text: (Photo: Office of the Governor) 
   
   President Donald Trump called Texas Governor Greg Abbott Thursday to discuss Hurricane Harvey, which is expected to make landfall on the Texas coast Friday night, according to the Governor's office. 
   
   Trump told Abbott that all available resources from the federal government will assist in preparation as well as rescue and recovery efforts. Abbott told Trump that he will let him know any needs that Texas may have in the coming days. 
   
   Abbott also spoke with Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long Thursday to discuss hurricane preparedness. 
   
   Abbott preemptively declared a State of Disaster in 30 Texas counties on Wednesday in preparation for the hurricane. 
   
   You can find information and updates about Hurricane Harvey here. 
   
   © 2017 KVUE-TV ||||| In preparation for Harvey, Houston gets boozy 
   
   txbbqmemes Y'all stay safe out there txbbqmemes Y'all stay safe out there Photo: Instagram 
   
   chinocochinohuy people be at the grocery store going crazy for water. i be like, Kroger this the best wine you got? chinocochinohuy people be at the grocery store going crazy for water. i be like, Kroger this the best wine you got? Photo: Instagram 
   
   kellbuckley101 Bunch of raging alcoholics in League City! #hurricaneharvey kellbuckley101 Bunch of raging alcoholics in League City! #hurricaneharvey Photo: Instagram 
   
   michelley1515 Thanks Walgreens for the sale on Chandon! I am now prepped for #hurricaneharvey michelley1515 Thanks Walgreens for the sale on Chandon! I am now prepped for #hurricaneharvey Photo: Instagram 
   
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   stayawhiledesigns My Hurricane game is strong, y'all. Time to hunker down! #staysafe #hurricaneharvey #beerfridge #stayawhiledesigns stayawhiledesigns My Hurricane game is strong, y'all. Time to hunker down! #staysafe #hurricaneharvey #beerfridge #stayawhiledesigns Photo: Instagram 
   
   guns_of_houston I know #Houston is 4th largest in the #USA but we damn well aren't made to hold all this rain coming w #hurricaneharvey guns_of_houston I know #Houston is 4th largest in the #USA but we damn well aren't made to hold all this rain coming w #hurricaneharvey Photo: Instagram 
   
   slogerot Bring it, #HurricaneHarvey. We prepared. slogerot Bring it, #HurricaneHarvey. We prepared. Photo: Instagram 
   
   jaguarlandroverhoustonnorth Ya'll get out there and stock up on your hurricane supplies. jaguarlandroverhoustonnorth Ya'll get out there and stock up on your hurricane supplies. Photo: Instagram 
   
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   amyerickson315 #hurricaneharvey amyerickson315 #hurricaneharvey Photo: Instagram 
   
   brittexanemily Hurricane Harvey is getting real!! Specs is low on Titos. That's a crisis. Where's the National Guard?! #hurricaneharvey #titos brittexanemily Hurricane Harvey is getting real!! Specs is low on Titos. That's a crisis. Where's the National Guard?! #hurricaneharvey #titos Photo: Instagram 
   
   pyanez713 hurricane ready #hurricane #hurricaneharvey #drunks pyanez713 hurricane ready #hurricane #hurricaneharvey #drunks Photo: Instagram 
   
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   Photo: Instagram Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close In preparation for Harvey, Houston gets boozy 1 / 14 Back to Gallery 
   
   Projected to be a Category 3 hurricane, Harvey is expected to hit the Houston area Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Massive flooding and major power outages could occur this weekend, and it's extremely important to be prepared, says the NWS. 
   
   As a result, Houstonians are experiencing city-wide closures and chaos at grocery stores and gas pumps. Naturally, the internet's ablaze with folks who are heeding the advice of professionals and stocking up on the essentials: alcohol. 
   
   "It's kind of hectic, chaotic," Louis Tellez, beer and wine specialist for the H-E-B off San Felipe St., said. He arrived at the store at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, and he said the business was steady all day. "We're doing the best we can to accommodate shoppers." 
   
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   The H-E-B off Alabama St. echoed the sentiment. 
   
   "It's way, way busier," a beer and wine employee said. "We've always had a little bit smaller area for parking, but this morning, there was no parking to be had. It's as good as a regular Saturday." 
   
