Hurricane Harvey: Towns evacuated as 130mph winds approach Texas and Louisiana
A hospital airlifts babies to safety ahead of what could be the strongest hurricane to hit the US in 12 years.
Saturday 26 August 2017 03:44, UK
Hurricane Harvey has strengthened to a category three storm as it nears Texas, with weather conditions quickly deteriorating along the coast.
Tens of thousands of people are fleeing from the hurricane's path, with forecasts of "life-threatening" 125mph winds, storm surges and rainfall drawing fearful comparisons to Hurricane Katrina - one of the nation's deadliest-ever storms.
Oil refineries and chemical plants could be hit by Harvey, and seven counties in Texas have ordered mandatory evacuations.
Some experts have warned that the economic impact of the latest storm "will probably be on par with Hurricane Katrina", with affected areas told to expect heavy damage that will linger for months.
Forecasts suggest flood-prone Houston, America's fourth-largest city, will be particularly vulnerable to the slow-moving storm and could expect large amounts of rainfall for days.
Harvey is expected to come ashore late on Friday evening or in the early hours of Saturday morning - and some supermarket aisles have been stripped bare as people stockpile food.
Texas governor Greg Abbott has warned Americans in the path of the storm to leave now before it is too late.
He said: "We really pray that people are listening to their emergency managers and get out of harm's way."
He told reporters he has asked President Trump to declare Harvey as a "major disaster" so the state can access more aid.
On Twitter, Mr Trump said he is closely monitoring the situation, adding: "I encourage everyone in the path of #HurricaneHarvey to heed the advice & orders of their local and state officials."
The President is expected to visit Texas early next week.
Harvey is predicted to first hit a 30-mile stretch of coastline about 70 miles northeast of Corpus Christi - where a children's hospital has airlifted 10 critically ill babies inland to Fort Worth.
Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said Harvey was set to "stall and meander for several days, leading to a devastating flood threat".
She added: "There could be as much as 35 inches (89cm) of rainfall from Harvey over the next few days."
The last major hurricane to hit Texas was Ike in September 2008. It brought winds of 110mph and caused damage estimated at $22bn (£17bn).