Some Houston residents affected by rising floodwaters are experiencing sudden surges that are literally filling some homes with water up to the second story within minutes, forcing people to hastily escape to their attic or rooftops.
First and foremost, do not seek shelter in your attic if you are attempting to flee floodwaters. You may become trapped. Unless your rooftop is directly accessible from your addict, get to your roof instead and wait on rescue crews. If you do not have access to your roof, and rising waters are forcing you into an attic or a closed room, stay calm, contact 911 immediately.
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Rescuers answered thousands of desperate calls for help Sunday as floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Harvey rose high enough to begin filling second-story homes, and authorities urged stranded families to seek refuge on rooftops, reports valleycentral.com.
A fleet of helicopters, airboats and high-water vehicles confronted flooding so widespread that authorities had trouble pinpointing the worst areas. Rescuers got too many calls to respond to each one and had to prioritize life-and-death situations.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez used Twitter to field calls for assistance for those trapped inside homes, attics and vehicles. Among those seeking help was a woman who posted: “I have 2 children with me and the water is swallowing us up.”
(PHOTO: Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP)