
<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7]> <html class="no-js lt-ie9 lt-ie8 lt-ie7 modePublish"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7]> <html class="no-js lt-ie9 lt-ie8 modePublish"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8]> <html class="no-js lt-ie9 modePublish"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if gt IE 8]><!--><html class="no-js modePublish"><!--<![endif]-->






  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">

    
      <script>!function(a,b){var c={slatePlusCookieName:"slate_plus",abCountCookieName:"abo",showAboCookieName:"ab",firstPageToShowAds:3,firstPageToShowOverlay:2,overlayInterval:3,handle:function(a){if(this.isSlatePlus())return this.clearPageCount(),!1;this.updatePageCount();var b=this.shouldRedirect();return this.handleOverlay(b),b},isSlatePlus:function(){return this.getCookie(this.slatePlusCookieName)},clearPageCount:function(){this.setCookie(this.abCountCookieName,-1,-1)},updatePageCount:function(){var a=this.getPreviousPageCount();this.pageCount=a?a+1:1,this.setCookie(this.abCountCookieName,this.pageCount)},getPreviousPageCount:function(){var a=this.getCookie(this.abCountCookieName);return parseInt(a,10)},shouldRedirect:function(){return this.pageCount>=this.firstPageToShowAds?!0:!1},handleOverlay:function(a){return this.shouldShowOverlay()?void(a?this.setCookie(this.showAboCookieName,1):this.handleOverlayOnThisPageload()):(window.showAdBlockerOverlay=!1,!1)},shouldShowOverlay:function(){var a=this.pageCount-this.firstPageToShowOverlay;return a%this.overlayInterval===0},handleOverlayOnThisPageload:function(){window.adBlockerOverlay?window.adBlockerOverlay.init(!0):window.showAdBlockerOverlay=!0},getCookie:function(a){for(var b=a+"=",c=decodeURIComponent(document.cookie),d=c.split(";"),e=0;e<d.length;e++){for(var f=d[e];" "===f.charAt(0);)f=f.substring(1);if(0===f.indexOf(b))return f.substring(b.length,f.length)}return!1},setCookie:function(a,b,c){var d=(document.location.host+"").replace("www.","");c||(c=365);var e=new Date;e.setTime(e.getTime()+24*c*60*60*1e3);var f="expires="+e.toUTCString();document.cookie=a+"="+b+";"+f+";path=/;domain="+d}};window.I11C&&window.I11C.RegisterAbdCallback&&window.I11C.RegisterAbdCallback(c.handle.bind(c))}(window,document);</script>
    

    
    
    <!-- Begin comScore Tag -->
    <script>
      document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js' %3E%3C/script%3E"));
    </script>
    <script>
    if (typeof COMSCORE !== 'undefined') {
      COMSCORE.beacon({
        c1:"2", c2: "18406752", c4: "http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html"
      });
    } else {
      (function (w, d) {
        d.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function(event) {
          var img = d.createElement('img');
          img.src = 'http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=18406752&c3=&c4=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html&c5=&c6=&c15=&cj=1';
          d.body.appendChild(img);
        });
      } (window, document));
    }
    </script>
    <noscript>
      <img src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=18406752&c3=&c4=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html&c5=&c6=&c15=&cj=1" />
    </noscript>
    <!-- End comScore Tag -->
    
    


    
    
    <!--  Quantcast Tag -->
        <script>
         var ezt = ezt ||[];

         (function(){
           var elem = document.createElement('script');
           elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://secure" : "http://pixel") + ".quantserve.com/aquant.js?a=p-fw53_-Tq3MNK1";
           elem.async = true;
           elem.type = "text/javascript";
           var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
           scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem,scpt);
         }());


         ezt.push({qacct: 'p-fw53_-Tq3MNK1',
               uid: ''
                   });
        </script>
        <noscript>
          <img src="//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-fw53_-Tq3MNK1.gif" style="display: none;" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/>
        </noscript>
    <!-- End Quantcast Tag -->
    
    

    <script>
      //Reload to canonical if you try to paste in the print page
      if (window.location.search.indexOf("print") > -1) {
        if (document.referrer.indexOf("http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html") != 0) {
          window.location = "http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html";
        }
      }
      //-- Stop hiding script -->
    </script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
      var slate_public_url = "http://www.slate.com/";
    </script>
    <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1">
    <title>Hurricane Harvey barrels through Texas coast.
</title>

     

    <meta name="description" content="Update at 2:20 p.m.: Harvey is no longer a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center downgraded Harvey from a Category 1 to a tropical storm. But the of ..." />
    <meta name="keywords" content="hurricane harvey" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no">

    
    

    
    
    
    <script>
      
      var commercialNode = 'blogs/slatest';
      
      var commercialPageType = 'article';
      var selectedText = "";
    </script>

    <!-- Facebook Pixel Code -->
    <script>
      !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
      n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
      n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
      t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
      document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');

      fbq('init', '166975463695820');
      fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
        commercial_node: window.commercialNode,
        referrer: document.referrer
      });
    </script>
    <!-- End Facebook Pixel Code -->

    <!-- Facebook OG -->
    <meta id="ogtitle" property="og:title" content="Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist" />
    

    <meta property="article:publisher" content="http://www.facebook.com/Slate" />
    <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=357555242, affiliate-data=ct=Smart%20Banner&pt=31813800, app-argument=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html">

    

    <meta property="og:type" content="article" />
    <meta id="ogurl" property="og:url" content="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html" />
    <meta id="ogimage" property="og:image" content="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.promo-large.jpeg" />
    <meta property="og:site_name" content="Slate Magazine" />
    <meta id="ogdescription" property="og:description" content="Update at 2:20 p.m.: Harvey is no longer a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center downgraded Harvey from a Category 1 to a tropical storm. But the of ..." />
    <meta property="fb:app_id" content="142011022527753"/>
    <meta property="fb:pages" content="21516776437,711394545628094,56053044701,120640827984,413841452120931,535016903252160,1560656284178338,167180693332391,189846847729626,166438367103268,120285331895306,67474598472,449418205094008,209239152886928,614061598677636">
    <!-- Twitter -->
    <meta name="twitter:card" value="summary_large_image" />
    <meta name="twitter:site" value="@slate" />
    
    <meta name="twitter:creator" value="@dpoliti" />
    
    <meta name="twitter:url" value="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html" />
    <meta name="twitter:title" value="Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist" />
    <meta name="twitter:description" value="Update at 2:20 p.m.: Harvey is no longer a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center downgraded Harvey from a Category 1 to a tropical storm. But the of ..." />
    <meta name="twitter:image" value="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.promo-large.jpeg" />
    
    <meta name="tw-line" content="Hurricane Harvey downgraded to tropical storm as flooding fears persist." />

      
    <meta name="fb-share" content="It barreled through the coast on Friday night as a Category 4 with 130 mph winds." />

    

    <link type="text/css" href="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/css/story.cbc2b65b.2fc2a24e.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    
    <style type="text/css">.social a .count { display: none !important; }</style>
    
    <script id="slate-webfont-base-localstorage-js">!function(){function e(e,t,n){e.addEventListener?e.addEventListener(t,n,!1):e.attachEvent&&e.attachEvent("on"+t,n)}function t(e){return window.localStorage&&localStorage.font_base_css_cache&&localStorage.font_base_css_cache_file===e}function n(){if(window.localStorage&&window.XMLHttpRequest)if(t(o))a(localStorage.font_base_css_cache);else{var n=new XMLHttpRequest;n.open("GET",o,!0),e(n,"load",function(){4===n.readyState&&(a(n.responseText),localStorage.font_base_css_cache=n.responseText,localStorage.font_base_css_cache_file=o)}),n.send()}else{var c=document.createElement("link");c.href=o,c.rel="stylesheet",c.type="text/css",document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c),document.cookie="font_base_css_cache"}}function a(e){var t=document.createElement("style");t.innerHTML=e,document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(t)}var o="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/css/slate-fonts-base.bcb407b3.bcb407b3.css";window.localStorage&&localStorage.font_base_css_cache||document.cookie.indexOf("font_base_css_cache")>-1?n():e(document,"DOMContentLoaded",n)}();
      // Load Apres Light for Mobile
      if (window.matchMedia('(max-width: 1023px)').matches) {
        !function(){function e(e,t,n){e.addEventListener?e.addEventListener(t,n,!1):e.attachEvent&&e.attachEvent("on"+t,n)}function t(e){return window.localStorage&&localStorage.font_mobile_css_cache&&localStorage.font_mobile_css_cache_file===e}function n(){if(window.localStorage&&window.XMLHttpRequest)if(t(o))a(localStorage.font_mobile_css_cache);else{var n=new XMLHttpRequest;n.open("GET",o,!0),e(n,"load",function(){4===n.readyState&&(a(n.responseText),localStorage.font_mobile_css_cache=n.responseText,localStorage.font_mobile_css_cache_file=o)}),n.send()}else{var c=document.createElement("link");c.href=o,c.rel="stylesheet",c.type="text/css",document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c),document.cookie="font_mobile_css_cache"}}function a(e){var t=document.createElement("style");t.innerHTML=e,document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(t)}var o="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/css/slate-fonts-mobile.015046cd.015046cd.css";window.localStorage&&localStorage.font_mobile_css_cache||document.cookie.indexOf("font_mobile_css_cache")>-1?n():e(document,"DOMContentLoaded",n)}();
      }
    </script>
    <noscript id="slate-font-base"><link rel="stylesheet" id="slate-font-base-css" href="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/css/slate-fonts-base.bcb407b3.bcb407b3.css" type="text/css" media="all"><link rel="stylesheet" id="slate-font-mobile-css" href="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/css/slate-fonts-mobile.015046cd.015046cd.css" type="text/css" media="max-width: 1023px"></noscript>
    
    
    
    <script src="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/js/optimizely-functions.ff486040.js"></script>
    <script src="https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/37441550.js"></script>
    
