Dramatic Photos Show Texas Under Water, With Flooding Expected To Worsen
Dramatic photos and videos published on social media and by HuffPost reporters have captured the destruction in parts of Texas after Hurricane Harvey barreled into the Gulf Coast, bringing potentially “historic” rain and flooding,according to weather officials.
“This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced,” the National Weather Service said.
Photos of downtown Houston show parks and highways in the nation’s fourth-largest city turned into muddy rivers as residents escaped to higher ground.
Houston flood pt.2https://t.co/sDizLDuQ9R
— Houston Oil & Gas (@HTXOilandGas)August 27, 2017
Daylight reveals the extent of flooding in Houston#hurricane#harvey#Houstonbuffalobayoupark#flood#flooding#…https://t.co/YCyGkAJg6Mpic.twitter.com/wAYU7zZz7G
— DoubleHorn Photo (@DoubleHornPhoto)August 27, 2017
The 3900 block of FM 762 (in front of 24 HR fitness) has just collapsed. There is a massive sinkhole in the roadway. AVOID THE AREA!#Harveypic.twitter.com/BJreUS1D9C
— Rosenberg Police (@RosenbergPolice)August 27, 2017
Houston, Texas freeway sign nearly submerged amid extreme flooding from#Harvey:https://t.co/JZvofyopoPpic.twitter.com/rInVl4Wxba
— ABC News (@ABC)August 27, 2017
“As you can see, Allen Parkway is completely underwater at this point,” a man says in one Periscope video that shows traffic lights flashing over the water.
Other photos capture cars partially submerged in the water, including an abandoned Hummer that had water nearly reaching its windshield.
One video taken by CBS News shows a man climbing out of his pickup truck as it floats down a submerged street.
Video shows a man climbing out of his pickup truck as it sinks into flood waters from Harveyhttps://t.co/WZP2arvuWhpic.twitter.com/f2g1pdwGgP
— CBS News (@CBSNews)August 27, 2017
Houston-based station KHOU captured rainwater gushing into its lobby.
My last look at the KHOU Channel 11 lobby before it was flooded by Harvey.#khou11pic.twitter.com/08lDHaKrEA
— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU)August 27, 2017
At a press conference on Sunday morning, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city has received “several hundred structural flooding reports, and we expect that number to rise pretty dramatically.”
The city’s emergency departments have also received more than 2,000 emergency calls, Turner said.
I simply cannot believe what is happening in#Houstonright now.#HoustonFlood#Harvey. This is playing out live on@weatherchannelpic.twitter.com/zfaKardjzc
— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes)August 27, 2017
Fast moving water abt 5 ft high on Sterret St. Stay safe and avoid high water#houstonflood#Harvey#HurricaneHarvey#houwx#houston#floodpic.twitter.com/mln4fGNFah
— adam j williams (@AdamWillyums)August 27, 2017
Rain is expected to continue to fall in the area, with flash flood warnings in effect through Wednesday evening for portions of southeast Texas, according to the National Weather Service. The full list of cities impacted can be seenhere.
Authorities have urged residents to stay off the roads for the time being. If you feel you must seek higher ground, the National Weather Service advises you to avoid attics and climb onto a roof, then call for help.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.