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Storm Harvey cost to hit thousands of uninsured in Houston

One couple, rescued with their cat, said they had never seen this much water despite scuba diving all over the world.

A woman uses a coat hanger to try and retrieve an item from a destroyed house in Fulton, Texas
Image: A woman uses a coat hanger to try and retrieve an item from a destroyed house in Fulton, Texas
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Gary Struzick retired five months ago as Harris County's flood specialist.

He has spent this week rescuing his neighbours from in Harris County's biggest city of Houston.

If he understands what's happening in Texas better than most, even he and his wife Kay are casting anxious glances at the water levels.

Gary Struzick was a flood specialist for Harris County
Image: Gary Struzick was a flood specialist for Harris County

"I think we'll be okay but we are ready to go if we have to," Gary said. Most of his neighbours have already gone.

Because they live in an area now being inundated by water from Houston's over spilling Addicks and Barker reservoirs.

Even as the torrential rain has eased in Houston, the waters pouring from the reservoirs are prolonging the alarm here.

One couple, along with their cat, are ferried to safety by a neighbour and his boat
Image: Torrential rain may have eased, but water is still pouring into the city from the reservoirs

The anxiety is etched on the faces of people who thought the worst had passed but now face the greatest uncertainty.

More on Hurricane Harvey

They watch impromptu depth measures - their post box or a stranded car's number plate - for signs that the water is rising.

The reservoirs have never spilled over in their decades of existence and experts admit it is impossible to model where all the water will go.

Dick Carroll and his wife Anne said they had never seen so much water on land
Image: Dick Carroll and his wife Anne said they had never seen so much water on land

It is the reason why, five days after Harvey first swept ashore, whole new areas are undergoing emergency evacuations.

Gary is one member of what's become known as the "volunteer navy", regular people using their own private boats to usher families to safety.

He rescued Dick Carroll and his wife Anne, along with their cat Ben.

"We are so grateful to have a neighbour like him," said Dick.

At some point, the operation in Houston will switch from one of rescue to recovery.

Everyone here is dreading what will be found when the floodwaters recede and what the total human cost could be.

But even those who escape unscathed face a different kind of cost.

It is estimated that 80% of those in the flood zone are without flood insurance.