8-31`-17

By Zero Hedge

Amid desperate efforts to save stranded citizens – police report over 3,000 rescues alone – and the arrival of the so-called ‘cajun navy’ to assist, Harvey continues to pummel Texas, paralyzing Houston as the region braces for yet more rain after the Tropical Storm recharged over warm waters and heading back in-land.

“This is, if not the largest, it has to be categorized as one of the largest disasters America has ever faced,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared at a press conference Monday afternoon.

“This is, if not the largest, it has to be categorized as one of the largest disasters America has ever faced,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared at a press conference Monday afternoon.

Forecasters say Harvey will move slowly to the northeast throughout the week and shower some parts of the state with another 15 to 20 inches of rainfall by the end of Thursday. Additionally, The Post reports that certain areas to the west of Houston could see as much as 50 inches of rain by the time the storm is over — which would be the largest recorded total in Texas history.

WSJ notes that on Monday evening, Mayor Sylvester Turner said three deaths in Houston had occurred during the storm but could not confirm reports that a family of six had died in their vehicle.

Authorities said they fear the death toll will rise.

Roads surrounding Houston’s Vintage and Sugar Land hospitals “have eight feet of water,” said Michael Covert, senior vice president of Catholic Health Initiatives’s Texas operations. “They have become islands of humanity.”

Citizen rescuers also jumped in to help fellow residents, using private motor boats and even kayaks to ferry stranded people to safety as thousands poured into shelters around the state.’

With waters continuing to rise, some people panicked as they waited for rescue.

“They’re making it difficult for us to rescue them,” said Clyde Cain, a member of the Louisiana-based Cajun Navy rescue force.“You have people rushing the boat. Everyone wants to get in at the same time. They’re panicking. Water is rising.”

FEMA officials said they expected to see at least 30,000 people show up to shelters by the end of the slow-moving storm.

“It is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the lives and safety of people across the state of Texas as we continue to face the aftermath of this storm,” Gov. Abbott said.

President Trump will touch down in Corpus Christi, Texas, at noon Tuesday to survey the flood damage with his wife, Melania. “Protecting the lives of our people is my highest priority,” he said at a press conference Monday. “Every asset at my command is at the disposal of local officials.” …

Meanwhile, The Post reports that FEMA Administrator Brock Long said he expects about 450,000 people will file for disaster relief, adding the agency will “be here for several years helping you guys recover.”

“There are several factors that make it worse than Katrina. For one, there is the scope of the flooding. Harris County and the surrounding areas are so saturated,” Brown told the Houston Chronicle.

“Also, the amount of damages will continue to grow. There will be mold and structural damages adding up.” Brown said when Tropical Storm Harvey finally goes away, it will leave an incredible bill for taxpayers to pick up.

“This will be unfathomably expensive for both the private sector and taxpayers,” Brown said. “This will be easily the most expensive natural disaster in American history.”

One look at this image and we suspect his unprecedented statement may still be understatement…

This article (There Is “Eight Feet Of Water” On Houston Roads, And It’s About To Get Much Worse) was originally published on Zero Hedge and syndicated by The Event Chronicle. 

Continues…

Texas Activates All 12,000 National Guardsmen “In Response To Harvey Devastation”

[On Monday], in response to the devastation from hurricane Harvey, Texas Governor Abbott announced he is activating the entire Texas National Guard, bringing the total number of deployed guardsman to roughly 12,000. These National Guardsman will assist in the ongoing search and rescue effort for any Texans in immediate danger, and will be heavily involved in the extensive recovery effort in the aftermath of the storm.

°It is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the lives and safety of people across the state of Texas as we continue to face the aftermath of this storm,” said Govemor Abbott. The Texas National Guard is working closely with FEMA and federal troops to respond urgently to the growing needs of Texans who have fallen victim to Hurricane Harvey, and the activation of the entire Guard will assist in the efforts already underway. I would like to thank FEMA Administrator Brock Long, as well as all our brave first responders for their hard work in helping those impacted by this terrible storm.”

Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols, Texas Adjutant General, said that “we will not rest until we have made every effort to rescue all those in harm’s way. We will remain here as long as we are needed. I want to thank Govemor Abbott for his continued leadership and look forward to serving the great people of Texas.”

As reported earlier, more than 30,000 people are expected to be placed temporarily in shelters, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said at a news conference on Monday. The George Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston now has about 2,500 people, up from 1,000 last night, as people continue to arrive at the center.

Wendy Rom, 24, was among those taking refuge at the center with her husband and 1 1/2-year-old daughter. “The water was high, entering our house,” she told Reuters, “so we moved to the second floor but they started evacuating the neighborhood so I came with my whole family.”

Dallas, 240 miles (386 km) north of Houston, also was setting up a “mega shelter” at its convention center to house 5,000 evacuees, the city said in a statement.

As also reported previously, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Monday that it was releasing water from two nearby reservoirs into Buffalo Bayou, the primary body of water running through Houston.

“If we dont begin releasing 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, Galveston district commander of the Corps.

The full Abbott statement, which judging by the number of grammatical errors was clearly rushed, is below:

Governor Abbott Activates Entire Texas National Guard In Response To Hurricane Harvey Devastation

Governor Greg Abbott today announced he has activated the entire Texas National Guard in response to Hurricane Harvey, bringing the total number of deployed guardsman to roughly 12,000. These National Guardsman will assist in the ongoing search and rescue effort for any Texans in immediate danger, and will be heavily involved in the extensive recovery effort in the aftermath of the storm.

°It is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the lives and safety of people across the state of Texas as we continue to face the aftermath of this storm,” said Govemor Abbott. The Texas National Guard is working closely with FEMA and federal troops to respond urgently to the growing needs of Texans who have fallen victim to Hurricane Harvey, and the activation of the entire Guard will assist in the efforts already underway. I would like to thank FEMA Administrator Brock Long, as well as all our brave first responders for their hard work in helping those impacted by this terrible storm.”

“While this is still a dangerous situation with a long response effort ahead, the state and people of Texas are resilient,”said FEMA Administrator Brock Long. °FEMA was here before the storm hit, and we will be here as long as needed, actively coordinating the full resources of the federal government, to support Gov. Abbott and the state.”

“The men and women of the Texas National Guard are working around the clock to support all relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey,” said Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols, Texas Adjutant General. “We will not rest until we have made every effort to rescue all those in harm’s way. We will remain here as long as we are needed. I want to thank Govemor Abbott for his continued leadership and look forward to serving the great people of Texas.”

The Texas Guard currently has approximately 3,000 personnel activated and mobilized for operations relating to Hurricane Harvey rescue and recovery. This new mobilization by Govemor Abbott send those who are physically able, not currently deployed, preparing to deploy or in a combat preparation cycle to answer the call for help and assist their fellow Texans in need. All Texas Military Department personnel should report to their respective units for further instructions.

This article (Texas Activates All 12,000 National Guardsmen “In Response To Harvey Devastation”) was originally published on Zero Hedge and syndicated by The Event Chronicle. 

Continues…

“You Couldn’t Dream This Up”: FEMA Expects Over 450,000 Harvey Victims, 30,000 To Seek Shelter

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was committed to getting federal resources to Texas as quickly as possible to help with the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Harvey. Speaking on Monday morning FEMA administrator Brock Long said more than 30,000 people were expected to be placed temporarily in shelters and more than 450,000 people likely to seek assistance. A disaster declaration request from the Louisiana governor would also likely be expedited.

Long said that 30 to 50 Texas counties have been affected by Tropical Storm Harvey and that work was underway to restore power for critical infrastructure. Other highlights, courtesy of Bloomberg:

• “This is a life safety, life-sustaining mission”
• In addition to search and rescue, next objective is to relocate survivors to shelters
• Evacuation of Houston could take days
• Says people must listen to Houston-area local officials
• Helping Texas overcome this disaster is going to be bigger than FEMA; “We need citizens to be involved”
• “You could not dream this forecast up”; this has been a “landmark event”

The FEMA administrator said the agency is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore power and critical infrastructure to the Southern Texas region. Long also said FEMA is working with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to bolster security forces in the region.

Another FEMA official at briefing said rivers won’t crest until later this week, with the peak of the torrential rainfall expected to hit around Wednesday or Thursday, while National Weather Service’s Louis Uccellini says flooding will be very slow to recede.

The silver lining: according to the Coast Guard no oil spills have been detected yet.

Also on Monday, Emergency workers began releasing water into the Buffalo Bayou from two flood-control dams in Houston on Monday, a move that could impact thousands of residents, officials said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it began to release water from the Addicks and Barker dams early Monday morning to prevent uncontrollable flooding of the Houston-metropolitan area as water levels continued to rise rapidly beneath torrential rains being released by Tropical Storm Harvey.

Engineers were forced to start the process earlier than previously announced because water levels in the reservoirs had “increased dramatically in the last few hours,” officials said early Monday, adding that the release would likely cause additional street flooding that could potentially spill into homes. This is the first time engineers have done this for flood control, officials said.

“If we don’t begin releasing now, the volume of uncontrolled water around the dams will be higher and have a greater impact on the surrounding communities,” Col. Lars Zetterstrom, Galveston District commander, said in a statement Monday.

The two dams were constructed by the federal government in the 1940s to reduce flooding along Buffalo Bayou, a narrow body of water that runs through downtown Houston. But development along the edges of the reservoirs has in recent years placed homes at risk upstream of the dams as well. The reservoirs, located on western outskirts of Houston, are about 17 miles away from downtown Houston.

“Both reservoirs are rising more than half a foot per hour,” Zetterstrom said. “Residents adjacent to the reservoirs need to be vigilant because the water in the reservoirs is rising rapidly.”

http://www.theeventchronicle.com/news/north-america/eight-feet-water-houston-roads-get-much-worse/