   So far, Tellez said the most-sold drinks were local, craft beers, with the additional national beers such as Miller High Life and Coors Light. There were some holes on the wine shelves, he said, but those sales were secondary. 
   
   For Theresa Hunt, a bartender at Houston's Restaurant, buying beer for the hurricane is the right idea because "it's basically a food group," she said. "People used to live off [beer] when water was often unsafe to drink." 
   
   Liquor stores were also no strangers to shoppers. After calling three Spec's locations, whose manager's were unable to speak because they were too busy, Ryan Holder, the manager of the downtown store, simply said, "it's brisk. Busy." 
   
   Holder didn't notice an increase in alcohol sales, however. Primarily, his customers were purchasing water, candles, chips, dips and batteries. "We have plenty," he said. "Good day. Come see us." 
   
   Regardless, if you're craving hard liquor this weekend, Hunt suggests making a GreyHound, which is vodka and grapefruit juice. "It's light, refreshing and simple. There is a hurricane happening! Ain't no one got time for a complicated, multi-step process." 
   
   Hunt says she'll be drinking wine during the storm "and lots of it," and suggests 19 Crimes Cabernet. "It's like a knockoff of the Prisoner from the Orin Swift winery." 
   
   #MOOD #HurricaneHarvey 🍺🍻 A post shared by 👻sherrthepilot (@sherrthepilot) on Aug 24, 2017 at 6:21pm PDT 
   
   As far as supplies go, Tellez says he doesn't believe his H-E-B will run out of beer and wine soon, but as some products diminish, the stocking will rely on the vendors' deliveries Friday. "It's going to depend on the weather and whether our vendors can get to the store," he said. "There's a delivery tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes. 
   
   "I just hope we get minimal rain. I hope we don't experience flooding. I've already been through this once." ||||| Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Hurricane Harvey damage | 1:16 A look at Port Aransas, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey tore through the community. Wochit 1 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Harvey Recovery: Corpus Christi City Crews assessing downtown damage | 0:41 Julie Garcia with an update from the downtown district the morning after Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Wochit 2 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM South Texas residents respond to Hurricane Harvey | 0:49 While some residents chose to evacuate, others faced Hurricane Harvey head on. See how some residents are handling this major storm. Caller-Times staff 3 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Reporter Travis Pettis reports from the Coastal Bend during Hurricane Harvey | 6:47 Caller-Times reporter Travis Pettis drove around the Coastal Bend hours before Hurricane Harvey made its landfall on the Texas Coast Aug. 25, 2017. TRAVIS PETTIS/CALLER-TIMES 4 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Heavy rains, wind make their way downtown ahead of Harvey | 0:37 Heavy winds and rain blow through downtown Corpus Christi ahead of Hurricane Harvey. Caller-Times Staff 5 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Evacuating with pets, what you need to know | 1:46 Be aware that you will be separated from your pet if you evacuated from Corpus Christi to San Antonio via the city's arrangements. Those who are pet owners were greeted with the option to check their pets in for free care during their stay at a local shelter. The good news is you can visit with your pet anytime you want. Beatriz Alvarado/Caller-Times 6 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM With supplies in short supply, residents stock up for Hurricane Harvey | 0:33 Residents in Corpus Christi rushed to H-E-B to stock up on supplies as Hurricane Harvey bore down on the coast. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times 7 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Runners race down the Corpus Christi Bayfront before Harvey makes landfall | 0:17 Runners get one last race down the Bayfront before Harvey makes landfall Caller-Times Staff 8 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Generator at Spohn Hospital Shoreline sinks during Hurricane Harvey | 0:09 A generator at Spohn Hospital Shoreline has sunk in the mud as Harvey's rains slam Corpus Christi. Travis Pettis/Caller-Times 9 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Corpus Christi resident ready for Hurricane Harvey with friend-delivered boudain | 0:36 Lori Mahaffey tells us she readied for Hurricane Harvey and didn't have to make a trip to HEB for supplies thanks to a timely delivery from a friend. Kirsten Crow/Caller-Times 10 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Hundreds evacuate Corpus Christi before Hurricane Harvey | 1:30 The Corpus Christi RTA brought hundreds of Corpus Christi residents to San Antonio on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25 in the hours before Hurricane Harvey makes landfall. Julie Garcia/Caller-Times 11 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Salvation Army receives supplies ahead of Hurricane Harvey | 1:06 The Salvation Army is preparing with water, cleanup kids and food ahead of Hurricane Harvey. The disaster response team from Dallas brought water and cleanup kids and additional canteen units are heading to Corpus Christi. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times 12 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM The Salvation Army of the Coastal Bend prepares for Hurricane Harvey | 1:02 Capt. Patrick Gesner, commanding officer of the Salvation Army of the Coastal bend, speaks about some preparations made in anticipation of Hurricane Harvey on the Texas Coast. Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times 13 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM South Texas residents prepare for Harvey to make landfall | 0:45 South Texas residents and officials begin the process of preparing for Harvey to make landfall. Harvey is expected to make landfall as a category 3 hurricane. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times 14 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Tips for Homeowners ahead of Hurricane Harvey | 0:55 Mark Hanna with the Insurance Council of Texas gave some tips for homeowners, business owners to prepare for Hurricane Harvey. Aug. 24, 2017. NATALIA CONTRERAS/CALLER-TIMES 15 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Tropical Storm Harvey: Expect long lines for sandbag pickup Thursday | 0:29 Long lines of residents wait to get sandbags from the city distribution site on Civitan and Ayers. Travis Pettis/Caller-Times 16 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM TAMU-CC readies for Tropical Depression Harvey with evacuations | 0:53 Texas A&M Corpus Christi: University officials have issued a mandatory evacuation for students already living on campus and postponed move-in date for other students until noon Sunday at the earliest. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times 17 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM South Texas makes preparations for Tropical Depression Harvey | 0:41 Preparations are underway for in South Texas for Tropical Depression Harvey. Aransas Pass gave households five sandbags and H-E-B stocked water throughout the day. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times 18 of 19 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE HARVEY 2017: TEXAS COASTAL BEND BEFORE AND AFTER STORM Corpus Christi's evacuation plan | 0:52 If you can't evacuate on your own during a hurricane, the city of Corpus Christi has you covered. Fares Sabawi/Caller-Times 19 of 19 Last VideoNext Video Hurricane Harvey damage 
   
   Harvey Recovery: Corpus Christi City Crews assessing downtown damage 
   
   South Texas residents respond to Hurricane Harvey 
   
   Reporter Travis Pettis reports from the Coastal Bend during Hurricane Harvey 
   
   Heavy rains, wind make their way downtown ahead of Harvey 
   
   Evacuating with pets, what you need to know 
   
   With supplies in short supply, residents stock up for Hurricane Harvey 
   
   Runners race down the Corpus Christi Bayfront before Harvey makes landfall 
   
   Generator at Spohn Hospital Shoreline sinks during Hurricane Harvey 
   
   Corpus Christi resident ready for Hurricane Harvey with friend-delivered boudain 
   
   Hundreds evacuate Corpus Christi before Hurricane Harvey 
   
   Salvation Army receives supplies ahead of Hurricane Harvey 
   
   The Salvation Army of the Coastal Bend prepares for Hurricane Harvey 
   
   South Texas residents prepare for Harvey to make landfall 
   
   Tips for Homeowners ahead of Hurricane Harvey 
   
   Tropical Storm Harvey: Expect long lines for sandbag pickup Thursday 
   
   TAMU-CC readies for Tropical Depression Harvey with evacuations 
   
   South Texas makes preparations for Tropical Depression Harvey 
   
   Corpus Christi's evacuation plan 
   
   Buy Photo A sign is placed at JB's German Bakery & Cafe as Hurricane Harvey approaches the area on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Corpus Christi. (Photo: Gabe Hernandez/Caller-Times)Buy Photo 
   
   Hurricane Harvey is forecast to make landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast as a category 3 hurricane, and as residents prepare, many are wondering what conditions will be like once the storm hits. 
   
   “This is a very huge deal," said Douglas Voglesang, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi. "This could be very damaging, particularly if you’re not leaving; you’re putting yourself in harm’s way.” 
   
   Category 3 storms are considered major hurricanes according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with sustained winds ranging between 111 to 129 miles per hour. 
   
   According to the National Weather Service website, residents who stay to ride out the storm should expect that well-built framed homes may receive damage with possible removal of roof decking or shingles. Trees may snap or uproot, resulting in property damage, debris and road blockages. Water and electricity could be unavailable to residents anywhere from days to weeks after the storm. 
   
   Vogelsang noted that storm surge could range from 6 to 12 feet as the storm moves inland, but copious amounts of rain will inundate the area with between 15 to 20 inches of rain with isolated amounts of nearly 30 inches. 
   
   More: Know the terminology: Hurricanes, storms, depressions 
   
   "People who are not going to evacuate, please make sure your house is boarded up, that you have plenty of supplies and flashlights because we don’t know if there will be electricity," Corpus Christi Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Delgado said. "Have nonperishable foods; if you have medication make sure you have plenty of it. 
   
   For comparison, Hurricane Katrina was a Category 3 storm when it made landfall in Louisiana in 2005 and Hurricane Ike, which made landfall in Galveston in 2008, was a Category 2. 
   
   More: What was the last hurricane to hit Corpus Christi? 
   
   “The end result will be flooding likely not seen for a long time.The storm surge has potential to do damage along the coast line and maybe even in Flour Bluff," Vogelsang said. 
   
   Read or Share this story: http://callertim.es/2xxbEYe ||||| Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources Important NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards and Emergency Alert System Changes Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena. On average, 12 tropical storms, 6 of which become hurricanes form over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico during the hurricane season which runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. In the Central Pacific Ocean, an average of 3 tropical storms, 2 of which become hurricanes form or move over the area during the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. Guam, the Northern Marianas and Micronesia experience typhoons all year round but the main season in July through November with a peak from mid-August to mid-September. Over a typical 2-year period, the U.S. coastline is struck by an average of 3 hurricanes, 1 of which is classified as a major hurricane (winds of 111 mph or greater). By knowing what actions to take before the hurricane season begins, when a hurricane approaches, and when the storm is in your area, as well as what to do after a hurricane leaves your area, you can increase your chance of survival. If you, or someone you know, have been a victim of a hurricane, please share your story, including the town and state you were in and the year the event took place.. Please note that NS will then have permission to use your story for educational campaigns. Sharing this information may help save someone’s life in the future. Read stories from survivors and learn how to stay safe. Hurricane Hazards While hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property, tropical storms and depression also can be devastating. The primary hazards from tropical cyclones (which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents. Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. This hazard is historically the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States. Storm surge and large battering waves can result in large loss of life and cause massive destruction along the coast. 
   
   Storm surge can travel several miles inland, especially along bays, rivers, and estuaries. 
   
   Flooding from heavy rains is the second leading cause of fatalities from landfalling tropical cyclones. Widespread torrential rains associated with these storms often cause flooding hundreds of miles inland. This flooding can persist for several days after a storm has dissipated. 
   
   Winds from a hurricane can destroy buildings and manufactured homes. Signs, roofing material, and other items left outside can become flying missiles during hurricanes. 
   
   Tornadoes can accompany landfalling tropical cyclones. These tornadoes typically occur in rain bands well away from the center of the storm. 
   
   Dangerous waves produced by a tropical cyclone's strong winds can pose a significant hazard to coastal residents and mariners. These waves can cause deadly rip currents, significant beach erosion, and damage to structures along the coastline, even when the storm is more than a 1,000 miles offshore. ||||| A long line of cars, trucks and trailers carrying boats clogged the northbound lanes of Interstate 37 Thursday night as nervous residents fled the Corpus Christi area ahead of Hurricane Harvey’s landfall. 
   
   Corpus Christi resident Angie Flores said she agonized over the decision to leave behind her home, which sits just a few blocks from a waterfront. But she said Thursday’s warning from Gov. Greg Abbott to evacuate, and the prospect of winds well over 100 miles-per-hour, convinced her and her husband to take their four dogs to Austin. 
   
   “This is a pretty serious thing,” she said while giving her dogs a quick walk at a highway gas station in Pleasanton, just southeast of San Antonio. “We decided to leave while there was still a window of opportunity instead of being stuck in a real life-threatening situation.” 
   
   The family was headed to a pet friendly hotel in Austin, where they hope they won’t have to stay long. One of her small dogs — Little Boy — is blind and diabetic. “He was shaking in the car,” she said. 
   
   Hurricane Harvey is expected to be a Category 3 — or possibly Category 4 — storm by the time it crashes ashore near Corpus Christi on Friday night or early Saturday. With winds up to 125 miles per hour, storm swells could reach 12 feet and the system could drop more than 30 inches of rain in some spots. Abbott on Thursday activated 700 service members of the Texas Army Guard, Texas Air National Guard and Texas State Guard to help with responses to the monster storm. 
   
   “There is no doubt in my mind that the city will flood,” said Flores, a senior advisor to State Rep. Todd Hunter, a Corpus Christi Republican. “There are some people who aren’t going to leave because they think it’s going to be a good time. I worry about them.” 
   
   Flores said heavy traffic caused drivers to slow to 20 miles per hour at some points during her drive out of the Coastal Bend on Interstate 37. ||||| A sign is displayed at JB's German Bakery & Cafe as Hurricane Harvey approaches the area on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Gabe Hernandez/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via AP) (Associated Press) 
   
   WASHINGTON (AP) — Hurricane Harvey is following the perfect recipe to be a monster storm, meteorologists say. 
   
   Warm water. Check. Calm air at 40,000 feet high. Check. Slow speed to dump maximum rain. Check. 
   
   University of Miami senior hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said Harvey combines the worst attributes of nasty recent Texas storms: The devastating storm surge of Hurricane Ike in 2008; the winds of Category 4 Hurricane Brett in 1999 and days upon days of heavy rain of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. 
   
   Rainfall is forecast to be as high as 35 inches through next Wednesday in some areas. Deadly storm surge — the push inwards of abnormally high ocean water above regular tides — could reach 12 feet, the National Hurricane Center warned, calling Harvey life-threatening. Harvey's forecast path is the type that keeps it stronger longer with devastating rain and storm-force wind lasting for several days, not hours. 
   
   "It's a very dangerous storm," National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini told The Associated Press. "It does have all the ingredients it needs to intensify. And we're seeing that intensification occur quite rapidly." 
   
   WARM WATER 
   
   Warm water is the fuel for hurricanes. It's where storms get their energy. Water needs to be about 79 degrees (26 Celsius) or higher to sustain a hurricane, McNoldy said. Harvey is over part of the Gulf of Mexico where the water is about 87 degrees or 2 degrees above normal for this time of year, said Jeff Masters, a former hurricane hunter meteorologist and meteorology director of Weather Underground. 
   
   A crucial factor is something called ocean heat content. It's not just how warm the surface water is but how deep it goes. And Harvey is over an area where warm enough water goes about 330 feet (100 meters) deep, which is a very large amount of heat content, McNoldy said. 
   
   "It can sit there and spin and have plenty of warm water to work with," McNoldy said. 
   
   WEAK WINDS 
   
   If winds at 40,000 feet high are strong in the wrong direction it can decapitate a hurricane. Strong winds high up remove the heat and moisture that hurricanes need near their center and also distort the shape. 
   
   But the wind up there is weak so Harvey "is free to go nuts basically," McNoldy said. 
   
   PERFECT PATH 
   
   Before it hits the Texas coast, Harvey is projected to go over an even deeper and warmer eddy to supercharge it a bit more, just like what happened to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but not quite as bad, Masters said. 
   
   If that's not bad enough, there's a good chance that after Harvey hits it will follow a track so close to the coast and not so much inland that it will essentially keep a toe in the water. The storm could be big enough that not all of it is over land. Because of that, the National Hurricane Center forecasts that it will remain at least tropical storm strength — and 40 mph winds — through Tuesday, maybe into Wednesday. 
   
   SLOW SPEED 
   
   Because it looks like Harvey will be meandering at around 10 mph and then will likely stall out over the coast or just a bit inland, that means it will stay over one place and keep raining, Masters said. Day in, day out until the middle of next week. 
   
   "We're talking feet of rain, not inches," Masters said. 
   
   And the storm's heavy rains can last not just a few hours but "over a two-, three-, four-day period" from Texas to Louisiana, Uccellini said. ||||| CLOSE WTSP Meteorologist Bobby Deskins says Hurricane Harvey is not letting up as it heads toward the Texas coast. USA TODAY 
   
   Mark Jones helps board up windows in Port Aransas ahead of hurricane Harvey on Aug. 24, 2017. (Photo: Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA TODAY Network) 
   
   Hurricane Harvey will turn into a "beast" of a storm, meteorologists say, one that's forecast to bring catastrophic, life-threatening flooding to much of Texas. 
   
