Officials in Houston said on Monday they were preparing to house 30,000 people in emergency shelters as flood waters continued to rise in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Residents of the United States's fourth largest city woke on Monday morning to find rains had eased overnight but that they were still facing days of hardship amid catastrophic flooding on a level expected in Houston only once in 800 years, according to officials.
With rescue services overwhelmed by thousands of calls for help, local authorities made the difficult decision to sacrifice some neighbourhoods by opening two reservoirs to reduce the threat of overspilling water inundating further areas of downtown Houston.
By Monday morning, a record 75 centimetres of rain had fallen on the city, turning roads into rivers of turbid grey water and forcing families to climb on to roofs as they await help.
_______________
Read more:
Oil markets turbulent as Harvey batters Texas
'Catastrophic' storm Harvey batters Texas, leaving 2,000 stranded
Hurricane Harvey: Experts warn of 'life-threatening' flooding
_______________
Three people were confirmed dead — a number that is expected to rise — and as many as 2,000 people rescued.
And there appeared to be no end in sight.
After more than three days of intense rainfall, the acting head of the US department of homeland security had a warning for residents along the Texas Gulf Coast.
"While the hurricane force winds have diminished, I want to stress that we are not out of the woods yet," Elaine Duke said at a news conference.
"Harvey is still a dangerous and historic storm."
The danger was clear to residents of Fort Bend County, where a fresh set of evacuation was ordered on Monday morning as a river came close to overflowing.
“A flood of this magnitude is an 800-year event and it exceeds the design specifications of our levees, and is potentially dangerous for a good portion of Fort Bend County,” said Fort Bend County judge Robert Hebert.
Officials were continuing to tell people to shelter in place and stay off flooded streets as they concentrated their rescue efforts on reports of individuals and families trapped in homes, buildings or cars.
Keith Smith, a public information officer, said the city’s 911 emergency response system had been overwhelmed by a massive increase in calls. Operators typically handle a total of 8,000 calls per day but in the 17 hours after Harvey made landfall they received more than 56,000 requests for help.
Rescuers said they had to give priority to life-and-death situations, leaving many of those stranded to fend for themselves.
Several hospitals had to be evacuated on Sunday after becoming victims of floodwater themselves.
Residents whose homes had been flooded, meanwhile, began arriving at Houston’s George R Brown Convention Centre, which was also used as a shelter for people fleeing Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gillis Leho arrived soaking wet. She said she awoke on Sunday to find the ground floor of her home flooded. She moved what she could carry upstairs before grabbing her grandchildren.
"We had to bust a window to get out," she told The Associated Press.
Stories like those and the vast scale of the emergency had prompted a re-examination of conflicting advice given as Hurricane Harvey closed in on the coast.
While the governor urged people to flee their homes, the mayor of Houston said people should shelter at home. But on Monday, many of those people were trapped.
On Sunday, Greg Abbott, the Republican governor, refused to blame his Democratic mayor.
"Now is not the time to second-guess the decisions that were made," he said at a news conference. "What's important is that everybody work together to ensure that we are going to, first, save lives and, second, help people across the state rebuild."
The mayor, Sylvester Turner, stuck by his advice, saying that ordering 2.3 million residents to evacuate their homes would have created chaos on the motorways.
"If you think the situation right now is bad, and you give an order to evacuate, you are creating a nightmare," he said.
Harvey barrelled ashore on Friday night as a category four storm with winds of up to 130 miles per hour, making it the strongest hurricane to hit America in more than a decade. Since then it has lost energy and been downgraded to a tropical storm. But as it lingers close to Houston its torrential rain has brought flooding to 50 Texas counties.
It provides a stiff test for US president Donald Trump’s administration and its ability to handle a major emergency.
The White House said the president planned to visit the affected area on Tuesday. He has so far kept up a running commentary on Twitter as part of an effort to show is keeping abreast of developments.
“HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas,” he tweeted on Sunday evening. “Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming. Spirit of the people is incredible. Thanks!”
Elsewhere, efforts continued to reduce the deadly effects of what is forecast to be 27 trillion gallons of water dumped in the region.
Officials in two counties — Harris and Fort Bend — told residents near the Addicks and Barker reservoirs to prepare for a controlled release of water that could flood their homes as part of efforts to protect downtown Houston.
"The idea is to prepare … pack up what you need and put it in your vehicle and when the sun comes up, get out," said Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist for the Harris County Flood Control District. "And you don't have to go far, you just need to get out of this area."
Even as officials try to reduce the deadly toll of the unfolding disaster, longer term recovery efforts have begun.
Brock Long, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), said it would take years for the area to rebuild.
“Fema’s going to be there for years,” he said. “This disaster is going to be a landmark event and we’re already — while we are focused on response right now in helping Texas respond — we are already pushing forward recovery housing teams.”
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Dubai Women's Tour teams
Agolico BMC
Andy Schleck Cycles-Immo Losch
Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
Cogeas Mettler Look
Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport
Hitec Products – Birk Sport
Kazakhstan National Team
Kuwait Cycling Team
Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
Minsk Cycling Club
Pannonia Regional Team (Fehérvár)
Team Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Team Ciclotel
UAE Women’s Team
Under 23 Kazakhstan Team
Wheel Divas Cycling Team
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
NEW%20PRICING%20SCHEME%20FOR%20APPLE%20MUSIC%2C%20TV%2B%20AND%20ONE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20Music%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410.99%20(from%20%249.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.99%20(from%20%2414.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndividual%20annual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24109%20(from%20%2499)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20TV%2B%3Cbr%3EMonthly%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%246.99%20(from%20%244.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAnnual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2469%20(from%20%2449.99)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20One%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.95%20(from%20%2414.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2422.95%20(from%20%2419.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20premier%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2432.95%20(from%20%2429.95)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Blue%20Beetle
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20Manuel%20Soto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXolo%20Mariduena%2C%20Adriana%20Barraza%2C%20Damian%20Alcazar%2C%20Raoul%20Max%20Trujillo%2C%20Susan%20Sarandon%2C%20George%20Lopez%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
AIDA%20RETURNS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAida%20Abboud%2C%20Carol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5.%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
