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  <title>Hurricane Harvey leaves &#039;widespread devastation&#039; as Texas braces for severe flooding, killing two - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)</title>
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  <h1>Hurricane Harvey leaves &#039;widespread devastation&#039; as Texas braces for severe flooding, killing two</h1>



  
    <p class="published">
      Updated 
    <span class="timestamp">
      August 28, 2017 10:07:20
    </span>
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  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846290-16x9-700x394.jpg" alt="Mobile homes were destroyed at an RV park. (Photo: AP/Gabe Hernandez)" title="Mobile homes are destroyed by Hurricane Harvey at an RV" width="700" height="394"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/hurricane-harvey-leaves-widespread-damage-in-texas/8846452" class="inline-caption"><strong>Video:</strong> Mobile homes were destroyed at an RV park. (Photo: AP/Gabe Hernandez)

<span class="source">(ABC News)</span>
      </a></div>
<div class="attached-content">
      <div class="inline-content story left">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-26/hurricane-harvey-makes-landfall-in-texas/8844584"><strong>Related Story:</strong>
       &#039;Catastrophic flooding&#039; feared as Hurricane Harvey batters Texas</a></div>
<div class="inline-content story left">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-26/hurricane-harvey-residents-defy-evacuation-urges/8845230"><strong>Related Story:</strong>
       Residents defy evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Harvey</a></div>
<div class="inline-content story left">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-26/hurricane-harvey-smashes-texas-in-pictures/8845324"><strong>Related Story:</strong>
       In photos: Texas smashed by Hurricane Harvey</a></div>
<div class="inline-content map left">
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      <a class="inline-caption" href="http://maps.google.com/?q=38,-97(United%20States)&amp;z=5">
        <strong>Map: </strong>
        United States</a>
    </div>
  </div>
  <p>The most powerful storm to hit Texas in more than 50 years has killed at least two people and is now threatening catastrophic flooding as search and rescue teams deploy to the hardest-hit zones.</p><div class="inline-content wysiwyg right">
<div class="inner">
  <h2>Key points:</h2><ul><li>Harvey weakens to tropical storm, threatens widespread floods</li><li>Hit Texas as category four hurricane, two people dead</li><li>Utilities report 240,000 customers without power</li></ul></div>
</div><p> </p><p>Harvey slammed into Texas, the heart of the US oil and gas industry, yesterday as a category four hurricane with winds of 209 kilometres per hour.</p><p>That made Harvey the strongest storm to strike the state since 1961 and the most powerful storm in over a decade to come ashore anywhere in the mainland US.</p><p>It ripped off roofs, snapped trees, and triggered tornadoes and flash floods, while also curtailing a large portion of America's oil and fuel production and prompting price hikes at the pumps.</p><p>Harvey has since weakened to a tropical storm, but is expected to lash Texas for days as it lumbers inland, bringing as much as 102 centimetres of rain and affecting heavily populated areas like Houston.</p><div class="inline-content video full">
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        <a href="/news/2017-08-26/vision-from-the-international-space-station-shows/8845266" class="inline-video">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8845142-16x9-700x394.jpg" alt="Vision from the International Space Station shows Hurricane Harvey&#039;s advance" title="Satellite image of Hurricane Harvey" width="700" height="394"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-26/vision-from-the-international-space-station-shows/8845266" class="inline-caption"><strong>Video:</strong> Vision from the International Space Station shows Hurricane Harvey&#039;s advance

