WEB DESK
Hurricane Harvey made its second landfall in the United States yesterday, resulting in record rains and flooding in a small Texas cities that lie east of now-devastated Houston.
At least 28 people are reported dead and large parts of Houston, Port Arthur and Beaumont in the State of Texas are under water. The storm has now moved to neighbouring Louisiana, where flash-flood warnings have been issued. Louisiana officials, who had worried that Harvey might devastate their state as well, however said the threat of flooding seemed to be lessening.
Floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey have swallowed entire Texas cities. Texas’ Governor Greg Abbott said that the worst is not yet over for the south-east of the US state.
He said rain continues to fall and flooding in certain areas may last another week. Mr. Abbott informed that more than 8,500 people have been rescued and more than 32,000 people are in shelters throughout the state.
He said that entire Texas National Guard, which is made up of roughly 12,000 troops has been activated. State, local and military rescue units have rescued thousands of stranded residents from the water and deluged homes, he added.
Military forces are on standby to assist in the rescue efforts. The Navy announced yesterday that Two US Navy warships, the USS Kearsarge and the USS Oak Hill, are being deployed to Texas.
The Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship, was in the Atlantic Ocean for training, but returned to Norfolk on Tuesday to load up with disaster relief supplies like water and food, and a unit of Marines, before departing for Texas today.