Harvey, the most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. in 13 years, left a trail of destruction as it swept through Texas on August 27, pummelling the region with heavy rains and claiming at least five lives since making landfall on the U.S.’ Gulf Coast.
After a night of flash flood and tornado watch, Texas’ largest city Houston woke up to a catastrophic morning, more life-threatening flash flooding, and non-stop heavy downpour as rescuers answered desperate calls for help all along the ravaged coastline .
The actual toll from Harvey remains unclear as rescuers were still trying to reach people stranded across the region. Text: Agencies
Evacuees are airlifted in a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter after flooding due to Hurricane Harvey inundated neighbourhoods in Houston, Texas.
Interstate highway 45 is submerged from the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Forecasters said Harvey’s onslaught was just the beginning. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami warned “catastrophic flooding” was likely to occur in the days ahead.
Debris lies on the ground in Rockport, Texas. Tornadoes spawned by Harvey damaged more than 50 homes in Fort Bend County, struck a commercial centre near Katy and tore through Cypress, while parts of the Houston region were evacuated ahead of record river floods.
People are rescued by airboat, in Dickinson, Texas on August 27, 2017. Emergency responders completed more than 1,000 high-water rescues during the night. “Travel across the area is severely hampered, if not impossible,” said an announcement from the Weather Service.
Evacuees leave a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter after being rescued from flooding, in Houston, Texas. Harvey bombarded the stretch of the Texas Gulf Coast with home-ripping winds and torrential rains. More than 3,00,000 people were without power after utility poles were knocked to the ground.
This image made from a video shows a view from U.S. Route 59 of flooding on West Bellfort Avenue in Houston, on Aug. 27, 2017. The remnants of Hurricane Harvey sent devastating floods pouring into Houston Sunday as rising water chased thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground.
People are evacuated from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey in a collector's vintage military truck belonging to a volunteer in Dickinson, Texas on August 27, 2017. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he would activate 1,800 members of the military to help with the state-wide clean-up while 1,000 people would conduct search-and-rescue operations.
Residents pick through needed items at a make-shift aid station, in Rockport, Texas on Sunday. While thousands fled the expected devastating flooding and destruction, many residents stayed put in imperilled towns and stocked up on food, fuel and sandbags.
A car is submerged on a freeway flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey on Aug. 27, 2017, near downtown Houston, Texas. Harvey continued to head back toward the Gulf of Mexico at a slow pace.