Warning of Texas floods worsening
More rain is forecast in areas worst hit
Catastrophic flooding overwhelming Houston and parts of Texas will worsen in the coming days and then be slow to recede once Hurricane Harvey finally moves on, the National Weather Service warned.
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING overwhelming Houston and other parts of Texas will worsen in the coming days and then be slow to recede once Hurricane Harvey finally moves on, the director of the National Weather Service has warned.
Louis Uccellini said up to 20 inches (51cms) of rain could fall in the coming days, on top of the more than 30ins (76cms) some places have already seen.
He told a news conference that some of the heaviest rainfall yesterday, at a pace of six inches (15cms) an hour, would fall east of Houston in places such as Beaumont and Lake Charles, Louisiana.
While Houston was experiencing a break from the rain, heavy downpours were forecast to return later yesterday and into today.
Louisiana’s governor has asked US President Donald Trump for a federal emergency declaration for Louisiana.
Governor John Bel Edwards said he sent a letter to the White House requesting the initial disaster declaration for five parishes in south-west Louisiana, and could add more areas to the request later.
He said life-saving efforts such as search and rescue and shelters will be needed, especially in south-west Louisiana where forecasters say 10 to 20 ins (25 to 51 cms) of rain could fall.
Despite the rain easing temporarily in Houston, the city was braced for more flooding as officials started releasing even more water from reservoirs overwhelmed by Harvey.
The strategic engineering move, aimed at protecting the centre of Houston, could make already devastating flooding worse around thousands of homes.
Harvey, which made landfall late on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane and has lingered dropping heavy rain as a tropical storm, sent devastating floods pouring into Houston on Sunday.
Rising floodwater sent thousands of people clambering on to rooftops or higher ground and overwhelmed rescuers who could not keep up with the constant calls for help.
Harris and Fort Bend county officials initially said residents near the Addicks and Barker reservoirs should be prepared for the barrage of water about to be released. Officials warned residents to pack up and leave.
Those living near the reservoirs designed to help prevent flooding in down town Houston, were warned that a controlled release would cause additional street flooding and could spill into homes.
Houston was braced for more flooding as officials started releasing more water