Hurricane Harvey: Flood victim from Shropshire vows to help out others
A man from Shropshire caught up in Hurricane Harvey says he is now going to look to help out others as best he can.
Richard Amos, who is originally from Newport but now lives in the Texas city, has been housebound by flood waters four days after the storm struck.
But he says in his area at least, improving weather means water is receding and he now intends to help out in the neighbourhood.
Mr Amos, an associate professor of proton therapy at the University College in London, said: “The weather has improved today, finally, and the water near us is receding. Others in the city are still is dire straits though as rivers rise.
“I may venture out today and see where I may be able to help.”
A curfew has now been imposed in Houston to prevent looting after the storm that is now the heaviest tropical downpour in US history.
The latest weather forecast has delivered hope after five days of torrential rain submerged the city, with less than an inch of rain predicted and perhaps even sunshine.
But the dangers remain far from over. At least 18 people are dead and 13,000 have been rescued in the Houston area and surrounding cities and counties in south-east Texas, while others are still trying to escape from inundated homes. The Addicks reservoir has also reached capacity because of the downpour.
Weakened levees remain in danger of failing and a less-ferocious but still potent Storm Harvey is on track to slam into Louisiana.
Authorities expect the human toll to continue to mount, both in deaths and in tens of thousands of people made homeless by the storm.
More than 17,000 people have sought refuge in Texas shelters, and that number seems certain to increase, the American Red Cross said.
Houston’s largest shelter housed 10,000 of the displaced as two additional mega-shelters opened on Tuesday for the overflow.
Louisiana’s governor offered to take in victims from Texas, and televangelist Joel Osteen opened his Houston megachurch, a 16,000-seat former arena, after critics attacked him on social media for not helping families displaced by the storm.
In an apparent response to scattered reports of looting, a curfew was put into effect from midnight to 5am, with police saying violators would be questioned, searched and arrested.
Meanwhile, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Harvey was steering into new territory. Meteorologists said Harvey was forecast to come inland on Wednesday around the Texas-Louisiana border close to Beaumont, Texas, with 45mph winds and heavy rain.
“Once we get this thing inland during the day, it’s the end of the beginning,” said National Hurricane Centre meteorologist Dennis Feltgen. “Texas is going to get a chance to finally dry out as this system pulls out.”
Houston has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for more supplies, including camp beds and food, for an additional 10,000 people, said mayor Sylvester Turner.
