Weather and Natural Disasters

Stunning images from the devastating Houston floods

Interstate highway 45 is submerged from the effects of Hurricane Harvey seen during widespread flooding in Houston, Texas, August 27, 2017.
Richard Carson | Reuters

Historic flooding continues to worsen in Houston as the remnants of Hurricane Harvey douse southeastern Texas with rain. Emergency personnel used motorboats, airboats and other vehicles to rescue more than .

Harvey washed over major highways, including Interstate 45 seen above, as flooding spreads. Houston has a population of more than 2.3 million.

As Harvey lingers around Texas' Gulf Coast, where it is forecast to remain for several more days, it is drenching parts of the region with a year's worth of rain in the span of a week.

City streets turned into waterways

A resident floats his pets and belongings on an air mattress along Mercury Drive as he flees flood water at his home in Houston, TX on Sunday, Aug 27, 2017.
Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images

One local resident floated his pets and belongings on an air mattress, taking to the streets after his home was overtaken by rising floodwaters.

Tens of thousands seeking shelter

Naomi Coto carries Simba on her shoulders as they evacuate their home after the area was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on August 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
Getty Images

A woman carries her dog on her shoulders, evacuating to a new location after her area was inundated by the flooding. More than 30,000 people are expected to be placed temporarily in shelters, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said at a news conference on Monday.

Families used small boats to flee the rising water

People use a boat to evacuate their home after the area was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on August 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
Getty Images

People used small boats to evacuate their homes, pulling families to safety above the rising water.

Mario Qua holds Wilson Qua as they evacuate their flooded home after the area was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on August 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
Getty Images

Mario Qua holds his child Wilson Qua as they evacuate their flooded home after their Houston area was inundated with flooding.

Jesus Nunez carries his daughter Genesis, 6, as he and numerous family members flee their flooded home, walking nearly four hours to the safety of a relatives house.
Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

Jesus Nunez carried his daughter Genesis, as he and numerous family members fled their flooded home. The Nunez family walked nearly four hours to the safety of a relative's house.

The worst Texas storm in more than half a century

A graveyard is seen as it floods during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey August 27, 2017 in Pearland, Texas.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images

Harvey is the most powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years. The storm's precipitation could reach 50 inches in some coastal areas, and authorities say the local Brazos River was set to crest at a record high of 59 feet this week, or 14 feet above its flood stage.

Abandoned vehicles litter the city, often submerged

Photographer | CNBC

Dramatic photos show countless vehicles abandoned on Houston's streets, swamped by the increasing rainfall. Harvey likely damaged hundreds, perhaps thousands of new cars and trucks parked on dealership lots.

High-water vehicles are rescuing people in local communities

Residents use a truck to navigate through flood waters from Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston, Texas, August 27, 2017.
Adrees Latif | Reuters

Residents with high-water vehicles navigated floodwaters to perform rescues of stranded locals in and around Houston.

Emergency personnel continue to search for survivors

Firefighters search for survivors at an apartment complex in Rockport, TX as Hurricane Harvey hits the Texas coast on Saturday, Aug 26, 2017
Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images

Emergency responders like this firefighter continue to search for survivors at an apartment complex in Rockport, Texas, as Hurricane Harvey hitsthe Texas coast on Sat., Aug 26.

Houston's refineries shut down as damages pile up

The refinery section of the Houston Ship Channel is seen as flood water rise on August 27, 2017 as Houston battles with tropical storm Harvey and resulting floods.
Thomas B. Shea | AFP | Getty Images

Oil refineries are shutting down in the wake of rainfall and flooding from Hurricane Harvey. The damage could mean a loss of more than 1 million barrels per day in refining capacity just in the Houston and Galveston areas — that's not including hundreds of thousands of more barrels in the Corpus Christi area.

The roof of a gas station sits in flood waters in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Aransas Pass, Texas.
Eric Gay | AP

Local gas stations were also damaged by the flood waters. Here, the roof of a Citgo station sits in the floodwaters in Aransas Pass.

Berkshire Hathaway Live Event