Hurricane Harvey Strikes Texas Coast
Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas at approximately 9:45 p.m. Friday, initially packing 130 m.p.h. winds. The hurricane, which was powered by the Gulf of Mexico’s waters, began as a Category 4 hurricane, but its rough winds were later downgraded to a Category 1.
Hurricane Harvey struck just northeast of Corpus Christi, TX and spread to the middle Texas Coast, near the city of Victoria. It is the strongest storm to hit the US in 13 years, and the strongest to hit Texas since 1961.
President Trump said in a tweet on Friday night that he is “closely monitoring [Hurricane Harvey’s] developments & here to assist as needed.”
Thomas P. Bossert, Trump’s homeland security adviser, told reporters that Trump has been in close touch with the governors of Texas and Louisiana. The president signed a federal disaster declaration to support the local response in Texas on Friday night.
On Saturday morning, emergency officials reported heavy building damage in Port Aransas and in Rockport, leaving some residents trapped in collapsed buildings and nearly 300,000 people without electricity. Ten residents in Rockport are being treated for hurricane-related injuries.
The storm continued Saturday with 80 m.p.h. winds and heavy rainfall. Harvey is expected to maintain tropical storm strength for about four days.
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