    <script data-ad-site="slate" src="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/js/libs/require.js"></script>
    <script>
    requirejs.createNode = function (config, moduleName) {
      var node = config.xhtml ?
                 document.createElementNS('http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml', 'html:script') :
                 document.createElement('script');

      node.type = config.scriptType || 'text/javascript';
      node.charset = 'utf-8';
      node.async = true;

      if (moduleName == "slateAds") {
        node.setAttribute('data-ad-site', 'slate');
        node.setAttribute('data-ad-page-type', 'responsive');
      }
      return node;
    };
    requirejs.config({
      "baseUrl": "http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/js",
      "waitSeconds": 0,
      "paths": {
        "jquery": "//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min",
        "jqueryui": "//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.10.4/jquery-ui.min",
        "modernizr": "/etc/designs/slate/js/libs/modernizr-2.6.1.min",
        "announcements": "/etc/designs/slate/js/announcements",
        "slate": "/etc/designs/slate/lib",
        "hogan": "libs/hogan-2.0.0",
        "facebook": "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all",
        "twitter": "//platform.twitter.com/widgets",
        "livefyre": "//cdn.livefyre.com/Livefyre",
        "newbrightcoveplayer": "components/brightcovevideosingle/newbrightcoveplayer",
        "brightcove": "https://sadmin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences",
        "brightcovetracking": "/etc/designs/slate/js/components/brightcovevideosingle/brightcovetracking",
        "videojs-omniture": "/etc/designs/slate/js/components/brightcovevideosingle/videojs.analytic.omniture",
        "mobileredirection": "libs/redirection_mobile_1.0.0.min",
        
          
          
            "outbrain": [
              "//widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain",
              "nooooo"
            ],
          
        
        "shared": "http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/shared/js",
        "instafeed": "/etc/designs/slate/js/instafeed",
        "campaigns": "http://campaigns.slate.com/campaigns/slate",
        "clipboard": "libs/zeroclipboard/ZeroClipboard.min",
        "waypoints": "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.waypoints",
        //janrain
        "rpxnow": window.location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'https://rpxnow.com/load/login.slate.com?noext' : 'http://widget-cdn.rpxnow.com/load/login.slate.com?noext',
        'promise': 'requirejs-promise',
        'youtube': "/etc/designs/slate/js/youtube",
        'youtubeapi' : "https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api?noext",
        "keywee": "https://dc8xl0ndzn2cb.cloudfront.net/js/slate/v0/keywee.min",
        "amplitude": "//d24n15hnbwhuhn.cloudfront.net/libs/amplitude-3.4.0-min.gz",
        "slateAds": [
          "http://ads.cdnslate.com/wp-srv/ad/loaders/latest/js/min/loader.min.js?noext",
          "showme"
        ]
      },
      "shim": {
        "devicemode": ["modernizr"],
        "hcs/script": ["jquery", "modernizr", "devicemode"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.browser": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/jquery.transit": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGFootnote.jquery": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGSocialIcons.jquery": ["jquery", "hcs/script"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGNavDropdown.jquery": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGRollup.jquery": ["jquery", "hcs/script"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGGlobalNav.jquery": ["jquery", "hcs/script"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGLightbox.jquery": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/jQuery.highlighter": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/libs/swipe": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/libs/magnific": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/jquery.swipebox": ["jquery"],
        "hcs/plugins/SGBigSlider.jquery": ["jquery", "hcs/script", "hcs/libs/swipe"],
        "hcs/plugins/jquery.placeholder.min": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.timeago": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.form": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.cookie": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.fittext": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.backgroundSize": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.flexslider": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/purl": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.colorbox": [ "jquery" ],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.sticky": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.autoComplete": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.boxfit": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.dateformat": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.lazyloadxt": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.lazyloadxt.extra": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.lazyloadxt.bg": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.lazyloadxt.widget": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.storageapi": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.ba-throttle-debounce": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.visible": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.event.move": ["jquery"],
        "libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.twentytwenty": ["jquery"],
        "facebook": {
            deps: ["site-bottom"],
            exports: "FB"
        },
        "livefyre": {
            exports: "fyre"
        },
        "brightcove": {
            "exports": "brightcove"
        },
        "mobileredirection": {
                "exports": "mobileredirection"
        },
        "hogan": {
          	"exports": "Hogan"
        },
        "outbrain": {
          "exports": "OBR"
        }
      },
      map: {
        '*': {
          'css': 'libs/require-css/css'
        }
      }
    });

    
    define("config", {
      "env": {
        "edit": false,
        "environment": "prod"
      },
      "janrain": {
        "siteConfig": {
          "enabled": true,
          "propertyId": "login.slate.com",
          "raceConditionTimeout": +"1500".replace(/\D/gi, ''),
          "jsNamespace": "slateJanrain",
          "userMessage": ""
        },
        "appUrl": "https://login.slate.com",
        "tokenUrl": "http://www.slate.com",
        "capture": {
          "appId": "dbuhzej2qm7k436x6jg4qpef3f",
          "captureServer": "https://profile.slate.com",
          "clientId": "sskdd3tv7ekxx8mt6gq5hnu7mdxpmpha",
          "accessTokenLifeHours": +"730".replace(/\D/gi, ''),
          "returnExperienceUserData": "uuid,displayName,email".split(",").map(function(item) { return item.trim(); }),
          "flowVersion": "HEAD",
          "httpLoadUrl": 'http://widget-cdn.rpxnow.com/load/login.slate.com',
          "httpsLoadUrl": 'https://rpxnow.com/load/login.slate.com'
        },
        "federate": {
          "federate": true,
          "federateServer": "https://slate.janrainsso.com/",
          "federateXdReceiver": "http://www.slate.com/modules/xd_receiver.html",
          "federateLogoutUri": "http://www.slate.com/modules/sso_logout.html"
        }
      },
      "myslate": {
        "site_base_domain": "slate.com",
        "site_path": "/",
        "site_url": "//www.slate.com/",
        "myslate_domain": "//my.slate.com/",
        "myslateTokenPath": "proxies/livefyre/token/",
        "myslateJanrainTokenPath": "proxies/janrain/token/",
        "myslateVerifyPath": "proxies/janrain/verify/",
        "myslateSubscriptionsManagePath": "subscriptions/manage/",
        "myslatePageInfoPath": "users/slate_page_info/",
        "myslatePopularAuthorsPath": "articles/popular_authors/",
        "myslateEventsPath": "subscriptions/events/",
        "myslateRecommendationsPath": "recommendations/get_combined_json/",
        "myslateIscrollRecommendationsPath": "contentapi/recommendations/v2/",
        "myslateSegmentsPath": "store/segments/",
        "myslateUserUpdatePath": "users/update/",
        "myslatePartnersPath": "recommendations/partner_links/",
        "myslate_https": true,
        "fb_xd_receiver": "http://www.slate.com/xd_receiver.htm",
        "fb_app_id": 142011022527753,
      },
      "iscroll": {
        "hideStoryEvents": "",
        "showThirdParties": true,
        "hideScripts": "",
        "disabled": false,
        "mobile": true,
        "bannerHTML": ""
      },
      "livefyre": {
        "network": "slate.fyre.co",
        "jsSourceUrl": "http://zor.livefyre.com/wjs/v3.0/javascripts/livefyre.js",
        "siteId": "337720",
        "loadTiming": "immediate"
      },
      "campaigns": {
        "domain":"campaigns.slate.com",
        "loadTiming": "immediate"
      },
      "site": {
        "site": "slate",
        "title": "Slate",
        "staticUrl": "http://static.cdnslate.com",
        "omniturePrefix": "sl"
      },
      "data_domain": "http://www.slate.com/",
      "page": {
        "articleId": "227170826001",
        "roadblocked": false,
        "embeddedContent": false,
        "slateplus": false,
        "enableIssueCollector": false,
        "contentCreated": "2017-08-26T14:20:00"
      },
      "ads": {
        "showme": false,
        "enableHomepageViewability": false,
        "enableStoryViewability": true,
        "viewabilityEnabled": true,
        "viewability": {
          "leaderboardRollup": true,
          "leaderboardRollupDisabledList": "",
          "refreshInterval": "60",
          "refreshPolar": false,
          "testPageList": "news,life,arts,sports,technology,blogs,business,science,doublex,podvideo,podcasts,authors,archive,news,briefing,life,arts,sports,technology,blogs,business,science,doublex,video,podvideo,podcasts",
          "lazyload": {
            "homepageBB": true,
            "leaderboard_2": true,
            "tiffTiles": true,
            "rightflex": true,
            "billboard": false
          }
        },
        "enablePageFair": false
      },
      
      "banner": {
        "showBanner": true,
        "storyCount": 1,
        "restDays": 30,
        "showSlatePlus": false,
        "messages": ['Support Dahlia Lithwick’s Supreme Court coverage. <a href="https://my.slate.com/plus?utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=plus_support&amp;utm_content=Dahlia&amp;utm_source=ribbon">Join Slate Plus today.</a>', '<em><strong>Slate</strong></em> is made possible by the support of readers like you. <a href="https://my.slate.com/plus?utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=plus_support&amp;utm_content=possible&amp;utm_source=ribbon">Click here to do your part.</a>', 'Overwhelmed and exhausted? <a href="https://my.slate.com/plus?utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=plus_support&amp;utm_content=overwhelmed&amp;utm_source=ribbon">Join Slate Plus as we try to make sense of each day’s insanity.</a>', '<a href="https://my.slate.com/plus?utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=plus_support&amp;utm_content=tireless&amp;utm_source=ribbon">Support our tireless, fearless, yet somehow fun-to-read coverage of Trump’s America.</a>', 'We’ve been holding Trump to account all year. Help us keep going. <a href="https://my.slate.com/plus?utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=plus_support&amp;utm_content=account&amp;utm_source=ribbon">Become a member.</a>']
      },
      
      "_log": [],
      "log": function(data) {
        requirejs(["config"], function(config) {
          if (typeof console != "undefined" && typeof console.log != "undefined") {
            console.log(data);
          }
          config._log.push(data);
        });
      }
    });
    </script>
    <script src="http://static.cdnslate.com/etc/designs/slate/js/main.min.4c3b316e.js"></script>

    
    
      <script>
          requirejs(
              ['ad-blocker-overlay'],
              function(ad_blocker_overlay) {
                  ad_blocker_overlay.execute();
              }
          );
      </script>
    

    <script>
    
    requirejs(['config'], function(config) {
      var documentDomain = 'slate.com';
      if (config.janrain.siteConfig.enabled) {
        documentDomain = config.myslate.site_base_domain;
      }
      document.domain = documentDomain;
    });
    
    </script>
    
    


<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">
requirejs([
  'jquery',
  'config',
  's_code',
  'libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.cookie'
], function($, config, s, unused) {

        s.currencyCode="usd";
        s.charSet="utf-8";
        s.trackDownloadLinks=true;
        s.trackExternalLinks=true;
        s.trackInlineStats=true;
        s.linkDownloadFileTypes="exe,zip,wav,mp3,mov,mpg,avi,wmv,doc,pdf,xls";
        s.linkInternalFilters="javascript:,slate.com,traffic.outbrain.com";
        s.linkTrackVars="none";
        s.linkTrackEvents="none";
        s.pageName="briefing:blog:the slatest - 20170826 - hurricane harvey barrels through texas coast.";
        s.channel="sl - briefing";
        s.server="www.slate.com";
        s.prop2="blog";
        s.prop3="blog";
        s.prop4="slate";
        s.prop5="daniel politi";
        s.prop12="227170826001";
        s.prop13="hurricane harvey barrels through texas coast.";
        s.prop14="1";
        s.prop25="the slatest";
        s.prop34="4.17.8";
        s.prop36="general";
        s.prop39="blogs/slatest";
        s.prop40="hurricane harvey";
        s.hier1="briefing|blog|blog";
        s.eVar8="daniel politi";
        s.eVar11="the slatest";
        s.eVar17="blog";
    s.prop75 = "1";
    s.eVar4 = "1";
    s.prop32 = $.cookie('spf') || 'false';
    /**
     * Check for AdBlock
     */
    if (typeof placeAd2 === 'undefined') {
      $.cookie('spf', true, {
        expires: 365,
        path: '/',
        domain: config.myslate.site_base_domain
      });
    }
    s.t();
});
</script>


    
    
        <script>
            requirejs(["sgads"], function(slateads) {
                slateads.wire("http://ads.cdnslate.com/wp-srv/ad/loaders/latest/js/min/loader.min.js");
            });
        </script>
    

    <script>               
      var _isNavMoving = false; // acts as a global (sorry) mutex for keeping track of when our nav panels are moving around. Allows us to prevent overlapping actions.
    </script>

    <!-- Google Sitemap -->
    <meta name="google-site-verification" content="jXqoqqPSmx_PWchRdG-IXu-X616Ee2Ptf_AiElI9LzQ" />

    

    <link rel="canonical" href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html" />
    
    <link rel="image_src" href="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.thumbnail-small.jpeg" />

    <!-- Parsely -->
        <meta name='parsely-page' content='{
  "title": "Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist",
  "link": "http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html",
  "image_url": "http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.thumbnail-small.jpeg",
  "type": "post",
  "post_id": "227170826001",
  "pub_date": "2017-08-26T14:20:00Z",
  "section": "The Slatest",
  "authors": ["Daniel Politi"],
  "tags": [
    "hurricane harvey",
    "AdNode:blogs/slatest",
    "Section:briefing"
  ]
}'/>
    
    <!-- RSS -->
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="The Slatest (RSS 2.0)" href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest.fulltext.all.rss" />

    
    <script>var wp_meta_data = {"authors":["Daniel Politi"],"contentType":"blog","page_id":"227170826001","keywords":"hurricane harvey,hurricane harvey","section":"briefing","rubric":"Blog"};</script>

    
    <![if gte IE 8]>
    <script type="text/javascript">
    requirejs(['jquery'], function($) {
      var SlateNextbox = {};

      SlateNextbox.data = {
        'headline': '2018 State of the Union Live Blog',
        'subhead': '',
        'url': 'http:\/\/www.slate.com\/blogs\/the_slatest\/2018\/01\/30\/donald_trump_s_2018_state_of_the_union_live_blog.html',
        'article_id': '227180130001',
        'hasImage': true,
        
        'image': 'http:\/\/www.slate.com\/content\/dam\/slate\/articles\/news_and_politics\/politics\/2018\/01\/180129_SOTU_previewCQ.jpg.CROP.rectangle-small.jpg',
        
      
        'section': 'The Slatest',
      
        'subscribe_type': 'rubric'
      };
      $.data(window, "SlateNextbox", SlateNextbox);
    });

    </script>
    <![endif]>
    

    

      
    
      <script type="text/javascript">
        var teadsEnabled = true;
        requirejs(["jquery","myslate"], function($,myslate) {
            if(myslate.isSlatePlusUser) {
                teadsEnabled = false;
            }
        });
        </script>
    
      
        <script type="application/ld+json">
        {"@context":"http://schema.org","url":"http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html","@type":"Article","mainEntityOfPage":"True","articleBody":"Update at 2:20 p.m.: Harvey is no longer a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center downgraded Harvey from a Category 1 to a tropical storm. But the official designation has done nothing to temper fears of flash flooding as heavy rain is expected to continue for several days and more than 40 inches is expected in certain areas. \u201cOur focus is shifting to the extreme and potentially historic levels of flooding that we could see,\u201d said Eric Blake, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The National Hurricane Center warned of \u201ccatastrophic flooding\u201d over the next few days. Harvey left \u201cwidespread devastation\u201d in its path as fears continue that new tornadoes could be formed. Although no fatalities have been reported yet, attention is quickly centering around the city of Rockport, where an estimated 5,000 residents didn\u2019t evacuate. \"There's been widespread devastation,\" Rockport Mayor Charles Wax told CNN late Saturday morning. \u201cWe've already taken a severe blow from the storm, but we're anticipating another one when the flooding comes.\u201d Several homes collapsed across the city and many buildings suffered structural damage. \u201cIf you have something left of your house, you\u2019re lucky,\u201d one resident told Reuters. More than 300,000 people were left in the dark as strong winds downed power lines and in some cases made it impossible for repair crews to get to work. Gov. Greg Abbott warned those who refused to evacuate that they could be without power for days. Harvey slammed into the Texas coast at around 10 p.m. on Friday as a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 mph. Around three hours later it was downgraded to a Category 3 and by 3 a.m. it had turned into a Category 2 storm. Two hours later Harvey was downgraded again to a Category 1. Update at 11:15 a.m.: Hurricane Harvey continued weakening Saturday morning and was on the verge of becoming a tropical storm, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Harvey had maximum sustained speeds of 75 mph, which is the limit to consider it a hurricane. But officials are cautioning that Texas Gulf Coast residents shouldn\u2019t think the danger is over just because Harvey is weakening or has already passed through their towns. What they'ree most concerned about now is the flooding that could result from the rain that the storm will drop in the area over the next few days. \u201cWe don\u2019t use terms like \u2018catastrophic and life-threatening\u2019 often,\u201d the National Weather Service wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning. \u201cRemember, this is a multi-day event...marathon not a sprint.\u201d No deaths have been reported yet although emergency crews still have not been able to make it to some of the worst-hit areas. In the small city of Rockport, for example, the fire department has not been able to answer as many as 30 pending calls because of the poor weather conditions. The mayor of Rockport said the city of around 10,000 people took a hit \u201cright on the nose\u201d that left \u201cwidespread devastation.\u201d The city had ordered a mandatory evacuation and officials grimly told residents that if they chose not to evacuate they should write their name and Social Security number on their arm with a Sharpie. Original post at 8:15 a.m.: Gulf Coast residents were hunkered down, waiting for news early Saturday after Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas as the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Charley in 2004. Hurricane Harvey made landfall northeast of Corpus Christi as a Category 4 storm with winds of up to 130 mph. By 10 p.m. Central time the center of the hurricane crossed the Texas shoreline about four miles east of the city of Rockport, according to the National Hurricane Center. By 5 a.m. Central time, officials had downgraded Harvey to a Category 1 storm, with winds of up to 90 mph. Forecasters warned of heavy damage in the hours ahead as some areas of southeast Texas had already reported 16 inches of rain by 5 a.m. The National Weather Service warned some areas could get as much as 40 inches of rain over the next few days. At a news conference on Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott had warned the hurricane would be particularly dangerous due to the potential for flooding. Houston remains under a flash-flood watch until Tuesday evening. The quick approach of what had been a mere tropical depression left officials scrambling as tens of thousands of coastal residents moved inland. Harvey marked the strongest hurricane to hit Texas since 1961\u2019s Hurricane Carla. It is tied for the 18th strongest hurricane to hit the United States since 1851. There were no reports of deaths in the hours after Harvey made landfall but officials still have not been able to assess damage in some of the worst-hit areas. There were early reports coming out of a few cities in Harvey\u2019s path that mentioned lots of structural damage to buildings. The roof at a senior housing complex appears to have collapsed, for example, and several people may have been injured. There were also reports that the hurricane had spawned at least one tornado that ripped through Missouri City, causing damage to homes. Abbott warned that people in the hurricane\u2019s path needed to be ready to make it \u201ca couple of days\u201d without electricity of adequate food supplies. The storm could also cause lots of economic damage as it is striking a region that has lots of refineries that process five million barrels of oil per day.","headline":"Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist","datePublished":"2017-08-26T14:20:00-04:00","author":"Daniel Politi","image":{"@list":["http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.promo-mediumlarge.jpeg"]}}
        </script>
      

    


    <!-- BEGIN Krux Control Tag for "Slate" -->
    <script class="kxct" data-id="KGU_SbHX" data-timing="async" data-version="3.0" type="text/javascript">
      window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments)}).q=[]);
      (function(){
        var k=document.createElement('script');k.type='text/javascript';k.async=true;
        k.src=(location.protocol==='https:'?'https:':'http:')+'//cdn.krxd.net/controltag/KGU_SbHX.js';
        var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(k,s);
      }());

      
      window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments);}).q=[]);
      (function(){
          function retrieve(n){
            var m, k='kxslate_'+n;
            if(window.localStorage){
                return window.localStorage[k] || "";
            }else if(navigator.cookieEnabled){
                m = document.cookie.match(k+'=([^;]*)');
                return (m && unescape(m[1])) || "";
            }else{
                return '';
            }
          }
          Krux.user = retrieve('user');
          Krux.segments = retrieve('segs') && retrieve('segs').split(',') || [];
      })();
    </script>
    <!-- END Krux Controltag -->

    
    <link rel="amphtml" href="http://amp.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html">
    

    <!-- Amplitude -->
    <script>
    require(['amplitude'], function(amplitude) {
      var amplitudeOptions = {
       saveEvents: true,
       includeUtm: true,
       includeReferrer: true,
       includeGclid: true,
       saveParamsReferrerOncePerSession: false,
       domain: '.slate.com'
      };
      amplitude.getInstance().init('5a7cb616c0717cb7f4f0eee43d9f4e1c', null, amplitudeOptions);
      window.amplitude = amplitude; // You can bind the amplitude object to window if you want to use it directly.

