Harvey’s devastation from space: Striking satellite pictures show how 19 trillion gallons of toxic brown flood waters have ravaged Texas, causing $35 BILLION worth of damage

Harvey’s devastation from space: Striking satellite pictures show how 19 trillion gallons of toxic brown flood waters have ravaged Texas, causing $35 BILLION worth of damage

  • New satellite images taken from November until Wednesday show the extent of damage Harvey caused
  • The satellite images from DigitalGlobe illustrate how the Houston area was devastated by flooding 
  • Murky waters overtook once green land after the storm dumped 19 trillion gallons of water on the region
  • Experts claim that flooded waters in much of Houston will recede by the end of the weekend
  • The catastrophic flooding caused the death of at least 47 people and that number is expected to rise 

Texas is just beginning to recover after Harvey wreaked havoc on the state, leaving behind residential areas partially submerged in flooded waters.

New satellite images from DigitalGlobe show the extent of the catastrophic damage that the storm caused, as experts claim that flood damage alone will amount to at least $35billion, about what Katrina cost in 2005.

The stunning photos, taken from November through Wednesday, show areas outside of Houston flooded with murky waters after Harvey dumped more than 19 trillion gallons of water on the region, a stark contrast from the green land just months beforehand.

Officials said most of the flooded waters are expected to recede by the end of the weekend, as residents salvage items from soaking homes and bury loved ones as at least 47 people died because of the life-threatening floods.

Before on November 20: Streets in Simonton, Texas, were still visible from above
After on August 30: The community of 800 people were greeted with a rush of brown, murky flood waters
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These images of the tiny city of Simonton, Texas, shows how the community of 800 people had a rush of brown, murky waters flood their homes on August 30 (right). However, on November 20, 2016 (left) streets were still visible from above

Before on April 6: These striking photos of Angleton, Texas reveal how murky waters overtook a portion of the city which boasts of nearly 20,000 residents
After on August 30: Houses along the stream are presumed to have taken on water after Harvey flooded the land
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These striking photos of Angleton, Texas on April 6 (left) and August 30 (right) reveal how waters overtook the city which boasts of 20,000 residents. Houses along the stream are presumed to have taken on water after Harvey flooded the land

Before on November 20: Simonton, Texas, was completely overtaken by flood waters
After on August 30: The small town's flooding caused the death of preacher Donald Rogers, 65, and his 58-year-old wife Rochelle who drowned on Wednesday when they were swept away by a current in their car
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Simonton, Texas, (pictured) was completely overtaken by flood waters, causing the death of preacher Donald Rogers, 65, and his 58-year-old wife Rochelle who drowned on Wednesday when they were swept away by a current in their car

Before on April 3: Holiday Lakes is home to around 1,000 people
After on August 30: The city had a mandatory evacuation on Saturday afternoon after officials were concerned about catastrophic flooding
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Home to around to 1,000 people, Holiday Lakes (pictured left on April 3 and right on August 30) had a mandatory evacuation on Saturday afternoon after officials were concerned about catastrophic flooding

More than 100,000 homes were destroyed when Harvey slammed into the Lone Star State last Friday night, and some cities are left without water as the storm continues to dump record-setting amounts of rain.

After touring the devastated Texas Gulf Coast on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday more than 300,000 people have applied for disaster aid as the region begins to put the pieces of their lives back together.

Now that flood waters have receded enough for the recovery mission to begin, the death toll is expected to rise past 47 when most of the water is gone from Houston and Harris County by Friday or early Saturday.

Texan fire fighters were going door-to-door in a grim search for survivors and victims of Hurricane Harvey as hospitals and homes that were the last to be hit are evacuated on Thursday.

At least two the dead recovered in the waters were from the areas shown in the striking aerial satellite photos included in this story.

Before on November 20: Brookshire, Texas
After on August 30: After Harvey dumped more than 19 trillion gallons of water on the region, a stark contrast from the green plains just months beforehand
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These stunning photos show Brookshire, Texas, (left on November 20 and right on August 20) before and after Harvey dumped more than 19 trillion gallons of water on the region, a stark contrast from the green plains just months beforehand

Before on April 3: Rosenberg, Texas
After on August 30: Rosenberg, Texas. Officials in Houston estimate that most of the flooded waters will recede before the end of the weekend
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Officials in Houston estimate that most of the flooded waters will recede before the end of the weekend. Pictured: Rosenberg, Texas, (left on April 3 and right on August 30)

Before on October 9: Wharton, Texas
After on August 30: Residents are left weary, having to salvage items from their soaking homes and bury loved ones as more than 40 people died because of the life-threatening floods
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Residents are left weary, having to salvage items from their soaking homes and bury loved ones as more than 40 people died because of the life-threatening floods. Pictured: Wharton, Texas (left on October 9 and right on August 30)

