Hurricane Harvey Batters Texas Coast, Moves Inland

HOUSTON, TX — Hurricane Harvey moved inland Saturday morning after crashing into coastal Texas as a powerful Category 4 storm with winds winds whipped at speeds greater than 130 miles per hour. Widespread flooding is expected to expand and worsen as the massive weather system continues to weaken but stalls over the lower half of the state still lashing the area with torrential rains.

The National Hurricane Center warned of a “devastating and life-threatening” storm surge that would raise water up to 12 feet above normally dry land along the coast and cause damaging flash flooding well inland. Rain, heavy winds and lightning began to hit Galveston Island early Friday and will quickly reach Houston and its suburbs. Forecasts called for 15-25 inches of rain in Houston, which would cause dangerous flooding because of low-lying bayous, but no evacuation orders had been given by the city as of Friday morning.

Harvey is the first major hurricane, rated Category 3 or higher, to make U.S. landfall since Wilma arrived in 2005. In 2008, Hurricane Ike was a Category 4 at sea but made landfall as a Category 2. Once Harvey makes landfall, it's expected to sit and meander over the Texas coast rather than move inland, which is why this will be a powerful rain producer.

Harvey Could Be The Strongest Hurricane To Hit The US Since 2005

Tornado warnings continue to be of importance of Galveston, Fort Bend and Matagroda counties.

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Residents near the coast are urged to proceed with caution. Many stores have completely run out of food and water, but some stores may have what you need to get through the next several days. With the possibility of power outages, people are urged to fill their gas tanks and have enough cash, food and water to last five to seven days. Below is a list of emergency items one may need, evacuation routes and procedures, and a full list of school closings.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner advised the public to beware of false reports on social media about evacuations.

“False forecasts and irresponsible rumors on social media are interfering with efforts by the city of Houston, and its government and news media partners, to provide accurate information to the public about the expected effects of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Harvey," Turner said Thursday.

"Please continue to monitor mainstream news sources for updates on the weather and act accordingly as an informed resident. Rumors are nothing new, but the widespread use of social media has needlessly frightened many people today.”

The National Weather Service defines landfall as occurring when the eye of the storm hits land. The coast and inland areas will get battered with high winds and heavy rains hours before the eye makes landfall, though.

Here are the various categories of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale:

Category 1 — Sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph (very dangerous winds will produce some damage)
Category 2 — Sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph (extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage)
Category 3 — Sustained winds of 111 to 130 mph (devastating damage will occur)
Category 4 — Sustained winds of 131 to 155 mph (catastrophic damage will occur)
Category 5 — Sustained winds greater than 155 mph (catastrophic damage will occur)

School Closures

The Houston ISD has cancelled classes for Monday's opening day of the school year, and all campus-based activities and district events – including professional development and recruiting sessions – taking place after 2 p.m. have been canceled for Friday, Aug. 25, due to the threat of inclement weather.

In addition, the Houston ISD Athletic Department is cancelling all athletic activities for Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26. This cancellation includes practices, scrimmages and any scheduled games.

Here is a full list of closures of schools, colleges and universities.

Evacuation

Though there have been mandatory evacuations in Brazoria County and recommended evacuation on the Bolivar Peninsula, no orders have been given in Houston or Harris County. Should the storm take a turn and head to Houston, here are some evacuation tips and routes. Galveston has voluntary evacuations, as does Corpus Christi, which is in the path of the eye. Lockport has been given mandatory evacuations.

The greater Houston-Galveston area has several different major evacuation routes, with every major highway, interstate and loop heading west, north and east. There are four major highways — I-10 West, I-69 North, Highway 290 North and I-45 North — where all traffic will flow in one direction.

If state or local officials order a mandatory evacuation, they advise you to leave immediately, be sure your home is secure and to take your pets with you. Unless you are physically unable to evacuate, they urge you to obey evacuation orders. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to get stuck in evacuation traffic. If you are elderly or disabled and need evacuation assistance, call 2-1-1.

If you are an essential worker who needs to return to your home early or before officials deem it safe for reentry, be prepared to have a letter from your boss or employer. These could be city and county officials, emergency workers and public utility workers.

Emergency Preparedness

Preparation for emergency supplies and evacuation has begun for Texans. For those who've never gone through one, it's wise to take advice from those who have.

If you believe you will not be evacuating during a hurricane, prepare a survival kit.

According to ready.gov, every emergency preparedness kit should have the following items:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food (canned food, baby food, Granola bars, energy bars)
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Other suggested items to have in your kit include:

• An emergency (reflector) vest
• Red bandanna (in case you need to signal for help)
• Pet supplies (leashes, pet food, medicines, kennel or crate)
• Medications for family members
• Eye drops
• Dry socks
• Cash
• Sleeping bags/blankets
• Writing supplies
• Books/games
• Emergency contact information/documents
• Fire extinguisher
• Waterproof matches/fire starter
• Insect repellant/sun screen

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Top image: Photo via Naval Research Laboratory