Getty In this NOAA handout image, NOAA's GOES East satellite capture of Hurricane Harvey shows the storm making landfall shortly after 8:00pm CDT on August 25, 2017 on the mid-Texas coast.
There was a major urban search-and-rescue effort underway in Houston, Texas due to severe flooding that turned some areas of Houston into small islands surrounded by water and endangered the lives of people who took to social media and rooftops to call for help.
Friends are stuck out in the #houstonflood and need help STAT! Family with kids! Please retweet! @USCG @HoustonFireDept #houstonflood
Thousands of people were trapped inside flooded homes, reported KHOU-TV on August 27, and the Coast Guard was conducting search and rescue efforts.
Houston is Covered with Water. My City is Drowning😪#Harvey #houstonflood #Harvey2017 #HarveyStorm
Cars were completely submerged.
Some of the rescues were captured on television, but others were posting on social media that they needed help.
“Five MH-65 Dolphins Helicopters are conducting rescues in the area,” reported KHOU-TV.
The flooding was described as “catastrophic.”
“We are facing a catastrophe like we have never faced before.” – @JeffLindner1 #houstonflood t.co/8CpETqghVC
“More than 1,000 people were rescued overnight Sunday, with more than 2,000 calls to 911 for rescues pouring in,” reported FOX News on Sunday, quoting Houston’s mayor.
Breaking: Severe flooding in Houston nursing home at the time. #harvey #HoustonFlood
“This storm will not break our spirit. We are in this together and we will rebuild even greater together after #HurricaneHarvey,” Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted.
One woman posted videos showing her father diving for fish in the family’s livingroom.
Why go out looking for food when the food comes to our living room? 😂
Here’s the mid Sunday morning radar for Houston:
Houston radar on Sunday August 27.
“Do you have a HIGH WATER VEHICLE or BOAT and helping rescue in your community? Call us to coordinate: 713-881-3100. Ask for Fire Marshal,” Harris County Emergency Management wrote on Twitter on August 27.
Do you have a HIGH WATER VEHICLE or BOAT and helping rescue in your community? Call us to coordinate: 713-881-3100. Ask for Fire Marshal.
Harris County Emergency Management wrote around noon on August 27: “All 22 of our watersheds are over banks. This is record flooding. Please continue to shelter in place if possible. #harvey”
This image and the forecast of what is still to fall…. This is surreal. #HoustonFlood #Harvey
Houston authorities reported that their 911 call centers were overwhelmed.
Local authorities held a news conference to update the public.
Press Conference from local officials updating the public on #Harvey
“If water is approaching the outlets of your home, w/o standing in the water, immediately turn off the electricity from the main breaker,” the City of Houston advised residents.
LOOK at how high the water is under the iconic Be Someone sign #houstonflood t.co/1TbkKW9AHs
The Harris County Sheriff’s Department suggested on Twitter, “Non-life-threatening water inside home is safer than going outside. Difficult & scary, but we’ll get to you. Pls shelter in place. Be safe.”
The National Weather Service reported on August 27, “Life threatening conditions. Emergency services impacted. Water in homes.”
@houstonpolice this family is stranded on their roof, one of the babies are sick and he need medical attention.
11711 Woodshadow
It released a Civil Emergency Message that reported, “EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE REQUESTED THAT PEOPLE ESCAPING FLOOD WATERS AS A LAST RESORT DO NOT STAY IN THE ATTIC. IF HIGHEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME BECOMES DANGEROUS…GET ON THE ROOF. CALL 911 FOR HELP AND STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL ANSWERED.”
“I know what you’re going through. I know you’re scared. Know that help is coming.” – @JeffLindner1 #houstonflood
You can see updated Houston weather forecasts here.
See updated Houston radar here.
https://twitter.com/JohnnyrayGibbs/status/901860924138688516
See the latest Hazardous Outlook for Houston here.