      
    });
    </script>
    <!-- End Amplitude -->

  </head>



  <body class="article story">

    <input type="hidden" id="currPath" value="/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast"/>
    <!-- HCS: shared/roll_ups/tablet -->
    <!-- This is the header bar we always show in tablet mode -->
    <header class="roll-up" id="tablet_header">
      <div class="container">
        <div class="main">

        </div>
        <div class="sidebar">
          











<section class="nav-panel" >
  <div class="nav-header">
    <a class="slate-logo" href="/">
      
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="119" height="37" viewBox="0 0 258 80" style="margin: 8px 0 0 8px;">
          <title>Slate logo</title>
          <path fill="#FFF" d="M257.9 18.8h-23.3v12.7h23.3V48h-23.3v13.1h23.3V78h-43V2h43v16.7zM205.7 2v16.7h-16.1v59H170v-59h-16.1V2h51.8zm-85.8 0h13.3L161.9 78h-21l-5.7-16.7h-15.3v-15H130L120 17.1V2zm-55.5 0H84v59.1h26.5V78H64.4V2zM26 18.1a5.6 5.6 0 0 0-2.4 4.8c0 1.4.4 2.5 1.2 3.3.8.9 1.8 1.7 3.1 2.3 1.3.6 2.8 1.2 4.4 1.7 1.7.4 3.3 1 4.9 1.5 6.4 2.1 11 5 14 8.6 3 3.5 4.5 8.2 4.5 14 0 3.9-.7 7.4-2 10.5A22 22 0 0 1 48 73c-2.5 2.3-5.5 4-9.2 5.2A45.2 45.2 0 0 1 0 71.4l8.4-15.8a34 34 0 0 0 8.7 5.8c2.9 1.3 5.7 2 8.5 2 3.2 0 5.6-.8 7.1-2.3a6.8 6.8 0 0 0 1.8-8c-.4-.8-1-1.6-2-2.3a16 16 0 0 0-3.7-2l-5.4-2-7.5-2.6c-2.4-1-4.6-2.3-6.5-3.9a18 18 0 0 1-4.5-6A21.6 21.6 0 0 1 3 24.8c0-3.7.6-7.1 1.8-10.2A22.7 22.7 0 0 1 18.3 1.8C21.6.6 25.2 0 29.2 0a47.3 47.3 0 0 1 23.4 6.1l-7.8 15.4c-2.1-1.7-4.3-3-6.4-3.9a17 17 0 0 0-6.2-1.2 10 10 0 0 0-6.2 1.8z"/>
        </svg>
      
    </a>
    <a href="#" class="user-link "></a>
    <a href="#" class="search-link "></a>
    <a href="#" class="global-nav-handle "></a>
    <div class="buttons">
      
      <span class="link option"><a class="first nav-option sign-in-link" href="#">Sign In</a></span>
      <span class="link option"><a href="#" class="nav-option sign-up-link">Sign Up</a></span>
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
</section>

        </div>
      </div><!-- /.container -->
    </header><!-- /.header.roll-up -->
    <!-- HCS END: shared/roll_ups/tablet -->
    
    <div class="top">

      
        
          <div class="ad banner leaderboard" data-ad-type="leaderboard" data-ad-mode="large"></div>
        
        
      

    </div><!-- end #top -->
    
    <!-- HCS END: layouts/shared/top -->
    
    
    


<!-- this is the rollup for basic article, no multipart fun -->
<header class="roll-up with-dropdown" id="article_rollup">
  <div class="container">
    
    <div class="main">
      <div class="title-container">

        <div class="front">
          
            
            
            
            
            
              <div class="titles centered-titles">
                <h1 class="primary centered-primary">Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist</h1>
              </div>
            
          
        </div>

        <div class="back">
          
            
            
            
            
              <div class="titles centered-titles">
                <h1 class="primary centered-primary">Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist</h1>
              </div>
            
          
        </div>

      </div>

      


<div class="social social-with-popup sharing-buttons">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?s=100&p[title]=Hurricane+Harvey+Downgraded+to+Tropical+Storm+as+Flooding+Fears+Persist&p[summary]=Update+at+2:20+p.m.:+Harvey+is+no+longer+a+hurricane.+The+National+Hurricane+Center+downgraded+Harvey+from+a+Category+1+to+a+tropical+storm.+But+the+of+...&p[ref]=sl_live&p[images][0]=http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpeg&p[url]=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html&u=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_fb_ru" class="facebook first">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count"></span>
    </a>

    <div class="twitter">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://twitter.com/share?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.&count=none&via=slate&url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_ru" class="twitter">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count"></span>
    </a>
    </div>

    
      <a href="#comments" class="comments">
        <span class="icon"></span>
      </a>
    

     <a href="mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20piece%20on%20Slate&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20this%20article%20on%20Slate:%0AHurricane%20Harvey%20Downgraded%20to%20Tropical%20Storm%20as%20Flooding%20Fears%20Persist%0Ahttp://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_em_ru" class="email">
        <span class="icon"></span>
      </a>
</div>


    </div>
    <div class="sidebar">
      











<section class="nav-panel" >
  <div class="nav-header">
    <a class="slate-logo" href="/">
      
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="119" height="37" viewBox="0 0 258 80" style="margin: 8px 0 0 8px;">
          <title>Slate logo</title>
          <path fill="#FFF" d="M257.9 18.8h-23.3v12.7h23.3V48h-23.3v13.1h23.3V78h-43V2h43v16.7zM205.7 2v16.7h-16.1v59H170v-59h-16.1V2h51.8zm-85.8 0h13.3L161.9 78h-21l-5.7-16.7h-15.3v-15H130L120 17.1V2zm-55.5 0H84v59.1h26.5V78H64.4V2zM26 18.1a5.6 5.6 0 0 0-2.4 4.8c0 1.4.4 2.5 1.2 3.3.8.9 1.8 1.7 3.1 2.3 1.3.6 2.8 1.2 4.4 1.7 1.7.4 3.3 1 4.9 1.5 6.4 2.1 11 5 14 8.6 3 3.5 4.5 8.2 4.5 14 0 3.9-.7 7.4-2 10.5A22 22 0 0 1 48 73c-2.5 2.3-5.5 4-9.2 5.2A45.2 45.2 0 0 1 0 71.4l8.4-15.8a34 34 0 0 0 8.7 5.8c2.9 1.3 5.7 2 8.5 2 3.2 0 5.6-.8 7.1-2.3a6.8 6.8 0 0 0 1.8-8c-.4-.8-1-1.6-2-2.3a16 16 0 0 0-3.7-2l-5.4-2-7.5-2.6c-2.4-1-4.6-2.3-6.5-3.9a18 18 0 0 1-4.5-6A21.6 21.6 0 0 1 3 24.8c0-3.7.6-7.1 1.8-10.2A22.7 22.7 0 0 1 18.3 1.8C21.6.6 25.2 0 29.2 0a47.3 47.3 0 0 1 23.4 6.1l-7.8 15.4c-2.1-1.7-4.3-3-6.4-3.9a17 17 0 0 0-6.2-1.2 10 10 0 0 0-6.2 1.8z"/>
        </svg>
      
    </a>
    <a href="#" class="user-link "></a>
    <a href="#" class="search-link "></a>
    <a href="#" class="global-nav-handle "></a>
    <div class="buttons">
      
      <span class="link option"><a class="first nav-option sign-in-link" href="#">Sign In</a></span>
      <span class="link option"><a href="#" class="nav-option sign-up-link">Sign Up</a></span>
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
</section>

    </div>
  </div><!-- /.container -->
  <a href="#" class="mobile-social-toggle"><span></span></a> <!-- only shown in mobile -->
</header><!-- /.header.roll-up -->




<div class="page">
  
  <article class="main" data-stream-index="0" data-story-id="story-227170826001" id="story-0">
    
    <div class="start-story" data-stream-index="0" id="start-story-0"></div>
    
    
    <div class="parsys contentWellTop iparsys"><div class="section"><div class="new"></div>
</div><div class="iparys_inherited"><div class="parsys contentWellTop iparsys"><div class="renderHtml section">

<div style="margin: 20px; font-size: 1.5em;">The <em>Slatest</em> has moved! You can find <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/the-slatest">new stories here</a>.</div> 
</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>

    

    <header class="article-header" id="article_header">
      <div class="meta has-image">
        <div class="prop-name print-only"><a href="http://www.slate.com">Slate</a></div><div class="prop-name"><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest.html">The Slatest</a></div><div class="prop-image"><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest.html"><img src="/blogs/the_slatest/jcr:content/logo.gif" alt="The Slatest" /></a></div><div class="prop-desc">Your News Companion</div><div class="pub-date">Aug. 26 2017 2:20 PM</div>
      </div>
      <h1 class="hed">Hurricane Harvey Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Flooding Fears Persist</h1>
      


 <div class="social social-with-popup sharing-buttons header_social">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?s=100&p[title]=Hurricane+Harvey+Downgraded+to+Tropical+Storm+as+Flooding+Fears+Persist&p[summary]=Update+at+2:20+p.m.:+Harvey+is+no+longer+a+hurricane.+The+National+Hurricane+Center+downgraded+Harvey+from+a+Category+1+to+a+tropical+storm.+But+the+of+...&p[ref]=sl_live&p[images][0]=http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpeg&p[url]=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_fb_top" class="facebook">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count"></span>
    </a>
    <div class="twitter">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://twitter.com/share?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.&count=none&via=slate&url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_top" class="twitter">
       <span class="icon"></span>
    </a>
    <a class="tw-count" href="http://twitter.com/search?q=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html"><span class="count"></span></a>
    </div>
    
      <a href="#comments" class="comments">
        <span class="icon"></span>
        <span class="count"></span>
      </a>
    
 </div>


      <h2 class="dek"></h2>
      
      <div class="byline" id="main_byline">
      
        By <a href="http://www.slate.com/authors.daniel_politi.html">Daniel Politi</a>
      
      </div>
      
      





  
  
  


<div class="social horiz-counts-mobile centered sharing-buttons">
  
    <div class="comments">
      <a class="mobile-comments" href="#comments">
        <span class="icon"></span>
        <span class="count"></span>
      </a>
    </div>
  
  <div class="facebook">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?s=100&p[title]=Hurricane+Harvey+Downgraded+to+Tropical+Storm+as+Flooding+Fears+Persist&p[summary]=Update+at+2:20+p.m.:+Harvey+is+no+longer+a+hurricane.+The+National+Hurricane+Center+downgraded+Harvey+from+a+Category+1+to+a+tropical+storm.+But+the+of+...&p[ref]=sl_live&p[images][0]=http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpeg&p[url]=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html&u=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_fb_top" class="share facebook" target="_blank">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count"></span>
    </a>
  </div>
  <div class="twitter">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://twitter.com/share?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.&count=none&via=slate&url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_tw_top" class="twitter">
       <span class="icon"></span>
    </a>
    <a class="tw-count" href="http://twitter.com/search?q=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html"><span class="count"></span></a>
  </div>

  
  <div class="whatsapp">
    <a href="whatsapp://send?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slate.com%2Fblogs%2Fthe_slatest%2F2017%2F08%2F26%2Fhurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html%3Fwpsrc%3Dsh_all_mob_wa_top" class="whatsapp">
       <span class="icon"></span>
    </a>
  </div>
  
  

  <div class="email">
    <a href="mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20piece%20on%20Slate&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20this%20article%20on%20Slate:%0AHurricane%20Harvey%20Downgraded%20to%20Tropical%20Storm%20as%20Flooding%20Fears%20Persist%0Ahttp://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_em_top" class="email">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count">&nbsp;</span>
    </a>
  </div>
</div>


    </header><!-- /header -->

    <section class="content ">
        <div class="parsys editorsNote">
</div>

        
        <div class="newbody body parsys">

<div class="parbase image slate_image section">


 <div class=" none">
        <figure class="image inline " style="width: 590px;  display: block;margin: 0 auto;float: none;"> <img src_tag_name="src" title="Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast" alt="Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast" src="/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpeg" > <figcaption class="caption"><span>Valerie Brown walks through a flooded area on August 26, 2017 in Rockport, Texas.</span></figcaption>  <p class="credit">Joe Raedle/Getty Images</p> 
        </figure>
        </div>
        <script>
        requirejs(["jquery"], function($) {
            if ($(window).width() < 640) {
                $(".slate_image figure").width("100%");
            }
        });
        </script> 
</div>

<div class="text text-1 parbase section">

<p><strong>Update at 2:20 p.m.: </strong>Harvey is no longer a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HARVEY_LAOL-?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-08-26-13-45-18">downgraded Harvey from a Category 1 to a tropical storm</a>. But the official designation has done nothing to temper fears of flash flooding as heavy rain is expected to continue for several days and more than 40 inches is expected in certain areas.</p>


</div>






<div class="text-2 text parbase section">

<p>&ldquo;Our focus is shifting to the extreme and potentially historic levels of flooding that we could see,&rdquo; said Eric Blake, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The National Hurricane Center warned of &ldquo;catastrophic flooding&rdquo; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/category-4-hurricane-harvey-makes-landfall-texas-n796206">over the next few days</a>.</p>


</div>




<div class="tablet-ad">
    
      <span class="adv"> Advertisement </span> <br>
    
    
<div id="slug_midarticleflex" class="ad " data-ad-type="midarticleflex" data-ad-mode="tabletPortrait"></div>

    
      
<div id="slug_mob_bigbox" class="ad " data-ad-type="mob_bigbox" data-ad-mode="mobile"></div>

    
</div>


<div class="text-3 text parbase section">

<p>Harvey left &ldquo;widespread devastation&rdquo; in its path as fears continue that new tornadoes could be formed. Although no fatalities have been reported yet, attention is quickly centering around the city of Rockport, where an estimated 5,000 residents didn&rsquo;t evacuate. "There's been widespread devastation," <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/26/us/hurricane-harvey-landfall/index.html">Rockport Mayor Charles Wax told CNN late Saturday morning</a>. &ldquo;We've already taken a severe blow from the storm, but we're anticipating another one when the flooding comes.&rdquo;</p>


</div>

<div class="text parbase text-4 section">

<p>Several homes collapsed across the city and many buildings suffered structural damage. &ldquo;If you have something left of your house, you&rsquo;re lucky,&rdquo; <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-harvey-idUSKCN1B6066">one resident told Reuters</a>.</p>


</div>












<div class="parbase image slate_image section">


 <div class=" none">
        <figure class="image inline " style="width: 590px;  display: block;margin: 0 auto;float: none;"> <img src_tag_name="src" title="USWEATHERSTORMHARVEY_1" alt="USWEATHERSTORMHARVEY_1" src="/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/USWEATHERSTORMHARVEY_1.jpeg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpeg" > <figcaption class="caption"><span>A destroyed building and vehicles at Rockport Airport on August 26, 2017.</span></figcaption>  <p class="credit">MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images</p> 
        </figure>
        </div>
        <script>
        requirejs(["jquery"], function($) {
            if ($(window).width() < 640) {
                $(".slate_image figure").width("100%");
            }
        });
        </script> 
</div>

<div class="text parbase text-5 section">

<p>More than 300,000 people were left in the dark as strong winds downed power lines and in some cases made it impossible for repair crews to get to work. Gov. Greg Abbott warned those who refused to evacuate that they could be without power for days.</p>


</div>

<div class="text text-6 parbase section">

<p>Harvey slammed into the Texas coast at around 10 p.m. on Friday as a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 mph. Around <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/harvey-drops-category-storm-leaving-thousands-power-homes/story?id=49432077">three hours later it was downgraded to a Category 3</a> and by 3 a.m. it had turned into a Category 2 storm. Two hours later Harvey was downgraded again to a Category 1.</p>


</div>




<div class="tablet-ad">
    
      <span class="adv"> Advertisement </span> <br>
    
    
<div  class="ad  midarticleflex-2" data-ad-type="midarticleflex|2" data-ad-mode="tabletPortrait"></div>

    
      
<div  class="ad  mob_bigbox-2" data-ad-type="mob_bigbox|2" data-ad-mode="mobile"></div>

    
</div>


<div class="text parbase text-7 section">

<p><strong>Update at 11:15 a.m.: </strong>Hurricane Harvey continued weakening Saturday morning and was on the verge of becoming a tropical storm, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-harvey-idUSKCN1B6066">according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center</a>. Harvey had maximum sustained speeds of 75 mph, which is the limit to consider it a hurricane.</p>


</div>

<div class="text parbase text-8 section">

<p>But officials are cautioning that Texas Gulf Coast residents shouldn&rsquo;t think the danger is over just because Harvey is weakening or has already passed through their towns. What they'ree most concerned about now is the flooding that could result from the rain that the storm will drop in the area over the next few days. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t use terms like &lsquo;catastrophic and life-threatening&rsquo; often,&rdquo; <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/status/901443777629433856">the National Weather Service wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning</a>. &ldquo;Remember, this is a multi-day event...<a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/status/901451585963917312">marathon not a sprint</a>.&rdquo;</p>


</div>

<div class="twitter section">


  
  
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">We don't use terms like "catastrophic and life-threatening" often, but is exactly what the heavy rainfall/flooding threat is with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash">#Harvey</a></p>— NWS (@NWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/status/901443777629433856">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
  
</div>

<div class="twitter section">


  
  
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rainfall totals continue to increase with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash">#Harvey</a>. Totals as of 8 AM CDT  Remember, this is a multi-day event...marathon not a sprint. <a href="https://t.co/yhf7rmwd6J">pic.twitter.com/yhf7rmwd6J</a></p>— NWS (@NWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/status/901451585963917312">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
  
</div>

<div class="text parbase text-9 section">

<p>No deaths have been reported yet although emergency crews still have not been able to make it to some of the worst-hit areas. In the small city of Rockport, for example, the fire department has not been able to answer <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/hurricane-harvey-preventing-rockport-texas-emergency-crews-responding-calls/story?id=49433327">as many as 30 pending calls</a> because of the poor weather conditions. The mayor of Rockport said the city of around 10,000 people <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HARVEY_TXOL-?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-08-26-10-08-40">took a hit</a> &ldquo;right on the nose&rdquo; that left &ldquo;widespread devastation.&rdquo; The city had ordered a mandatory evacuation and officials grimly told residents that if they chose not to evacuate they should write their name and Social Security number on their arm with a Sharpie.</p>


</div>

<div class="twitter section">


  
  
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are stuck in the town of Rockport all roads are blocked due to high water &amp; debris .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txwx?src=hash">#txwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hurricaneharvey2017?src=hash">#hurricaneharvey2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/UOTx6MuZWJ">pic.twitter.com/UOTx6MuZWJ</a></p>— Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeff_Piotrowski/status/901453118784798725">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
  
</div>

<div class="text parbase text-10 section">

<p><strong>Original post at 8:15 a.m.: </strong>Gulf Coast residents were hunkered down, waiting for news early Saturday after Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas as t<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HARVEY_TXOL-?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-08-26-07-31-47">he strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Charley in 2004</a>. Hurricane Harvey made landfall northeast of Corpus Christi as a Category 4 storm with winds of up to 130 mph. By 10 p.m. Central time the center of the hurricane crossed the Texas shoreline about four miles east of the city of Rockport, according to the National Hurricane Center.</p>


</div>

<div class="twitter section">


  
  
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">As of 10 pm the eye of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash">#Harvey</a> has made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane between Port Aransas &amp; Port O'Connor. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txwx?src=hash">#txwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stxwx?src=hash">#stxwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/FiI2pIaVCE">pic.twitter.com/FiI2pIaVCE</a></p>— NWS Corpus Christi (@NWSCorpus) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSCorpus/status/901282433848545280">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
  
</div>




<div class="tablet-ad">
    
      <span class="adv"> Advertisement </span> <br>
    
    
<div  class="ad  midarticleflex-3" data-ad-type="midarticleflex|3" data-ad-mode="tabletPortrait"></div>

    
      
<div  class="ad  mob_bigbox-3" data-ad-type="mob_bigbox|3" data-ad-mode="mobile"></div>

    
</div>


<div class="text-11 text parbase section">

<p>By 5 a.m. Central time, officials had downgraded Harvey to a Category 1 storm, with winds of up to 90 mph. Forecasters warned of <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2017/08/23/parts-texas-bracing-emergency-will-tropical-storm-harvey-mean-dallas-fort-worth#_ga=2.152898813.590318843.1503747647-336996309.1503747645">heavy damage in the hours ahead</a> as some areas of southeast Texas had already reported 16 inches of rain by 5 a.m. The National Weather Service warned some areas could get as much as 40 inches of rain over the next few days. At a news conference on Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott had warned the hurricane would be particularly dangerous due to the potential for flooding. Houston remains under a flash-flood watch <a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Harvey-impacts-Texas-Latest-tropical-weather-11953474.php">until Tuesday evening</a>.</p>


</div>

<div class="twitter section">


  
  
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">A view from Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneHarvey?src=hash">#HurricaneHarvey</a>  Video: Gilbert H. <a href="https://t.co/hPkhk4v2Ct">pic.twitter.com/hPkhk4v2Ct</a></p>— KIII 3 News (@kiii3news) <a href="https://twitter.com/kiii3news/status/901233246343749641">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
  
</div>

<div class="text-12 text parbase section">

<p>The quick approach of what had been a mere tropical depression left officials scrambling as tens of thousands of coastal residents moved inland. Harvey marked the strongest hurricane to hit Texas since 1961&rsquo;s Hurricane Carla. It is tied for the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-harvey-idUSKCN1B6066">18th strongest hurricane to hit the United States since 1851</a>.</p>


</div>

<div class="text-13 text parbase section">

<p>There were no reports of deaths in the hours after Harvey made landfall but officials still have not been able to assess damage in some of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/hurricane-harvey-hits-texas-bringing-high-winds-storm-surge/2017/08/26/64fa6982-8a28-11e7-a50f-e0d4e6ec070a_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-banner-main_harveyledeall-945a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&amp;utm_term=.276daafabb8c">the worst-hit areas</a>. There were early reports coming out of a few cities in Harvey&rsquo;s path that mentioned lots of structural damage to buildings. The roof at a senior housing complex appears to have collapsed, for example, and several people may have been injured. There were also reports that the hurricane had spawned at least one tornado that ripped through Missouri City, causing damage to homes.</p>


</div>

<div class="twitter section">


  
  
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Downed poles &amp; power lines in the 3300 block of Ave I. Roadway is shut down in the area. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash">#Harvey</a> <a href="https://t.co/AHrtscbYkm">pic.twitter.com/AHrtscbYkm</a></p>— Rosenberg Police (@RosenbergPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/RosenbergPolice/status/901401114154856448">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
  
</div>

<div class="text text-14 parbase section">

<p>Abbott warned that people in the hurricane&rsquo;s path needed to be ready to make it &ldquo;a couple of days&rdquo; without electricity of adequate food supplies. The storm could also cause lots of economic damage as it is striking a region that has lots of refineries that <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-25/harvey-strengthens-as-gasoline-surges-on-texas-refinery-threat">process five million barrels of oil per day</a>.</p>


</div>
</div>

        
        
        
    </section>
    <div class="end-story" data-stream-index="0" id="end-story-0"></div>
<footer>
      
		


  
  <section class="about-the-author multi">
    
    <div class="author-bio">
      <p>
        <p>Daniel Politi has been contributing to <b><i>Slate </i></b>since 2004 and wrote the Today’s Papers column from 2006 to 2009. Follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/dpoliti">Twitter</a>.</p>

	  </p>
	</div>
	
  </section>
  

      

  
  

      


    <div class="social social-with-popup sharing-buttons social-footer">

      <a href="#" data-share="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?s=100&p[title]=Hurricane+Harvey+Downgraded+to+Tropical+Storm+as+Flooding+Fears+Persist&p[summary]=Update+at+2:20+p.m.:+Harvey+is+no+longer+a+hurricane.+The+National+Hurricane+Center+downgraded+Harvey+from+a+Category+1+to+a+tropical+storm.+But+the+of+...&p[ref]=sl_live&p[images][0]=http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpeg&p[url]=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_fb_bot" class="facebook">
        <span class="icon"></span>
        <span class="count"></span>
      </a>
    <div class="twitter">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://twitter.com/share?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.&count=none&via=slate&url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_bot" class="twitter">
       <span class="icon"></span>
    </a>
    <a class="tw-count" href="http://twitter.com/search?q=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html"><span class="count"></span></a>
    </div>
      
        <a href="#comments" class="comments">
          <span class="icon"></span>
          <span class="count"></span>
        </a>
      
    </div>



    






  
  
  

<div class="social horiz-counts-mobile centered sharing-buttons">
  
    <div class="comments">
      <a class="mobile-comments" href="#comments">
        <span class="icon"></span>
        <span class="count"></span>
      </a>
    </div>
  
  <div class="facebook">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?s=100&p[title]=Hurricane+Harvey+Downgraded+to+Tropical+Storm+as+Flooding+Fears+Persist&p[summary]=Update+at+2:20+p.m.:+Harvey+is+no+longer+a+hurricane.+The+National+Hurricane+Center+downgraded+Harvey+from+a+Category+1+to+a+tropical+storm.+But+the+of+...&p[ref]=sl_live&p[images][0]=http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpeg&p[url]=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html&u=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_fb_bot" class="share facebook" target="_blank">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count"></span>
    </a>
  </div>
  <div class="twitter">
    <a href="#" data-share="http://twitter.com/share?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.&count=none&via=slate&url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_tw_bot" class="twitter">
       <span class="icon"></span>
    </a>
    <a class="tw-count" href="http://twitter.com/search?q=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html"><span class="count"></span></a>
  </div>

  
  
  <div class="whatsapp">
    <a href="whatsapp://send?text=Hurricane%20Harvey%20downgraded%20to%20tropical%20storm%20as%20flooding%20fears%20persist.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slate.com%2Fblogs%2Fthe_slatest%2F2017%2F08%2F26%2Fhurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html%3Fwpsrc%3Dsh_all_mob_wa_bot" class="whatsapp">
       <span class="icon"></span>
    </a>
  </div>
  

  <div class="email">
    <a href="mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20piece%20on%20Slate&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20this%20article%20on%20Slate:%0AHurricane%20Harvey%20Downgraded%20to%20Tropical%20Storm%20as%20Flooding%20Fears%20Persist%0Ahttp://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_em_bot" class="email">
      <span class="icon"></span>
      <span class="count">&nbsp;</span>
    </a>
  </div>
</div>


  
</footer>





<div id="comments" class="comments-container" data-lf-hash="MzM3NzIwOmNxLTIyNzE3MDgyNjAwMQ==">
  <div id="livefyre">
  	<div class="button-container lf-loader" style="text-align:center;">
      <button class="push-button comments-push-button" style="padding: 0 15px;">Load Comments</button>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div id="powered_by_livefyre_new"><a href="http://livefyre.com" target="_blank">Powered by Livefyre</a></div>
</div>

<div id="right-rail">
  <div id="comments-ads" class="comments-ads-container">
  </div>
  <div id="comments-bigbox" class="comments-bigbox-container">
    <div class="ad bigbox" data-ad-mode="desktop" data-ad-type="bigbox"></div>
  </div>
</div>

<script type="text/javascript">
requirejs(['config', 'jquery', 'slatelivefyre'], function(config, $, slatelivefyre) {
  $('#livefyre .lf-loader').html([
    '<div style="color: #999;">Loading...</div>',
    '<div style="color: #999; font-size: smaller; margin: 20px auto">',
    'Are Slate\'s comments not loading even after a few seconds? ',
    '<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.slate.com/features/browser-data-comment.html" class="issue-collector" data-issue-collector-value="11019">',
    'Send us your browser and operating system information.</a>',
    '</div>'
  ].join(''));

  $.extend(config.livefyre, {
    collectionMeta: 'eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ0aXRsZSI6Ikh1cnJpY2FuZSBIYXJ2ZXkgRG93bmdyYWRlZCB0byBUcm9waWNhbCBTdG9ybSBhcyBGbG9vZGluZyBGZWFycyBQZXJzaXN0IiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5zbGF0ZS5jb20vYmxvZ3MvdGhlX3NsYXRlc3QvMjAxNy8wOC8yNi9odXJyaWNhbmVfaGFydmV5X2JhcnJlbHNfdGhyb3VnaF90ZXhhc19jb2FzdC5odG1sP3dwaXNyY1x1MDAzZGxmIiwidGFncyI6Imh1cnJpY2FuZSBoYXJ2ZXkiLCJjaGVja3N1bSI6IjIzODlkZWY3MTMyODkyYmNiZWZkODJmOGRmYmIyMmZhIiwiYXJ0aWNsZUlkIjoiY3EtMjI3MTcwODI2MDAxIn0.bnl3XDNcHlB_lZPjmuGtFV4-jt1ikSd-CEb7I_82_y4'
  });

  if (config.iscroll.disabled) {
    slatelivefyre.loadLivefyre(config.page.articleId, config.livefyre.collectionMeta);
  }
});
</script>




