weather Service (NWS). The worst hit area was Berry B Forest Oaks in Harris County.
The NWS said conditions are "unprecedented". A "flash flood emergency" was in force across the Houston area, with travel near impossible. Thousands of homes were without electricity, many schools were closed along with the two main airports, with runways completely flooded.
Five people were reported dead and dozens injured in the hurricane. Helicopters plucked victims from rooftops. The US Coast Guard's Captain Kevin Odditt said 19 Coast Guard helicopters were involved in relief efforts.
About 3,000 national and state guard members were activated in Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed more than 1,800 staff.
Harvey made landfall as a category-four hurricane late on Friday. It was later downgraded to a tropical storm.
Up to 2,000 people had been rescued on Sunday in and around Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, housing 6.6 million people.
Authorities ordered more than 50,000 people to leave parts of Fort Bend County, about 35 miles southwest of Houston, as the Brazos River was set to crest at a record high of 59 feet this week, 14 feet above its flood stage, CNN reported.
Over the next few days the storm was forecast to head back into the Gulf of Mexico, where it would pick up moisture before moving back over Galveston and into Houston again, CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis said, indicating at least four more days of rain.
The National Weather Service issued flood watches and warnings from near San Antonio to New Orleans, an area home to more than 13 million people.
Curfews were introduced on Sunday in the cities of Alvin, Friendswood, League City, Pasadena, Pearland, Seabrook and Webster. US President Donald Trump plans to go to Texas on Tuesday to survey damage from the storm.
Meanwhile, the US military released water from two major reservoirs earlier than planned to protect central Houston, a move that could itself flood several thousands homes. Residents nearby were told to evacuate in case of danger.
The damage bill of Hurricane Harvey is already drawing comparisons to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which caused $108 billion of losses (including $80 billion of insured losses).
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Kushal kumar
202-GH28, Mansarovar Apartments,
Sector 20, Panchkula, Haryana, India- 134116.
Note : This news piece can be used appropriately.
News reports suggest that life- threatening hurricane Harvey has made landfall in Texas coast. Besides other woes by way of structural damage and health concerns that the hurricane Harvey is feared to bring with it , the prices of oil and gas and other items has the probability to rise . In this background , readers may like to know this Vedic astrology writer’s related alert for more care and appropriate strategy against hurricane in Texas like States of US through article - “ Astrological probable alerts for US in 2017†– published last year in December 2016 issue of wisdom-magazine.com from US. While alerting that August- September in 2017 may be a major worrisome concern for US , the text also reads : - “ Some health hazards or epidemics may need special attention. Hurricane like natural disasters could be likely at vulnerable regions. Such like places or regions as Detroits , Tampa , Miami , Missouri , Massachusetts , Tennessee or Texas may likely call for more care and strategy to deal with from the point of view of aforesaid situations. Some ambitious plans relating to consumer- energy may require special attention.†There is another article in the global context including US - “ Is World War III around the corner ?†-- conveying this writer’s concerns of 16 May 2017 in Summer 2017 issue of The Astrologer’s Notebook from North Port , Florida. Text of the related alert reads like this in the article : - “ Huge storms and tornadoes in vulnerable countries could trend to cause untold miseriesâ€. As regards timing when the worrisome events could occur , the text reads in the article : - “ The global events predicted in this article could likely begin to show up in mild measure from 24 June and after in present year 2017 to grow up gradually for a final show during 19 August to 4 September with peak hype on 30 August ( it could be 29 in the west )â€. The news reports on the ground may suggest that the alert , substantially much in advance, is getting pathetically but meaningfully accurate.
Kushal kumar
202-GH28, Mansarovar Apartments,
Sector 20, Panchkula, Haryana, India- 134116.
Note : This news piece can be used appropriately.