Hurricane Harvey death toll climbs to 60 with 30 people killed in Harris County alone
At least 60 people have died as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey, with half of the deaths reported in the Houston area
The total as of 5pm on Monday includes people who died from direct and indirect complications caused by the hurricane
Hurricane Harvey has also left more than half a million families displaced
The storm has left over 40,000 homes and a million cars destroyed
By KAILEEN GAUL
DAILYMAIL.COM
5 September 2017
At least 60 people have died as a result of Hurricane Harvey, according to emergency management departments across southeast Texas.
The Associated Press reported many of those deaths were people drowning in flash floods or water-logged roads.
This total as of 5pm on Monday includes people who died from indirect complications caused by the category four hurricane.
Recently, the huge dump of water loosened the ground around trees that crashed into at least two homes in Montgomery County, causing two deaths, said county emergency management spokeswoman Cynthia Jamieson.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that a couple had died while driving outside of Jasper, Texas, when a tree landed on their vehicle.
Power outages from the storm have also accounted for some of the indirect deaths. Several elderly people in a handful of counties were reported as Harvey-related deaths when medical equipment such as oxygen tanks lost power.
Harris County, where the Houston metro area is located, has the highest toll at this point of the 11 counties affected with 30 deaths.
The storm has also left more than half a million families displaced. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it has about 560,000 families registered for its housing assistance program.
FEMA spokeswoman Tiana Suber says if those people’s homes are found to be uninhabitable or inaccessible for an extended time, they may qualify for the agency’s Transitional Shelter Assistance.
Some will qualify for short-term hotel lodging at FEMA expense, while others will be referred to local agencies or voluntary organizations for possible assistance.
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