<span class="source">(ABC News)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>One person died in a house fire in the town of Rockport, 48 kilometres north of the city of Corpus Christi, Mayor Charles Wax said, marking the first confirmed fatality from the storm.</p><p>Houston police later announced another woman died as a result of flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.</p><p>Another dozen people in the area suffered injuries like broken bones, another official said.</p><p>The town took a direct hit from the storm and had streets flooded and strewn with power lines and debris.</p><p>At a recreational vehicle sales lot, a dozen vehicles were flipped over and one had been blown into the middle of the street.</p><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/woman-examines-debris-from-hurricane-harvey/8846336">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846306-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="Woman stands amid debris" title="Woman examines debris from Hurricane Harvey" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/woman-examines-debris-from-hurricane-harvey/8846336" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       Harvey destroyed many homes and damaged many commercial buildings. <span class="source">(AP: David J. Phillip)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>By Saturday evening in Rockport, a caravan of military vehicles had arrived with people and equipment to help in the recovery efforts, and town officials announced an overnight curfew for residents.</p><p>"It was terrible," resident Joel Valdez, 57, said. </p><p>The storm ripped part of the roof from his trailer home at around 4:00am, he said. </p><p>"I could feel the whole house move."</p><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/woman-looks-over-the-remains-of-her-house/8846656">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846652-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="Woman in orange jacket walks in front of burned house" title="Woman looks over the remains of her house" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/woman-looks-over-the-remains-of-her-house/8846656" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       A Bolivar beach cabin owner looks over the remains of her house. Fire officials are investigating. <span class="source">(AP: Guiseppe Barranco)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>Mr Valdez said he stayed through the storm to look after his animals.</p><p>"I have these miniature donkeys and I don't know where they are," he said, as he sat in a Jeep with windows smashed by the storm.</p><p>Resident Frank Cook, 56, also stayed through the storm.</p><p>"If you have something left of your house, you're lucky," he said, surveying the damage from his vehicle.</p><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/a-collapsed-overhead-gantry-lies-across-interstate-37/8846338">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846304-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="A collapsed overhead gantry lies across the highway" title="A collapsed overhead gantry lies across Interstate 37" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/a-collapsed-overhead-gantry-lies-across-interstate-37/8846338" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       A collapsed overhead gantry lies across Interstate 37, blocking the highway, in Corpus Christie, Texas. <span class="source">(Reuters: Mohammad Khursheed)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><h2>Streets deserted as winds still rage</h2><p>Before the storm hit, Rockport's Mayor told anyone staying behind to write their names on their arms for identification in case of death or injury.</p><p>A high school, hotel, senior housing complex and other buildings suffered structural damage, according to emergency officials and local media. Some were being used as shelters.</p><p>The coastal city of Port Lavaca, farther north on the coast, had no power and some streets were flooded.</p><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/a-ranch-house-surrounded-by-floodwaters/8846340">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846300-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="A ranch house surrounded by floodwaters near Port Lavaca, Texas." title="A ranch house surrounded by floodwaters" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/a-ranch-house-surrounded-by-floodwaters/8846340" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       <span class="Lbl">A ranch house surrounded by floodwaters near Port Lavaca, Texas.</span> <span class="source">(Reuters: Rick Wilking)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>"There is so much tree damage and debris that the cost of clean up will be enormous," Mayor Jack Whitlow said after touring the city.</p><p>The streets of Corpus Christi, which has around 320,0000 residents, were deserted, with billboards twisted and strong winds still blowing.</p><p>City authorities asked residents to reduce use of toilets and taps because power outages left waste water plants unable to treat sewage.</p><p>The city was under voluntary evacuation ahead of the storm.</p><p>The White House said President Donald Trump had been meeting with his Cabinet and other senior administration officials to discuss the federal response to the flooding and damage caused by Harvey.</p><p>In a statement issued on Saturday, it said Mr Trump held a video conference from the presidential retreat at Camp David. </p><p>Mr Trump instructed the relevant departments and agencies to "stay fully engaged and positioned to support his number one priority of saving lives".</p><h2>Storm weakens as it moves inland</h2><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/business-owner-clears-debris-from-outside-his-shop/8846342">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846296-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="Carlos clears debris from outside his shop" title="Business owner clears debris from outside his shop" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/business-owner-clears-debris-from-outside-his-shop/8846342" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       Business owner clears debris from outside his shop.  <span class="source">(Reuters: Adrees Latif)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>Harvey weakened to tropical storm from hurricane strength on Saturday, the US National Hurricane Centre said. </p><p>The centre of the storm was about 241km west-south-west of Houston, moving at about 4kph, the centre said in a morning update.</p><p>Houston is the fourth most populous city in the US and home to a third of the 6 million people that could be affected by Harvey.</p><p>Residents of the city received automatic mobile phone warnings of flash floods early on Saturday.</p><p>Authorities warned of the potentially life-threatening impact of close to 60cm of rain falling on the city over several days.</p><p>The storm's outer bands had already dumped 15cm of rainfall on parts of the city by early Saturday afternoon (local time).</p><p>The latest forecast storm track has Harvey looping back toward the Gulf of Mexico coast before turning north again on Tuesday. </p><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/boat-in-a-tree/8846344">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8846292-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="Boat in a tree in the middle of a car park" title="Boat in a tree" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/boat-in-a-tree/8846344" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       A boat is located on land after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area.  <span class="source">(AP: Gabe Hernandez/Corpus Christi Caller-Times)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>"This rain will lead to a prolonged, dangerous, and potentially catastrophic flooding event well into next week," the National Weather Service (NWS) said. </p><p>Harvey has triggered flash floods, the NWS said.</p><div class="inline-content wysiwyg right">
<div class="inner">
  <h2><a href="/news/2017-08-26/hurricane-harvey-smashes-texas-in-pictures/8845324" target="_self" title="">In pictures: Harvey hits Texas</a></h2><a href="/news/2017-08-26/hurricane-harvey-smashes-texas-in-pictures/8845324" target="_self" title=""><img alt="" class="float--none" src="/cm/lb/8845666/data/rough-seas-in-the-gulf-of-mexico-data.jpg#Rough seas in the gulf of mexico as hurricane harvey looms"/> </a> <br/><a href="/news/2017-08-26/hurricane-harvey-smashes-texas-in-pictures/8845324" target="_self" title="">Category four Hurricane Harvey brings heavy rain and damaging winds to communities in southern Texas.</a></div>
</div><p> </p><p>The size and strength of Harvey dredged up memories of Katrina, the 2005 hurricane that made a direct hit on New Orleans as a category three storm, causing levees and flood walls to fail in dozens of places. </p><p>About 1,800 died in the disaster made worse by a slow government emergency response.</p><p>US President Donald Trump, facing the first big natural disaster of his term, said on Twitter he signed a disaster proclamation that "unleashes the full force of government help" shortly before Harvey made landfall.</p><p>"You are doing a great job — the world is watching," Mr Trump said on Saturday in a tweet referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which coordinates the response to major disasters.</p><div class="inline-content video full">
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              {'url': 'http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/video/201708/CNb_HarveySURFER_2608_512k.mp4', 'contentType': 'video/mp4', 'codec': 'AVC', 'bitrate': '425', 'width': '512', 'height': '288', 'filesize': '2043348'}
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        <a href="/news/2017-08-26/a-surfer-takes-to-the-waves-whipped-up-by/8845056" class="inline-video">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8845058-16x9-700x394.jpg" alt="A surfer takes to the waves whipped up by Hurricane Harvey" title="A surfer takes to the waves whipped up by Hurricane Harvey" width="700" height="394"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-26/a-surfer-takes-to-the-waves-whipped-up-by/8845056" class="inline-caption"><strong>Video:</strong> A surfer takes to the waves whipped up by Hurricane Harvey

<span class="source">(ABC News)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><h2>Fuel prices spike as refineries shut down</h2><p>Utilities American Electric Power Company Inc and CenterPoint Energy Inc reported a combined total of around 240,000 customers without power.</p><p>Several refiners shut down plants ahead of the storm, disrupting supplies and pushing prices higher. </p><p>Many fuel stations ran out of gasoline before the storm hit, and the US Environmental Protection Agency loosened gasoline specifications late on Friday to reduce shortages.</p><p>Disruptions to fuel supply drove benchmark gasoline futures to their highest price in four months.</p><div class="inline-content photo full">
    <a href="/news/2017-08-27/a-car-flooded/8845864">











  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  <img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8845542-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="A car is bogged in floodwaters as the storm makes landfall" title="A flooded vehicle" width="700" height="467"/>
</a><a href="/news/2017-08-27/a-car-flooded/8845864" class="inline-caption"><strong>
        Photo:</strong>
       Hurricane Harvey is expected to generate storm surges along with prodigious amounts of rain. <span class="source">(Reuters: Brian Thevenot)</span>
      </a></div><p> </p><p>More than 45 per cent of the country's refining capacity is along the US Gulf Coast, and nearly a fifth of the nation's crude is produced offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.</p><p>Just under 25 per cent of Gulf output, or 429,000 barrels per day (bpd) had been shut in by the storm, the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said on Saturday.</p><p><strong>Reuters/AP</strong></p>


<p class="topics">
	<strong>Topics:</strong>
	
	<a href="/news/topic/weather">weather</a>,


	
	<a href="/news/topic/storm-event">storm-event</a>,


	
	<a href="/news/topic/storm-disaster">storm-disaster</a>,


	
	<a href="/news/topic/united-states">united-states</a>
	
</p>


  <p class="published">
    First posted 
    <span class="timestamp">
      August 27, 2017 00:39:46
    </span>
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  <div class="section module-heading">
      <h2>Hurricane Harvey</h2>
        </div>
  <div class="section module-body">
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		 <p>The case of Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg has put into sharp focus the standards applied to public officials as opposed to their political masters.</p>
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<span class="story"></span>
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		 <p class="title">
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