    <div class="parsys iparsys contentWellBottom"><div class="section"><div class="new"></div>
</div><div class="iparys_inherited"><div class="parsys iparsys contentWellBottom">
</div>
</div>
</div>

    

    
    <div class="noAutoRefresh" data-ad-type="teads" data-ad-mode="all" id="slug_teads"></div>
    <div class="bottom" id="bottom-0">
    </div>
    

  </article><!-- /.main -->
  
  <aside class="sidebar" id="main_sidebar">
    <div class="sidebar-wrapper">
      
      
      
      










  
  
  


<section class="nav-panel" id='slate_logo'>
  <div class="nav-header">
    <a class="slate-logo" href="/">
      
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="119" height="37" viewBox="0 0 258 80" style="margin: 8px 0 0 8px;">
          <title>Slate logo</title>
          <path fill="#FFF" d="M257.9 18.8h-23.3v12.7h23.3V48h-23.3v13.1h23.3V78h-43V2h43v16.7zM205.7 2v16.7h-16.1v59H170v-59h-16.1V2h51.8zm-85.8 0h13.3L161.9 78h-21l-5.7-16.7h-15.3v-15H130L120 17.1V2zm-55.5 0H84v59.1h26.5V78H64.4V2zM26 18.1a5.6 5.6 0 0 0-2.4 4.8c0 1.4.4 2.5 1.2 3.3.8.9 1.8 1.7 3.1 2.3 1.3.6 2.8 1.2 4.4 1.7 1.7.4 3.3 1 4.9 1.5 6.4 2.1 11 5 14 8.6 3 3.5 4.5 8.2 4.5 14 0 3.9-.7 7.4-2 10.5A22 22 0 0 1 48 73c-2.5 2.3-5.5 4-9.2 5.2A45.2 45.2 0 0 1 0 71.4l8.4-15.8a34 34 0 0 0 8.7 5.8c2.9 1.3 5.7 2 8.5 2 3.2 0 5.6-.8 7.1-2.3a6.8 6.8 0 0 0 1.8-8c-.4-.8-1-1.6-2-2.3a16 16 0 0 0-3.7-2l-5.4-2-7.5-2.6c-2.4-1-4.6-2.3-6.5-3.9a18 18 0 0 1-4.5-6A21.6 21.6 0 0 1 3 24.8c0-3.7.6-7.1 1.8-10.2A22.7 22.7 0 0 1 18.3 1.8C21.6.6 25.2 0 29.2 0a47.3 47.3 0 0 1 23.4 6.1l-7.8 15.4c-2.1-1.7-4.3-3-6.4-3.9a17 17 0 0 0-6.2-1.2 10 10 0 0 0-6.2 1.8z"/>
        </svg>
      
    </a>
    <a href="#" class="user-link sidebar-handle"></a>
    <a href="#" class="search-link sidebar-handle"></a>
    <a href="#" class="global-nav-handle sidebar-handle"></a>
    <div class="buttons">
      
      <span class="link option"><a class="first nav-option sign-in-link" href="#">Sign In</a></span>
      <span class="link option"><a href="#" class="nav-option sign-up-link">Sign Up</a></span>
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
</section>

      

      
      

<div class="parsys iparsys contentSidebar"><div class="section"><div class="new"></div>
</div><div class="iparys_inherited"><div class="parsys iparsys contentSidebar"><div class="rightrailstories section">

<section class="items">
  

  

  
 </section>


 
<script type="text/javascript">
requirejs(['jquery'], function($) {
  if (mobileMode()) {
    $(".rightrailstories section").remove();
  }
});
</script>



</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>



      
    </div><!-- /.sidebar-wrapper -->
  </aside><!-- /.sidebar -->
  
  
  
  	

  <footer id="article_footer_tiles">
     
  </footer>

  

  
</div><!-- /.page -->



<!-- HCS: layout -->
  
    <style type="text/css">
      body > .bottom {
        text-align: center;
        padding: 10px 0;
      }
      .bottom > #slug_leaderboard_2 {
        position: relative;
        width: auto;
        text-align: center;
      }
    </style>

    
      <div class="bottom">
        
          
            <div class="ad leaderboard-3" data-ad-type="leaderboard|3" data-ad-mode="desktop"></div>
          
          
        
      </div>
    



<footer class="slate-footer slate-footer--top">
  <div class="container">
    <div class="slate-footer__follow-slate">
          <span class="label">FOLLOW SLATE</span>
          <ul class="list-unstyled slate-footer__social-icons">
            <li class="twitter">
              <a href="https://twitter.com/slate" target="_blank"><span class="sr-only">Twitter</span></a>
            </li>
            <li class="facebook">
              <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Slate" target="_blank"><span class="sr-only">Facebook</span></a>
            </li>
            <li class="instagram">
              <a href="https://instagram.com/slate" target="_blank"><span class="sr-only">Instagram</span></a>
            </li>
          </ul>
    </div>

    <div id="slug_interstitial" data-ad-type="interstitial" data-ad-mode="all" style="display: none;"></div>

    <div class="slate-footer__slate-on">
      <span class="label">SLATE ON</span>
      <ul class="list-unstyled">
        <li><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/slate-com/id357555242?mt=8">IPHONE</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=com.wapo.slate.android">ANDROID</a></li>
        <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IOMTC0?ie=UTF8&tag=slatmaga-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000IOMTC0/">KINDLE</a></li>
      </ul>
    </div>

    <ul class="slate-footer__reprints list-unstyled">
      <li><a href="http://www.slatereprints.com">Reprints</a></li>
      <li><a href="mailto:advertise@slate.com">Advertise with us</a></li>
    </ul>

  </div><!-- close wrapper -->
</footer><!-- footer base -->



  


<footer class="slate-footer slate-footer--bottom">
  <div class="container">
      <div class="slate-footer__links">
        <ul class="list-unstyled">
          <li><a href="/articles/news_and_politics/slate_fare/2006/08/about_us.html">ABOUT US</a></li>
          <li><a href="/articles/briefing/contact_us/2006/08/whereto_find_slate_staff.html">CONTACT US</a></li>
          <li><a href="/articles/news_and_politics/slate_fare/2008/04/a_job_for_you_at_slate.html">WORK WITH US</a></li>
          <li><a href="/articles/briefing/slate_user_agreement_and_privacy_policy/2012/12/slate_s_terms_of_service.html">USER AGREEMENT</a></li>
          <li><a href="/articles/briefing/slate_user_agreement_and_privacy_policy/2012/12/slate_s_privacy_policy.html">PRIVACY POLICY</a></li>
          <li><a href="/articles/briefing/slate_fare/2011/12/commenting_on_slate_frequently_asked_questions.html">FAQ</a></li>
        </ul>
        <ul class="list-unstyled">
          <li><a href="mailto:feedback@slate.com">FEEDBACK</a></li>
          <li><a href="/articles/news_and_politics/corrections.html">CORRECTIONS</a></li>
        </ul>
      </div><!-- -->

      <a href="http://www.slate.com" class="slate-group-logo">
        <span class="sr-only">Slate Group</span>
      </a>

      <a href="http://www.panoply.fm" class="panoply-logo" target="_blank">
        <span class="sr-only">Panoply</span>
      </a>

      <p class="copyright">Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. All contents &copy;
        2018  The Slate Group LLC. All rights reserved.</p>

  </div><!-- close wrapper -->
</footer> <!-- /.footer-base-toc -->






<!-- HCS END: layout -->
<!-- HCS: layouts/shared/bottom -->

<div id="signIn"></div>
<script>


requirejs(["jquery", "hcs/libs/iscroll-lite", "modernizr", "hcs/script", "hcs/plugins/SGGlobalNav.jquery", "hcs/plugins/jQuery.highlighter","hcs/plugins/SGGlobalNav.jquery","libs/jquery-plugins/jquery.timeago","announcements","myslate"], function($, iScroll, unused0, unused1, unused2, unused3, unused4, unused5, announcements, myslate) {
  $(document).ready(function() {
    announcements.deleteOldCookies();
    
    $("span.timeago").timeago();
  });
  function pageLoadedForScrolling(){


    scroller = new iScroll('main_sidebar', {
      hScroll: false,
      hScrollbar: false,
      bounce: false
    });

    if(!mobileMode() && tabletMode() && $('html').hasClass('touch')){
      // Nav gets iScroll if we're on an actual tablet.
      window.tabletScroller = new iScroll('nav_sections', {
        hScroll: false,
        hScrollbar: false,
        bounce: false,
        onBeforeScrollStart: function (e) {
          var target = e.target;
          while (target.nodeType != 1) target = target.parentNode;

          if (target.tagName != 'SELECT' && target.tagName != 'INPUT' && target.tagName != 'TEXTAREA')
          e.preventDefault();
        }
      });
    }

  }

  // We institute fancy scrolling on iscroll only on mobile webkit.

