Storm Harvey bears down on Louisiana
Houston reels as Storm Harvey bears down on Louisiana
Tropical Storm Harvey has made landfall again in the US state of Louisiana after hovering in the Gulf of Mexico.Flash-flood warnings have been issued for the state's south.
The storm, which previously reached hurricane status, has dumped record rainfall in the region.
Large parts of the Texas city of Houston are underwater, and more than 20 people are reported dead. Thousands of people there have fled their homes.
However, forecasters say the weather is now improving in Texas. Sun is predicted for Houston in the days ahead, potentially allowing respite and a chance to tackle the damage.
Houston, America's fourth most populous city, has implemented a night-time curfew to prevent looting while homes remain abandoned. Authorities and volunteers are also still battling to rescue stranded people and provide shelter for those made homeless by the rising waters.
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The curfew runs from 00:00-05:00 local time (05:00-10:00 GMT) for an indefinite period. Relief volunteers, first responders, and those going to and from work are exempt.
In Louisiana, the storm landed in the south-west corner of the state, around Cameron, in the early hours of Wednesday. It is predicted to travel in a north-easterly direction, weakening as it goes.
REUTERS
The National Weather Service said heavy rainfall was expected from Louisiana to Kentucky over the next three days.
Flash-flood warnings remain in effect for parts of southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. New Orleans - which was devastated by 2005's Hurricane Katrina - is not in the storm's direct path, according to forecasters.
Houston Police confirmed on Tuesday that veteran officer Sergeant Steve Perez is among those who have been killed. He was caught in a flooded underpass while driving to join the rescue efforts on Sunday.
A family of six - two great-grandparents and four children - have also reportedly drowned after trying to flee the city's floods in a van. Among them was 16-year-old Devy Saldivar, who posted an anxious Facebook message about the extreme weather on Sunday: "No sleep & anxiety, please let this pass sooner."
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Authorities have not yet confirmed the deaths from the Saldivar family, but relatives - including an uncle who was driving and escaped - have spoken to the media.
Authorities are reminding people not to drive - many of the casualties happened on the roads as people underestimated the power of the water. On social media, officials are repeating their mantra "Turn around, don't drown" to stop people heading out into difficult situations.
President Donald Trump visited Texas on Tuesday to survey the damage brought by Harvey.
He arrived in Corpus Christi, where Hurricane Harvey first made landfall on Friday, with First Lady Melania Trump.
Mr Trump said he wanted the relief effort to stand as an example of how to respond to a storm.
"We want to do it better than ever before.
He will not be visiting Houston. The White House said he did not want his visit to disrupt the emergency response.
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