Houston mayor orders new evacuations
HOUSTON -- The mayor of Houston has ordered mandatory evacuations for people who haven't left their homes in part of the city that remains flooded more than a week after Harvey dumped 50-plus inches of rain in spots.
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Saturday said about 300 people have stayed behind in western stretches of the city inundated by water that the Army Corp of Engineers has released from reservoirs. The mayor is now ordering those people to leave.
There are 4,700 dwellings in the flooded area, including houses and apartments. Power will be cut off to approximately 300 inundated homes in West Houston that were flooded by the release of water from the Addicks and Barker-Cypress reservoirs, CBS affiliate KHOU reports.
Turner asked residents in the area to leave Friday. On Saturday he said those who had stayed behind were endangering themselves and first responders.
Turner tweeted that his meeting with President Trump was "productive."
My meeting with @POTUS this morning in Houston was productive. Told him of urgency of city's needs, such as advances for housing repairs.
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) September 2, 2017
Also told @POTUS of urgent need for $100 million to start debris removal speedily. He indicated 90-100% reimbursements to city.
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) September 2, 2017
Asked @POTUS for expedited @FEMA application process for flood insurance claims from first responders. He gave a big thumbs up.
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) September 2, 2017