Tech: Harvey is causing destruction and 'unprecedented' flooding in Texas — here's what it looks like on the ground

The National Hurricane Center is warning that flooding will be catastrophic.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall between Port Aransas and Port O'Connor in Texas on Friday night, with wind speeds as high as 130 mph.

The storm continues to slowly move inland, and has been downgraded to a tropical storm. As of 2 p.m. CDT Saturday, it was still packing maximum winds of 40 mph.

Officials anticipate that Harvey will continue dumping rain on Texas through for days, with expected rainfall between 15 and 25 inches in many places. A few isolated spots could see up to 50 inches.

The National Hurricane Center is warning that flooding will be "catastrophic and life-threatening," and the National Weather Service called the rainfall "unprecedented."

Here's what it looks like on the ground.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall just before 10 p.m. on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane.

Some areas in the storm's path, including Houston, are estimated to have gotten over 22 inches of rain already. Floodwaters are cresting 10 feet in some areas, submerging cars and homes, residents reported.

Source: National Weather Service

But the total rainfall could reach over 4 feet in some places, including the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area.

Source: National Hurricane Center

Thousands of people evacuated their homes, some being pulled into boats from their rooftops the water had risen so high.

Rainfall over 50 inches would topple Texas records. The NWS said "the breadth and intensity of this rainfall is beyond anything experienced before and is resulting in catastrophic flooding."

Roads turned to rivers as emergency responders rushed to rescue stranded drivers.

Harvey is expected to stall over Texas for four days — which is why experts warn that dangerous floods and what could be record rainfall are still to come. On Sunday afternoon, Texas is only about halfway through the worst of the storm.

The Weather Channel reported that Harvey pushed water 2 to 7 feet above average tide levels near the coastal town of Corpus Christi.

NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are also warning people not to attempt driving through even mildly flooded roadways. According to NOAA, 12 inches of fast-moving water can carry away a small car, and 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult.

Rockport, Texas has been hit especially hard. Reports suggest many buildings, including a senior center, court house, and high school, have been badly damaged, and debris are strewn everywhere.

Rockport was under mandatory evacuation, but firefighters remained at the fire station, ABC reports. They had to wait to respond until weather conditions improved enough for them to travel.

Source: ABC News

On Friday, Rockport's Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Rios told people staying in the area to "mark their arm with a Sharpie pen with their name and Social Security number" in case rescuers needed to identify them.

So far, one death has been confirmed in Rockport, and another was reported in Houston when a woman's car was submerged in water and she drowned trying to escape.

Source: AP

On Saturday morning, the Coast Guard sent two helicopters to try to rescue the crews of three tugboats in distress, according to the AP. ABC reports 18 people were saved. The crews issued mayday calls from the Lydia Ann Channel near Port Aransas, Texas.

Source: Associated Press, ABC

The storm surge, the quick rise in water caused by a hurricane's strong winds, on the Texas coast crested several feet at the height of the storm. By Sunday afternoon, the storm surge warning was discontinued.

Source: NWS

Because strong winds, flooding, and debris on roadways have kept emergency crews from reaching many areas, it will be a while until a full assessment of damage can be done.

Residents of Aransas Pass, Ingleside, Rockport, and others have been advised that it is not safe to return home right now, and it likely won't be for days.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times is reporting numerous road closures throughout the coastal area.

Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times

The Corpus Christi Police Department reported on Twitter that numerous traffic lights are out, and many roads are full of debris and downed power lines.

According to the Associated Press, nearly 300,000 Texans are currently without power. Corpus Christi asked all residents to boil water before drinking it because the power outages are affecting the wastewater treatment plant.

Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times

President Donald Trump commended the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brock Long, for his handling of the hurricane in a tweet on Saturday. “You are doing a great job - the world is watching! Be safe,” Trump wrote.

Source: Business Insider

Before the hurricane hit, many areas in Harvey's path issued mandatory evacuation orders. Residents of nearby regions cleared out grocery store shelves in preparation for the storm.

The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority began busing evacuees to San Antonio on Thursday. However, on Saturday morning it stopped all service until further notice.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said his government was preparing to assist 41,000 evacuees. The American Red Cross has opened pop-up shelters throughout San Antonio, and had 6,000 beds ready by Friday morning.

Sources: New York Times, San Antonio Current, News 4 San Antonio

Some oil refineries in South Texas have shut down operations, which will likely cause the price of gasoline to spike.

The National Weather Service is warning Texas residents to think of Harvey's intense rainfall as a marathon, not a sprint.

SOURCE - PULSE.NG posted by Campus94