Winds lessen, but heavy rains pose threat

twisted and toppled.

Water from flooded fields in Colorado County seeped onto roadways, adding to the treacherous conditions.

The incessant rainfall became so intense that drivers on Interstate 45 near Galveston were forced to pull off the highway because the visibility was zero.

At the typically hectic Buc-ee’s rest stop on Highway 71 between Austin and Houston, a cashier reported just seven customers all morning Saturday.

Most businesses along a stretch of northwest Houston strip malls remained shuttered Saturday as the deluge continued from above, with concerns raised about widespread flooding by Sunday.

In Corpus Christi, the streets were deserted Saturday and power outages knocked out wastewater plants that treat sewage.

Officials asked the 320,000 residents to cut back on their use of toilets and faucets.

Harvey, after reaching land as a Category 4 storm, weakened overnight to a Category 1 by 5 a.m. — and to a tropical storm before noon.

But it still boasted sustained winds of up to 70 mph, and forecasters warned up to 40 inches of rain were possible over the coming days before Harvey departs. The New York Air National Guard was sending personnel, aircraft and watercraft to help with the hurricane response in Texas and Louisiana, according to Gov. Cuomo. “New Yorkers firsthand know the damage Mother Nature can cause, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with Louisiana and Texas as they brace for Hurricane Harvey,” the governor announced. President Trump tweeted congratulations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its handling of the crisis.

“You are doing a great job — the world is watching!” said Trump, who sent a second tweet declaring the White House was “closely monitoring” the situation from Camp David.

“We are leaving nothing to chance,” said Trump. “City, State and Federal Govs. working great together!”

The Coast Guard advised Texans to remain inside as authorities try to sort out the damage inflicted by the mighty hurricane.

“Although people may think the worst is over, there are still concerns of rain and flooding,” said Capt. Tony Hahn of Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi.