Hurricane Harvey downgraded to tropical storm, one dies

Houston (Texas) [USA], August 27 (ANI): The Hurricane Harvey has been downgraded to a tropical storm (a Category 2 storm), with sustained winds of 70 mph.

At least one person has died due to Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas, according to county judge, reported CNN.

Emergency workers began to go house to house to check on residents and assess damage.

There's been widespread devastation.

Officials warned of "torrential rains" that will cause "catastrophic damage" as the storm continues to pull moisture off warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Parts of southeastern Texas remained under a flash flood watch through Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service office in Houston said.

Rainfall will be heavy, with an estimated 15 to 30 inches of rain falling in many areas and as high as 40 inches in some from today through Wednesday, the National Weather Service added.

The Hurricane Harvey-Category 4 storm struck South Texas late on Friday (local time), knocking down trees, power poles and signs, but forecasters predicted that water levels will still rise as torrential rain and blasting winds would continue over the next few days.

The storm is Trump's first major natural disaster in office and will be the first major hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2005.

The president is closely monitoring the storm as it approached the U.S.

Harvey has the "highest potential to kill the most amount of people and cause the most amount of damage," said Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI