Hurricane Harvey: Authorities expect death toll to rise

Rescue workers in Houston renewed search efforts Sunday morning for residents trapped in their homes by Tropical Storm Harvey's rising floodwaters.

More than 1,000 people were rescued overnight from record flooding in the area, authorities said. The storm so far has killed two people in Texas, said authorities, who added they expect the death toll to rise.

A woman was killed as she drover her vehicle into high water in Houston whilst a man was killed by a fire in Rockport.

CNN reports that law enforcement agencies advised people trapped in their houses not to take shelter in their attics unless they carried axes so they could break through to their roofs and within sight of rescue workers.

“This is a life-threatening situation,” said Michael Palmer, lead meteorologist at the Weather Channel.

As responders rushed to save people from flooded homes and stranded cars, Houston city officials said emergency services were "at capacity" and warned residents to "shelter in place" and not to call 911 unless they were in "imminent danger."

The south side of the city was being deluged by up to six inches of rain every hour overnight, the Office of Emergency Management said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it was conducting urban search and rescue operations in the greater Houston area and that its local command center had received more than 300 requests.

"Currently there are five MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters conducting rescues," the statement said.