Harvey Continues Wrath While Houston Rescues And Recovers

HOUSTON, TX — After five consecutive days of dark clouds, high winds, heavy rainfall, massive flooding, drowning deaths and sheer gloom, the clouds parted and the skies over Houston turned blue again Wednesday. The lingering effects of Hurricane Harvey’s furor remained, though, as tens of thousands of residents piled into shelters, many of them uncertain whether they would have homes to return to and others fearing the worst for missing loved ones.

“In this city, regardless of the storm clouds and rain, the sun will shine again,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “We announced the death of [HPD Sgt. Steve Perez] today, but on this day the sun came out. There is still hope and we will still rise.”

While Houston got something resembling a break from Harvey's remnants, the storm moved to the north and east, unleashing its wrath on the cities of Beaufort and Port Arthur with floods that swallowed homes and created a whole new batch of victims.

Houston is the fourth-largest city in America, Harris County is the third-most populated in the country and the region is the first-most miserable at the moment. The Bayou City and surrounding areas took an absolute pounding from Harvey, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Rockport on Friday, meandered east and sat over Houston as a tropical storm. Parts of Houston received 50 inches of rain, which equals the amount the city typically receives in one year. Cedar Bayou received 51.8 inches.

The death toll as of Wednesday even was 38.

Houston Finally Sees The Sun After Harvey

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The rainfall amounts in Houston were so massive the National Weather Service had to add new colors to chart such rain events. The National Weather Service has declared Harvey the biggest rainfall from any storm in American history.

Houston may be in the clear from the weather, but the displacement of thousands of people will remain for weeks, perhaps months. Floodwaters stand on neighborhood streets, homes are flooded and bayous and rivers are still rising from upstream flow.

FEMA announced that Houston shelters have more than 30,000 evacuees. The George R. Brown Convention Center had more than 10,000 alone, and the Toyota Center and NRG center opened their doors Tuesday night. Joel Osteen opened the massive Lakewood Church, Jim “Mattress Mac” McIngvale is letting evacuees into his stores and use the furniture, and local churches, schools and non-profits have taken in people.

Harvey Could Be One Of The Most Expensive Storms In US History

Meanwhile, rescues are still taking place by the police, fire department, Texas National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, the Cajun Navy and good Samaritans with boats from all over Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and other states.

The storm has battered every inch of the 360-mile Texas coast line. Officer Perez drowned in his car early Tuesday morning, and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo held a teary-eyed press conference to make the official announcement Tuesday afternoon.

Houston, Bellaire Implement Curfews

The cities of Houston and Bellaire both imposed a citywide curfew from midnight - 5 a.m. on Tuesday, and it will continue until each city says otherwise. The curfew is a tool to help with safety and rescues during darkness.

"We made the recommendation to the mayor, and like the great leader he is, he accepted it," Acevedo said Tuesday evening. "There have been incidences of looting, armed robbers and people victimizing our citizens. These low-lives are doing it to their community and there are a lot of safety threats."

Shelters Housing More Than 32,000 Evacuees

Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that shelters around the state are temporary homes to more than 32,000 people, and that number is expected to rise. Abbott said 5,000 people are being housed in state parks at the various campsites and cabins. The state has waived those fees.

Airports Reopen

George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport will reopen for business at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Hobby received more than 30 inches of rain over the weekend while Bush got more than 26. Both airports were operational sooner, but the roads to get there were impassable for employees.

Harvey Pummels Southeast Texas, Louisiana

Harvey didn't stop in Houston. The tropical storm moved back into the Gulf of Mexico, moved more to the east and slammed the Sabine Pass late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Beaumont, Port Arthur, Lumberton and other surrounding cities were ordered to evacuate to high ground. There have already been reported deaths, including a mother and her toddler.

Top Image: Downtown Houston and submerged highways are seen Aug. 27 as the city battles with Tropical Storm Harvey and resulting floods.

Photo by THOMAS B. SHEA/AFP/Getty Images