PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (TX) Tropical Storm Harvey

Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2017 15:26:41 EDT

Summary: Tropical Storm Harvey has been relatively stationary over the last 24 hours which has resulted in extremely high rainfall totals, particularly in the Houston area and inland to the northwest toward Austin.

Tropical Storm Harvey has been relatively stationary over the last 24 hours which has resulted in extremely high rainfall totals, particularly in the Houston area and inland to the northwest toward Austin. The storm has resulted in five deaths and catastrophic property damage since it made landfall as a category 4 hurricane on Friday evening, August 25th. The current threat is the continuing rainfall as the storm remains in the area of the south central coast of Texas over the next 3-5 days. Streams and rivers are already in major flood stage and the additional rainfall, estimated by the NWS to be more than 10 inches, could cause many to reach record levels. Major basins affected are the Colorado, Brazos. San Jacinto, and Trinity.

The USGS has 32 employees out today to provide discharge measurements and repair gages if possible. Twenty-five measurements were made yesterday. Accessibility is an issue at many of the sites and water levels may reach levels that are too dangerous to measure. Currently seven gages have been damaged or destroyed, but most of these are not accessible due to road closures.

The USGS has worked closely throughout the storm to assist the NWS, Corp of Engineers, and other state and local agencies with their responsibilities. More than 25 discharge ratings have been extended for the NWS river forecasts. The Texas WSC staff have fielded interactions with the State Operation Center for emergency responders, the media to provide public information, and the many public inquiries seeking information about expected impacts.