Powerful US hurricane weakens after massive damage

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - Harvey was downgraded Saturday to a tropical storm after the Category 4 hurricane caused heavy damage and electrical outages for nearly 400,000 homes and businesses across the Texas coast.

Some homes and business were completely destroyed as the storm poured nearly 20 inches (0.5 meters) of rain and caused a surge of more than 6 feet in some areas.

"We know there is widespread devastation," Rockport Mayor C.J. Wax told reporters. "I think it’s safe to say we took a Category 4 right on the nose, and we’d appreciate everyone’s prayers."

Tens of thousands of residents had already fled cities in the path of the hurricane, and cleared grocery store shelves. School district canceled events Friday as well as classes Monday.

In addition, nearly 4,500 inmates from three state prisons have been transferred to other prisons. And national guard troops have been deployed to the state.

Harvey made landfall with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour (209 kilometers per hour) late Friday and before it is finished is expected to create "historic” damage in Texas as well as southwest Louisiana and even as far away as Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service.

President Donald Trump who left for vacation Friday as the storm approached, said Saturday state and federal authorities are integrated to battle the storm.

“Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey from Camp David,” he wrote in a tweet Saturday. “We are leaving nothing to chance. City, State and Federal Govs. working great together!”

Harvey would be the first major hurricane to hit Texas since Hurricane Ike caused $22 billion in damages in 2008 and Hurricane Claudette caused $180 million in damages in 2003.

Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert rejected criticism that plans to keep immigration checkpoints open during the hurricane would prevent undocumented immigrants from seeking shelter.

“People shouldn’t be fearful of going to a shelter and receiving food and water,” he said. “That’s not a problem.”