Transcript for Houston residents urged to stay off roads during ‘serious and unprecedented storm’

event that’s expected here in Houston. Thank you. Joining us is Houston mayor Sylvester turner. Mayor turner, we want to ask you right now, how serious is this situation in Houston at this hour and how bad do you think it’s going to get? Well, this is a serious storm, it’s serious, unprecedented. Even though hurricane Harvey has already landed and moving inward, this is still going to be a major rain event for the city of Houston and Harris county. This is just day one. We anticipate a lot of rain over the next four or five days. We anticipate there will be flooding and asking people to be mindful of that, encouraging people to stay off the roads. We’re already experiencing some street flooding and then in our neighboring communities further to the west, just overnight they’ve experienced about nine inches of rain already. We’re expecting to be under a flash flood warning for the duration of the day going into tomorrow and probably Monday and Tuesday. You and the govern of Texas seem to send conflicting signals. The governor urging people to get out, you didn’t. What’s going on there? I think the governor and I both agree that this is a serious and unprecedented storm. For those areas, for example, like Victoria, rockport that went in the direct line of the hurricane, I think everyone will agree that they needed to evacuate and evacuation orders were given for them. For Houston, Harris county, the county judge and I both agree that for us this is a major rainfall event, so there was no need to evacuate. We are asking people to stay off the streets to make the necessary preparations, to make sure that they have their hurricane kits for example, all of the things that they need. We’re asking people to watch out for our neighbors, especially for seniors, for those who are disabl disabled. We’re paying special watch for those low income individuals who are in our city, and we’re removing the homeless off the street and putting them into shelters. But there was no evacuation order for Houston, for Harris county. Quite frankly, leaving your homes, getting on the streets, you’ll be putting yourself in more danger and not making yourself safer. We’re just asking people to hunker down. This is a major rainfall event for now in Houston, especially in Harris county. We are okay. But this is just day one. There is a lot of street flooding. We are asking people if you don’t have to be on the roads, stay at home. But the evacuation rescue teams are ready. Our assets have been strategically deployed. We are blockading any underpasses that would contain water to keep people out of harm’s way. The first responders have been out all night throughout the day and over the next several days, so we’re simply asking people to do their part. The city of Houston and Harris county are working very well together and we’ll do our part. To echo your point about staying indoors and hunkering down, our chief meteorologist, ginger zee, has been warning people against complacency. It can kill given the amount of water coming in. We wish you the best of luck, Mr. Mayor, as you head into a hectic few days. Thank you for your time. Thank you for having me,

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