The National Weather Service tweeted Sunday that the devastating flooding in the Houston area was "unprecedented" and its impacts are "unknown & beyond anything experienced."
Encouraging locals to to follow orders from officials for their safety, the NWS tweeted out an image showing the wide-based flooding stemming from Hurricane Harvey, now a tropical storm that is pounding Houston with rainfall.
The flooding is expected to last for days.
This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced. Follow orders from officials to ensure safety. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/IjpWLey1h8
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 27, 2017
Updated 24-h rainfall totals for the area show widespread totals already over 20 inches #houwx #glswx #bcswx #txwx pic.twitter.com/se3XdoWaHK
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) August 27, 2017
For our friends in TX, if experiencing life-threatening flooding, move to a higher floor with windows or to the roof. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/jARslyd79f
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 27, 2017
At least five people are dead as a result of the storm, according to the NWS. More than 1,000 people were rescued overnight, and requests are still coming in for high-water rescues, according to CNN.
"This disaster is going to be a landmark event," FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) director Brock Long said Sunday on CNN.
He said the agency will be in the area for years to help with the recovery from the catastrophic weather event.
President Donald Trump announced Sunday he would visit Texas as soon as possible without causing disruption.