The National Weather Service tells 1200 WOAI news that August has already checked in as the wettest month ever in Houston as drenching rains from Tropical Storm Harvey has already dropped more than 20 inches of rain on the city, and much more rain is on the way.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner actually urged residents not to call 9-1-1 even if they have flood waters pouring into their homes, to make sure there are enough resources for people whose lives are in danger.
Houston averages 48 inches of rain per year, so this storm is likely to surpass the city's annual rainfall totals.
Turner also urged people who climb up into the attics of their homes to remember to take an axe, so they can cut their way out and go onto the roof if the water continues to rise.
Forecasters say the rain train will continue through Thursday because Harvey is stalled over DeWitt County, and will actually begin to drift back southeastward early in the week.
The Houston Fire Department told News Radio 1200 WOAI they have been called to some 1500 high water rescues since Saturday night.. As many as five people have died in Texas due to the storm.. Both Houston airports reported most flights cancelled.. There are also reports of 'hundreds' of people trapped in their cars on Houston roadways.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in suburban communities around Houston, but Turner said ordering a mandatory evacuation of a city of four million and placing all of those people onto flooded roads could be 'catastrophic.'. He urged citizens to 'shelter in place.'
The National Weather Service says 24 to 36 inches of rain will fall on Houston over the coming few days.. The rainfall has already surpassed Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 which killed dozens of people in Texas.
Another problem for the Houston area--tornadoes. Several tornado warnings have been sounded in Harris County on Sunday.