An 11th death was reported on Tuesday - Houston Police Sergeant Steve Perez, 60, a 34-year veteran of the force whose body was found after apparently drowning while attempting to get to work on Sunday, Police Chief Art Acevedo told reporters.
Acevedo said Perez' family had urged him not to leave the house because of the dangerous flooding but the officer told them, “We have work to do.”
Floodwaters have breached a levee south of the city of Houston, officials said Tuesday, urging residents to leave the area immediately. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Some 3,500 people have been rescued from high waters in the Houston area with police, firefighters and National Guard troops continuing to try to locate those marooned in high waters.
Large numbers of civilians also formed ad hoc rescue groups, many using boats to pluck neighbors from flooded homes.
Gloria Stilwell, 44, who described herself as a stay-at-home mom, said she agreed with Trump’s assessment that Houstonians were well equipped to handle the storm.
“I totally agree with him. Texas can definitely handle it,” Stilwell said as she registered to volunteer at a shelter. “I’ve lived here since 1980, through plenty of hurricanes. Texans have always banded together.”
