Texas floods disaster to worsen, with up to 30,000 people forced into shelters
Parts of Texas have been devastated by the floods, and with the storm moving eastwards Louisiana is now bracing for the worst.
Monday 28 August 2017 20:22, UK
More flooding is expected to force up to 30,000 people in Texas into shelters, with "life-threatening" conditions predicted in the coming days.
Tropical storm Harvey is set to dump more rain on Houston throughout Monday, with forecasters warning the flooding will peak on Wednesday and Thursday.
State governor Gregg Abbott is activating the entire Texas National Guard for search and rescue efforts, bringing the total deployment to roughly 12,000, saying it is "imperative we do everything possible" to protect lives.
Officials in Houston have responded to more than 5,500 emergency calls and more than 2,000 people have been rescued.
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![People in a shelter in Texas as Hurricane Harvey strikes]()
Image: People in a shelter in Texas as Hurricane Harvey strikes -
![Residents use a truck to navigate through flood waters from Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston, Texas]()
Image: Residents use a truck to navigate through floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston, Texas -
![A car is submerged by floodwater on Interstate 610 North as low-lying Houston battles with Tropical Storm Harvey]()
Image: A car is submerged by floodwater on Interstate 610 North as low-lying Houston battles with the hurricane -
![A woman is carried after being rescued from a hotel by boat due to the heavy flooding]()
Image: A woman is carried after being rescued from a hotel by boat due to the heavy flooding -
![The historic flooding in Houston is expected to worsen in the coming days]()
Image: The historic flooding in Houston is expected to worsen in the coming days -
![Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall on Friday, is the most powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years]()
Image: Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall on Friday, is the most powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years -
![A woman carries her dog as she flees from the rising waters in the city of Dickinson]()
Image: A woman carries her dog as she flees from the rising waters in the city of Dickinson -
![Helicopters have been used to airlift trapped residents to safety]()
Image: Helicopters have been used to airlift trapped residents to safety -
![More than 30,000 people are expected to be placed in temporary shelters]()
Image: More than 30,000 people are expected to be placed in temporary shelters
The US Army Corps, which has been helping the relief effort, said it will be forced to release water from two reservoirs near the city into a bayou running through Houston.
"If we don't release now, the volume of uncontrolled water around the dams will be higher and have a greater impact on the surrounding communities," said Colonel Lars Zetterstrom.
Brock Long, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, described the worst flooding to hit Texas in 50 years as a "landmark event".
He added 450,000 people are expected to seek disaster recovery aid.
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Homeland security secretary Elaine Duke also warned of "life-threatening flooding" and cautioned: "We are not out of the woods yet, not by a long shot."
Up to 20 more inches of rain could fall in the coming days, on top of the 30 inches some areas have experienced so far.
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Irish teenager Shauntelle Tynan, who is receiving specialist cancer treatment in the US, is among those waiting for rescue from Houston by air or boat as she battles infection and fever.
The 19-year-old is in need of a blood transfusion to cope with the side-effects of her last round of chemotherapy.
Earlier this year, she raised more than 700,000 euros (£594,000) for potentially life-saving treatment after .
Ms Tynan's mother told RTE Radio: "We are in a situation now where we need to get her to the hospital and we don't know how we are going to do that."
The Tynan family are currently holed up on the fourth floor of an apartment building.
Storm Harvey has devastated parts of Texas, including Houston - the fourth biggest city in the US - since it came ashore on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane.
It has since been downgraded, but is still causing catastrophic flooding across the state.
With the storm moving eastwards, Louisiana is also bracing for the worst.
President Donald Trump has approved an emergency aid request after forecasters predicted it would experience some of the heaviest rain.
Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will travel to Texas on Tuesday.