Officials released more water from Houston reservoirs overtaken by Harvey on Monday in an effort to protect the city from devastating floods. They still could not protect thousands of homes, as one the most populous cities in the country expect more rain in the coming days. Harvey began on Friday afternoon and is classified as Category 4 storm that ran from heavy rain, caused devastating floods in Houston on Sunday. Rising water followed tens of thousands of people on the roof or in higher places and overcrowded rescuers who could not continue with constant requests for help.
About 50 counties affected by flooding
Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency Agency, said at a news briefing on Monday that 50 counties in Texas were affected by floods and that there is heavy rainfall over the cards in Southwestern Louisiana.
Rain and flood have claimed at least two lives. Residents close to the Barker and Addicks reservoirs built to prevent floods in downtown Houston were warned on Sunday that a controlled release of both deposits would lead to further flooding of the road that might enter homes. Increasing water and constant rain pressure on ponds that may fail without release. County officials of Harris and Fort Bend recommended residents packs their cars on Sunday night and departed their homes in the morning.
The Army Engineers Corps began cleaning the reservoir at 2:00 in advance of the plan, while the water rose at a speed of 15 centimeters per hour, said Jay Townsend Corps spokesman.
Emergency evacuation order issued
Officials at Fort Bend County, Houston's Southwest suburbs, issued compulsory evacuation orders Sunday along the Brazos River banks.
District representatives were preparing for the river to meet with major floods on Sunday. County Judge Robert Herbert told reporters that officials at the National Weather Service predicted that water could rise an unprecedented level, and what Herbert called a record flood level of the past 800 years. Herbert said that the amount of water was on the levees and a threat of dams.
On Sunday there were incessant rains that covered a lot of Houston with soft and gray water and turned into roads only for ships navigable rivers. In a rescue effort recalling the continuity of the Katrina storm, flying helicopters near the flooded highways, air channels boomed in submerged quarters and offshore vehicles crossed the waters. Some managed kayaking or canoeing or swimming.