  // Webkit detection script
  Modernizr.addTest('webkit', function(){
    return RegExp(" AppleWebKit/").test(navigator.userAgent);
  });

  // Mobile Webkit
  Modernizr.addTest('mobile', function(){
    return RegExp(" Mobile/").test(navigator.userAgent);
  });

  if(Modernizr.webkit && Modernizr.mobile){
    if (document.addEventListener){
      document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { setTimeout(pageLoadedForScrolling, 200); }, false);
    } else if (document.attachEvent){
      document.attachEvent('DOMContentLoaded', function () { setTimeout(pageLoadedForScrolling, 200); }, false);
    }
  }



  $(function(){

    if ($('body').hasClass('home')
        || $('body').hasClass('landing')
        || $('body').hasClass('settings')) {
      $('.nav-header').SGGlobalNav({
        noRollup: true, // Need to tell the homepage and landing etc that there's no rollup here, which causes things to behave differently.
        noBurgerScroll: $('body').hasClass('no-burger-scroll'),
        isSlatePlusUser: myslate.isSlatePlusUser
      });
    } else {
      $('.nav-header').SGGlobalNav({
        isSlatePlusUser: myslate.isSlatePlusUser
      });
    }


    // Input field placeholder plugin to account for placeholder fallbacks.
    jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
      $(".field-with-placeholder").placeholder();
    });


    $('.content').highlighter({
      'selector': '.highlighter-container',
      'noHighlightIds': $('#podcast-slateplus-page'),
      'minWords': 0,
      'complete': function (data) {
        // Here we have the selected string for use.
        // console.log(data);
        selectedText = data;
      }
    });

  });


  $(document).ready(function() {
    $(".sticky").each(function() {
      var stickyTop = $(".sticky").offset().top; // returns number
      $(window).scroll(function() { // scroll event
        var windowTop = $(window).scrollTop() + 57 + parseInt($(".sticky").css("margin-top").split("px")[0]); // returns number
        if (stickyTop < windowTop) {
          $(".sticky").css({ position: "fixed", top: "53px" });
        } else {
          $(".sticky").css("position","static");
        }
      });
    })
  });

  watchSocialWelcomeNotifications();

});
    </script>

    
    

    <script>
requirejs(["jquery", "myslate", "hcs/script", "hcs/plugins/SGNavDropdown.jquery",
		"hcs/plugins/SGBigSlider.jquery","hcs/plugins/SGFootnote.jquery","hcs/plugins/SGRollup.jquery",
		"hcs/plugins/SGNavDropdown.jquery","hcs/plugins/SGLightbox.jquery"],
		function($, myslate, unused0, unused1, unused2, unused3, unused4, unused5, unused6) {

    $(function(){

      $('.footnote').SGFootnote();
      var multipartArticleRollup = $('#article_rollup');

      var subHed = $('#sub_hed');
      if(subHed.length > 0){
        subHed.SGNavDropdown({ // Multipart rollup triggered by tapping the subhed.
          extraId: 'subhed', // Used to name events inside the plugin, so we can be sure to bind/unbind the correct stuff.
          targetId: '#multipart_nav', // The thing to show.
          leftOffset: function(){ return $('#sub_hed').position().left; },
          topOffset: function(){ return $('#sub_hed').position().top + $('#sub_hed').outerHeight(true); },
          onShow: function(){
            $('#multipart_nav').css('position', 'absolute');
            $('#multipart_nav').css('height', 'auto');
            $('#multipart_nav').css('overflow', 'auto');
            // subHed.find('.toggle').addClass('open-toggle');
          },
          onHide: function(){
            // subHed.find('.toggle').removeClass('open-toggle');
          }
        });
      }

      if($('#article_header').length > 0){
        // The roll up.
        $('#main_sidebar').SGRollup({ // The main element assigned to this plugin is used to trigger the drop of the rollup on desktop mode.
          rollupEl: multipartArticleRollup,
          topOffset: $('#slate_logo').height(),
          leftOffset: $('#article_header').offset().left,
          tablet: {el: $('#article_header'), topOffset: $('#article_header').height()}, // Indicate the visibility triggers for tablet mode.
          mobile: {el: $('#tablet_header'), topOffset: $('#tablet_header').height()},// Indicate the visibility triggers for mobile mode.
          onHide: function(){
            // On roll back up make sure to hide the nav if it's open, assuming it was opened by the rollup toggle.
            if(multipartArticleRollup.data('plugin_SGNavDropdown').isTargetVisible() && $('#multipart_nav').data('openedByRollup')){
              multipartArticleRollup.data('plugin_SGNavDropdown').close();
            }
          }
        });
      }

    // Multipart dropdown triggered by the rollup in the multipart nav.
      multipartArticleRollup.SGNavDropdown({
        targetId: '#multipart_nav', // The thing to show.
        extraSpecificHandle: '.handle',
        extraId: 'multipart', // Used to name events inside the plugin, so we can be sure to bind/unbind the correct stuff.
        leftOffset: function(){ return multipartArticleRollup.find('.main').offset().left; },
        topOffset: function(){
          return multipartArticleRollup.outerHeight(true)
        },
        onShow: function(){
          $('#multipart_nav').css('position', ''); // undo the absolute bit we might have affixed in subHed.SGNavDropdown().
          $('#multipart_nav').addClass('fixed').data('openedByRollup', true);
          $('#multipart_nav').css('max-height', (mobileMode() ? $(window).outerHeight(true) + 10 : $(window).height() - $('#article_rollup').height()));
          $('#multipart_nav').css('overflow', 'scroll');
          if(mobileMode()){
            $('#multipart_nav').css('right', 0);
          }
        },
        onHide: function(){
          $('#multipart_nav').data('openedByRollup', false);
        }
      });




      // Trigger the slideshow lightbox for from the .slideshow-preview example.
        $('#slideshow_preview_link').SGLightbox({
          type: 'slideshow',
          slideshowElement: $('#the_slideshow')
        });

      watchMobileRollupSocialToggle();

      $('.expandable').find('.toggle').click(function(e){
        $(this).closest('.social').toggleClass('visible');
        $('#main_byline').toggle();
        e.preventDefault();
      });

      $('.full-width').setFullWidth();

    });
});
    </script>


    
    <!-- Parsely -->
    






<div id="parsely-root" style="display: none">
  <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="slate.com"></div>
</div>

<script>
  var parselyLoaded = false,
      parselyActionname = 'noniscrollstory';

  


  

  // Call Parsely Onload Handler
  PARSELY = {
    autotrack: false,
    onload: function() {
      parselyLoaded = true;
      PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView(parselyEvent);
    }
  };

  // Load Parsely API Script
  (function(s, p, d) {
    var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s,
        e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"),
        u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net"
        :"static."+p+".com";
    if (e) return;
    e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true;
    e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e);
  })("script", "parsely", document);
</script>
<!-- END Parse.ly Include -->

    



<div class="nav-header" id="magic_nav_header">
  <a class="slate-logo" href="/"><span class="logo">Slate</span></a>
  <div class="buttons"></div>
</div><!-- /.nav-header -->
<!-- HCS: layouts/shared/nav/nav -->
<div id="nav_sections"></div>
<!-- HCS END: layouts/shared/nav/nav -->

      
      










  
  
  


<section class="nav-panel" id='nav_header_for_rollup_magic'>
  <div class="nav-header">
    <a class="slate-logo" href="/">
      
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="119" height="37" viewBox="0 0 258 80" style="margin: 8px 0 0 8px;">
          <title>Slate logo</title>
          <path fill="#FFF" d="M257.9 18.8h-23.3v12.7h23.3V48h-23.3v13.1h23.3V78h-43V2h43v16.7zM205.7 2v16.7h-16.1v59H170v-59h-16.1V2h51.8zm-85.8 0h13.3L161.9 78h-21l-5.7-16.7h-15.3v-15H130L120 17.1V2zm-55.5 0H84v59.1h26.5V78H64.4V2zM26 18.1a5.6 5.6 0 0 0-2.4 4.8c0 1.4.4 2.5 1.2 3.3.8.9 1.8 1.7 3.1 2.3 1.3.6 2.8 1.2 4.4 1.7 1.7.4 3.3 1 4.9 1.5 6.4 2.1 11 5 14 8.6 3 3.5 4.5 8.2 4.5 14 0 3.9-.7 7.4-2 10.5A22 22 0 0 1 48 73c-2.5 2.3-5.5 4-9.2 5.2A45.2 45.2 0 0 1 0 71.4l8.4-15.8a34 34 0 0 0 8.7 5.8c2.9 1.3 5.7 2 8.5 2 3.2 0 5.6-.8 7.1-2.3a6.8 6.8 0 0 0 1.8-8c-.4-.8-1-1.6-2-2.3a16 16 0 0 0-3.7-2l-5.4-2-7.5-2.6c-2.4-1-4.6-2.3-6.5-3.9a18 18 0 0 1-4.5-6A21.6 21.6 0 0 1 3 24.8c0-3.7.6-7.1 1.8-10.2A22.7 22.7 0 0 1 18.3 1.8C21.6.6 25.2 0 29.2 0a47.3 47.3 0 0 1 23.4 6.1l-7.8 15.4c-2.1-1.7-4.3-3-6.4-3.9a17 17 0 0 0-6.2-1.2 10 10 0 0 0-6.2 1.8z"/>
        </svg>
      
    </a>
    <a href="#" class="user-link sidebar-handle"></a>
    <a href="#" class="search-link sidebar-handle"></a>
    <a href="#" class="global-nav-handle sidebar-handle"></a>
    <div class="buttons">
      
      <span class="link option"><a class="first nav-option sign-in-link" href="#">Sign In</a></span>
      <span class="link option"><a href="#" class="nav-option sign-up-link">Sign Up</a></span>
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
</section>


    <div id="nav_animation_mask">

    </div>

    
    <span class='highlighter-container'>
      <div class="social social-with-popup sharing-buttons">
        <a href="#" data-share="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p[url]=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/uploads/2017/08/26/Hurricane-Harvey-Slams-Into-Texas-Gulf-Coast.jpeg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpeg&p[title]=Hurricane+Harvey+Downgraded+to+Tropical+Storm+as+Flooding+Fears+Persist&p[summary]=Update+at+2%3A20+p.m.%3A+Harvey+is+no+longer+a+hurricane.+The+National+Hurricane+Center+downgraded+Harvey+from+a+Category+1+to+a+tropical+storm.+But+the+of+..." class="facebook share highlighter">
          <span class="icon"></span>
        </a>
        <a href="#" data-share="http://twitter.com/share?url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/26/hurricane_harvey_barrels_through_texas_coast.html&count=none&via=slate" class="twitter">
          <span class="icon"></span>
        </a>
        
          <a href="#comments" class="comments" style="display: none;">
            <span class="icon"></span>
          </a>
        
      </div>
        <div class="arrow-border"></div>
        <div class="arrow"></div>
    </span>
    
<!-- HCS END: layouts/shared/bottom -->

    
    <script>requirejs(['twitter']);</script>
    

  <!--
  Page Loading starts on 2018/02/13 01:54:43, Total time elapsed to render is 0.25049618 seconds, Server: pub1w.slate.com
  -->
  </body>
</html>












