Curfew ordered to halt looting in Houston following Harvey’s rainfall

World Today

Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies Eric McCartney, left, and Eric Johnson, right, look out the back of a rescue vehicle as they search for people in a neighborhood inundated by water from the Addicks Reservior, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)

The aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey has become a story of survival for many who have lost everything.

Nearly three dozen counties have been declared federal disaster areas.

With the sun finally coming out in parts of Texas, many residents returned to assess the damage to their properties.

CGTN’s Nitza Soledad Perez has more.

“When they opened the dam, this is what happened. This is just not because of the rain. So we had to leave so fast. The police officer knocked and said we had two hours to get out. To get out of the area and we just left with the clothes in our bag,” Mary Tolleson, a Houston resident said.

Another group of neighbors ventured back after being evacuated now concerned about safety. Reports of looting are surfacing across the city where tens of thousands are without power.

The mayor of Houston issued a curfew from midnight to five in the morning.

“There are too many people from across our city, too many residents, that are out of their homes and they are in shelters. And I don’t want them to have to worry about someone breaking into their home, or looting, or doing anything of that nature, while they are away,” Sylvester Turner, the mayor of Houston said.

More than 24,000 National Guard troops have been deployed in the state since the storm hit last week. At least 13,000 people have been rescued, many seeking refuge in temporary shelters.

Wilfredo Nunez and other residents are taking matters into their own hands.

“We are organizing ourselves. Deciding who will take which shifts, bring food and patrol while all this is over and authorities have full control and access to the city. I lived this during Hurricane Katrina and this brings chaos. After the rain, chaos follows. The thieves come out,” Wildredo Nunez a Houston displaced resident said.


On the ground in Texas: Residents tell their story of Harvey’s impact


Joel Myers discusses the latest on Hurricane Harvey

CGTN’s Asieh Namdar discussed the latest on Hurricane Harvey with Joel Myers, founder, president, and chairman of AccuWeather.