Extraordinary photos of survival in Houston

Five days after Harvey came ashore near Corpus Christi, Texas, record-setting rainfall in Houston continues to push floodwaters higher and higher.

Hurricane Harvey turned interstate highways into rivers and put numerous subdivisions around Houston under half a dozen feet or more of water. The most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, Harvey lingered along the Gulf Coast, drenching the region with a year's worth of rain in the span of a week.

These photos give an intimate look at the current efforts to rescue residents and shelter evacuees.

Two reservoirs near Houston surpassed record levels Tuesday, flooding nearby suburban homes. While the Addicks Reservoir breached the top of its emergency spillway and began flowing uncontrolled, the water levels have not reached the 109.5 foot level that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston Col. Lars Zetterstrom said would cause "larger flows of water" to go around the ends of the dam.

Texans by the tens of thousands are evacuating flooded neighborhoods, often with the assistance of more than 12,000 National Guard members. Police and volunteers continue to provide support, helping rescue residents from the high water.

Harris County officials asked for high-water vehicles and boats to help rescue workers and dozens arrived in many forms to provide assistance.

Here an evacuee holding two dogs reacts after his rescue by Texas National Guardsmen, after severe flooding forced him out of Cypress Creek in Houston.

Some residents, such as Matthew Koser, here in his grandfather's Bear Creek home, waited out the storm even as floodwaters rose. State officials said Wednesday morning that close to 49,000 homes had suffered flood damage, with more than 1,000 destroyed.

Locations such as the George R. Brown Convention Center were at or beyond capacity after flood waters from Hurricane Harvey inundated the city.

Support for the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other groups continues to pour in as organizations and celebrities lead fundraising campaigns for Houston's evacuees.

At least 20 companies, such as Apple, Walmart and Verizon, have donated $1 million or more to Houston relief efforts.

The National Hurricane Center on Tuesday afternoon said a record 51.88 inches of rain had fallen in Texas due to Harvey, a record for the continental United States. Plans to rebuild the fourth most populous city in the U.S. are beginning to form as the water recedes and recovery continues.