29 AUG 2017: The Corpus Christi International Airport in Texas resumed commercial air service Monday. However, two other major airports in the region, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport in Houston, remain closed as heavy rain and flooding continue. Both have been shut down since midday Sunday as Harvey-related flooding swamped roads leading to the airports. They are not expected to open before Wednesday.
The director of the National Weather Service is warning that the catastrophic flooding that’s overwhelming Houston and other parts of Texas will worsen in the coming days and then be slow to recede once Harvey finally moves on.
Director Louis Uccellini said during a news conference Monday that up to 20 inches (51 centimetres) of rain could fall in the coming days, on top of the more than 30 inches (76 centimetres) some places have already seen.
A Houston-area official says hundreds of people who’ve been rescued from their homes, vehicles and other places amid catastrophic flooding are being taken to dry land but not straight to shelters.
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is the top administrator for the county that’s home to Houston. He said at a news conference Monday that many people are being ferried to a parking lot, school or other dry area as rescue personnel move on to the next rescue that’s needed. Those people then are struggling to find shelter, food and other resources.
Emmett says the focus now is on getting those people to shelters.
Emergency vehicles made up most of the traffic in downtown Houston on what would have normally been a busy start of the work week.
Due to Harvey, the usually bustling business area was mostly deserted Monday morning.
The water had receded from parts of downtown Houston, near Buffalo Bayou, which flooded over the weekend from the lingering tropical storm. That situation could change as officials have started releasing even more water from reservoirs overwhelmed by Harvey.
About half of downtown Houston had no working traffic signals. Most businesses, including restaurants, were closed due to the storm.
Harvey came ashore late Friday about 30 miles (48 kilometres) northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, as a Category 4 hurricane. The slow-moving storm has caused catastrophic flooding in Texas.
Louisiana braces
Louisiana’s governor is asking for a federal emergency declaration for Louisiana since forecasters expect Harvey to cause significant damage in the state.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said he sent a letter to the White House requesting the initial disaster declaration for five parishes in southwest Louisiana, and could add more areas to the request later.
Edwards said life-saving efforts such as search and rescue and shelters will be needed, especially in southwest Louisiana where forecasters say 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 centimetres) of rain could fall.
Volunteers needed
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is asking for volunteers to help Texas recover from Harvey.
William “Brock” Long, FEMA administrator, told a news conference in Washington Monday that “we need citizens to be involved,” because the storm and resulting flooding is greater than the government can handle.
Long urges individuals and organizations to check the website www.nvoad.org or call 1-800-621-FEMA to find out how to help. He’s asking for financial donations and for people “to figure out how to get involved as we help Texas find a new normal.”