Strongest storm in 12 years causes catastrophic flooding in the US

Hurricane Harvey is engulfing Houston, Texas, USA, in catastrophic flooding.

The flooding has forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes and move to higher ground. Local authorities are still receiving urgent calls for help, Fox News reported.

According to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, as of the night of August 26, more than 1,000 people had been rescued. The 911 emergency number had received more than 2,000 calls for rescue and the number was sure to rise.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long said the government is planning a large-scale response and that recovery could take years.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the storm "bad news and it's getting worse." "We're measuring the rain these past few days not in inches, but in feet," he said.

Hurricane Harvey caused "catastrophic flooding" in Houston and the situation is likely to "get worse," according to the US National Weather Service.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the city's 911 system has been "overwhelmed" since Hurricane Harvey hit. "Do not call 911 unless you are in a life-or-death situation... We urge people not to panic," Acevedo said.

A truck is blown over by the wind during a storm. Photo: AP.

Houston's police chief also asked residents not to hide in their attics but to go to their roofs. "There are people who are going into their attics to escape the flood. Don't do that unless you have an ax or something to break the roof and get up there."

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on the evening of August 25 with winds of up to 210 km/h. This is the strongest storm the US has suffered in 12 years and the strongest storm to hit Texas in more than 50 years.US President Donald Trump has signed a disaster declaration for the state of Texas.

According to VNE