Water levels continue to rise in Houston, may not recede for days

Water levels around Houston are rising and are not expected to drop for days as more runoff from Harvey is still filling in reservoirs and lakes in the area.

The Addicks Reservoir in west Houston is 1.6 feet over the top of the dam spilling water into the city in an uncontrolled release and is expected to rise another 1.5 feet before leveling off. At its high point, the dam will release almost 13,000 cubic feet of water per second through its sluice gates and over the spillway into Buffalo Bayou and the surrounding community. In northeast Houston, Lake Houston is still taking in a deluge of water from the rain swollen San Jacinto river.

Buffalo Bayou, the river-sized drainage ditch that runs through downtown Houston, will continue flooding the city for days as the Port of Houston, where it drains, is extremely elevated slowing the bayou’s ability to drain.

Historic flooding is also putting huge stresses on the city’s infrastructure.

Houston area roads and bridges are buckling and failing because of the flooding. Harris County Flood Control District official Jeff Linder told reporters that one bridge had collapsed, several roads had been damaged and many more are still covered by several feet of water and have not been inspected.

Centerpoint Energy, Houston’s largest electricity provider, reports that almost 100,000 people are without power and that their crews are “unable to reach many parts of the city due to flooding. Restoration estimates unavailable until road conditions improve.”

More than 13,000 people have been rescued from flooded neighborhoods by Coast Guard, National Guard, Police, Fire, the Cajun Navy and volunteer rescuers. Local officials have reported at least 30 confirmed or suspected flood-related deaths.

Most areas are no longer seeing rain from the storm and late Tuesday, the sun, not seen for days, broke through the clouds.

The city is under curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. until further notice in the hopes of curtailing looting in the area.

Mr. Turner, the mayor, warned that people had been impersonating law enforcement officers in some neighborhoods, going door to door and telling residents falsely that there was a mandatory evacuation order in place.