Before on January 29: Arkema Inc. Plant in Crosby, Texas
After on August 30: There were two explosions at Arkema Inc. Plant on Thursday morning. Fifteen police officers were taken to hospital for treatment after being exposed to the harmful substances which were released the plant as a result of the blasts
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There were two explosions at Arkema Inc. Plant on Thursday morning. Fifteen police officers were taken to hospital for treatment after being exposed to the harmful substances which were released the plant as a result of the blasts. Pictured: Arkema Inc. Plant in Crosby, Texas (left on January 29 and right on August 30)

Before on October 9: Wharton, Texas
After on August 30: Wharton, Texas. The state is just beginning to recover after Harvey wreaked havoc on the state, leaving behind residential areas partially submerged in flooded water
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Texas is just beginning to recover after Harvey wreaked havoc on the state, leaving behind residential areas partially submerged in flooded waters. Pictured: Wharton, Texas (left on October 9 and right on August 30)

FLOOD VICTIMS URGED TO FILE THEIR INSURANCE CLAIMS BY FRIDAY

Hurricane Harvey flood victims are being urged to file their insurance claims by Friday before Texas enacts a bill that will result in companies paying out less for damages.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill on May 27 that reduces the penalty interest rate for insurance companies.

The law covers lawsuits that have weather-related damages, including hurricanes but not flooding.

The rate would drop from 18 percent to 10 percent, meaning policyholders could lose out on money if they were to sue over claims.

People are being urged to file before Friday, when the law is activated.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said previously that he feared how many bodies his officers would find. His bleak outlook was echoed by Fire Department Chief Terry Garrison at a press conference late on Tuesday night.

As emergency crews switched their efforts from rescue to recovery mode on Thursday, the military faced harsh criticism for how it has handled the catastrophe which has been described as a 1,000-year-flood.

Residents in some parts of Tyler County, which has a population of around 20,000 which sits to the north of the city, were told to ‘get out or die’ on Wednesday night as rivers overflowed, triggering yet more floods.

Anyone who chose to stay behind was told to write their social security number on their arm so that emergency services would later be able to identify their body.

There was also fresh danger in Harris County in Houston after two explosions at a chemical plant.

Fifteen police officers were taken to hospital for treatment after being exposed to the harmful substances which were released from Arkema Inc. Plant as a result of the blasts.

The fire was put out but officials are monitoring the site for more blazes.

A handout photo made available by the US Coast Guard shows damage seen from a deployed Coast Guard helicopter crew surveying in response to Hurricane Harvey in Wharton, Texas on Thursday

A handout photo made available by the US Coast Guard shows damage seen from a deployed Coast Guard helicopter crew surveying in response to Hurricane Harvey in Wharton, Texas on Thursday

A US Coast Guard crew from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mugu, Oxnard, California saved more than 29 lives and assisted nearly 70 who were impacted by flooding waters. Pictured: Port Arthur, Texas on Wednesday 

A US Coast Guard crew from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mugu, Oxnard, California saved more than 29 lives and assisted nearly 70 who were impacted by flooding waters. Pictured: Port Arthur, Texas on Wednesday

On Thursday, 40 survivors were rescued from flood water in the city. The emergency services have rescued 3,500 in total since Harvey began. Pictured: Flooded Port Arthur, Texas on Wednesday 

On Thursday, 40 survivors were rescued from flood water in the city. The emergency services have rescued 3,500 in total since Harvey began. Pictured: Flooded Port Arthur, Texas on Wednesday

Residents in some parts of Tyler County, which has a population of around 20,000 which sits to the north of the city, were told to 'get out or die' on Wednesday night as rivers overflowed, triggering yet more floods. Pictured: Orange, Texas

Residents in some parts of Tyler County, which has a population of around 20,000 which sits to the north of the city, were told to ‘get out or die’ on Wednesday night as rivers overflowed, triggering yet more floods. Pictured: Orange, Texas

Flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey rushes over a roadway in Beaumont, Texas on Thursday after the storm hit last Friday 

Flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey rushes over a roadway in Beaumont, Texas on Thursday after the storm hit last Friday

A flooded street is seen after the area was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on Thursday in Port Arthur, Texas. At least 47 deaths related to the storm have been reported since Harvey made it's first landfall north of Corpus Christi 

A flooded street is seen after the area was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on Thursday in Port Arthur, Texas. At least 47 deaths related to the storm have been reported since Harvey made it’s first landfall north of Corpus Christi

In Houston alone, the fire department has received 15,000 calls for help since Harvey made landfall. Some areas of the city continue to be at risk as water from the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs is released, causing the flood level in areas nearby to rise.

On Thursday, 40 survivors were rescued from flood water in the city. The emergency services have rescued 3,500 in total since Harvey began.

Homeowners suffering flood damage from Harvey are more likely to be on the hook for losses than victims of prior storms — a potentially crushing blow to personal finances and neighborhoods along the Gulf Coast.

Insurance experts say only a small fraction of homeowners in Harvey’s path of destruction have flood insurance. That means families with flooded basements, soaked furniture and water-damaged walls will have to dig deep into their pockets or take on more debt to fix up their homes.  ……..more here

 

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