US: 2,000 people rescued as Harvey batters Houston

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

Two thousand people have been rescued from Hurricane Harvey's torrential rains, officials said Monday as Houston copes with unprecedented flooding and the city scrambles to address ongoing downpours.

The weather system has been downgraded to a tropical storm but so much water has fallen that city officials were forced to alleviate pressure on two area dams that were at risk of failing, potentially flooding thousands of homes, but protecting the city's downtown, at least for now.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday he is activating all of the state’s 12,000 National Guardsmen to assist in search and rescue and recovery efforts.

"I know we will get through this even stronger than we were before the storm hit," Abbott told reporters before lauding the "swift response from the federal government".

President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to visit Texas on Tuesday and Saturday, said the federal government is "100 percent" with those who are affected by Harvey.

“Tragic times such as these bring out the best in America’s character: strength, charity and resilience,” Trump said at a joint news conference with the president of Finland. “It has been absolutely incredible to watch the spirit, the cooperation and the love.”

Harvey has been hovering just off the coast of the country’s fourth largest city since making landfall late Friday -- shortly after becoming a Category 4 hurricane.

Officials warned that as the storm prepares to move away from Houston on Tuesday major portions of southwest Louisiana are set to receive massive rainfall, including New Orleans.

But Houston will likely receive 50 inches of rain before the storm leaves, according to the National Weather Service.

So much rain has fallen in southeast Texas the agency said it was forced to update its mapping color scales to accurately reflect the downpour.

Officials said 5,500 people have holed up in shelters around the city, and warned that more than 30,000 are likely to pour in as the city faces more rain.

FEMA administrator Brock Long urged Texans to volunteer as the city copes with the deluge.

"We need citizens to be involved," Long told reporters. "This is a landmark event. We have not seen an event like this."

Mayor Sylvester Turner brushed aside criticism over his decision not to evacuate Houston as "it's tough to evacuate 6.5 million people.

"If you think the situation right now is bad, and you give an order to evacuate, you are creating a nightmare," he said.

Approximately 185 critical rescue cases are pending, according to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo.

"Hunker down, hold tight," Acevedo urged those awaiting rescue. "Please don't give up on us."

At least six people have been reported dead.

President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas on Tuesday.