Houston is still reeling after Hurricane Harvey and there is still more to come. The storm is reported to be regaining strength and, should it return, then a major flood will likely ensue.
Twenty inches of rain is forecast to fall today across the city while some areas may see as much as 50 inches. Surrounding areas, including parts of Louisiana, are also expected to be struck by the tropical storm. Louisiana has now declared a state of emergency as they attempt to limit the amount of damage in the state.
Nine people are already confirmed to have died, including a family of six who drowned in flooding.
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An estimated 30,000 people are in need of shelter, while the Houston convention centre has already reached its capacity of 5,000 people.
The whole city centre is closed and rescue workers are using boats in an attempt to reach people who are stranded in their homes. The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has increased National Guard numbers to 12,000, the maximum number possible.
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Police, Coast Guard and fire services are also attempting to reach those who are trapped at home. The Coast Guard announced yesterday that they had rescued more than 100 people from rooftops and had teams going street by street in search of people in danger.
The Texan city has been deluged by the storm, which is thought to be the third largest most destructive in recent American history after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2013.
The Texas state government estimate that the total cost of the damage will top $10 billion. The US Federal Government described the storm as 'a landmark event', with Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Brock Long saying that the clean-up and recovery may take several years.
President Donald Trump and his wife will visit the region today, paying visits to Corpus Christi and Austin in order to inspect the relief efforts.
Source: USA Today, The Guardian
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Hurricane Harvey, US