   Even after the storm makes landfall late Friday or early Saturday near Corpus Christi as a likely Category 3 hurricane — potentially the USA's strongest hurricane in 12 years — Harvey will stall and spin for the next three to five days, dumping up to 2 feet of rain across the region. 
   
   "The forecast for Harvey continues to grow more dire," warned the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi. 
   
   Though a 4-6 foot storm surge and howling, 100+ mph winds will be a deadly threat, the storm's biggest concern may eventually turn out to be flooding from days of torrential rain. 
   
   Harvey "may be nothing short of a flooding disaster," for Texas, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, who said that some communities could be underwater for days. 
   
   The storm will cause much worse damage from flooding and wind than would normally occur from a fast-moving storm of similar size, he said. 
   
   Once it moves ashore, even if it weakens to a tropical storm, Harvey will essentially be "trapped" between two sprawling areas of high pressure, the National Weather Service said. One high-pressure area will be over the Desert Southwest and the other central Gulf of Mexico, Weather Channel meteorologist Jon Erdman said. 
   
   More: Gas prices at risk of rising as Hurricane Harvey bears down 
   
   More: Hurricane Harvey roars toward Texas coast, should be 115-mph storm at landfall with 'life-threatening' flooding 
   
   This will leave Harvey as a potent but rudderless rainstorm with nothing to steer it or push it around. 
   
   While it sits and spins, phenomenal amounts of rain will be wrung out of Harvey; some projections say as much as 60 inches. It's possible Harvey's heavy rain may not entirely exit the areas of Texas it soaks until next Wednesday. 
   
   "This could become a prolonged and very dangerous rain event," the weather service in Houston said. 
   
   In all, the storm could dump at least 15 trillion gallons of water on Texas, WeatherBell meteorologist Ryan Maue said. 
   
   In addition to the Corpus Christi area, near where the storm should make landfall, Harvey "has the potential to cause very serious flooding in such highly populated, flood-prone regions as the Austin-San Antonio corridor and the Houston metro area," Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters said. 
   
   Harvey may be the strongest landfall in this area known as the Texas Coastal Bend since infamous Category 3 Hurricane Celia hammered the Corpus Christi area in August 1970 with wind gusts up to 161 mph, the Weather Channel said. 
   
   Celia damaged almost 90% of the city's businesses and 70% of its residences. 
   
   Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2xwJblj ||||| (CNN) Hurricane Harvey made landfall Friday night between Port Aransas and Port O'Connor, Texas, as a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. 
   
   Harvey is the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Hurricane Charley in 2004. 
   
   The storm is poundng the Texas coast and its millions of residents with hurricane-force winds knocking down trees, power poles and signs, and with torrential rain deluging streets. 
   
   In its 11 p.m. ET update, the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm had passed over San Jose Island, bringing with it a dangerous and powerful eye wall. 
   
   The hurricane center warns that some areas will see as much as 13 feet of storm surge and large, destructive waves. 
   
   And there's the rain that the slow-moving storm is expected to produce. Because it is expected to come to a near halt inland, Harvey could drop as much as 40 inches of rain in some places, and up to 30 inches in others, by Wednesday. 
   
   #Harvey made landfall at 10 PM CDT as a category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas, with max winds of 130 mph and min pressure of 938 mb. pic.twitter.com/98y5wpKmBw — NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) August 26, 2017 
   
   The combination of wind and water could leave wide swaths of South Texas "uninhabitable for weeks or months," the National Weather Service in Houston said. 
   
   Such daunting language hasn't been seen by CNN's experts since Hurricane Katrina , which left more than 1,800 people dead in 2005. 
   
   The threat has prompted officials in at least one town to ask residents who stay behind to write their Social Security numbers on one of their arms in case. It will make identifying bodies easier. 
   
   "Texas is about to have a very significant disaster," said Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
   
   Gov. Greg Abbott warned of record-setting flooding and called on people to flee the area before the storm hits. 
   
   "My top goal is to be able to make it through this storm in a way in which we lose no lives," Abbott said. "Put your life first and your property second." 
   
   The golden arches atop a McDonald's in Galveston were downed by high winds. 
   
   Residents were urged to evacuate. A mass exodus from the coast caused extensive traffic jams along the state's highways, while other people boarded up windows and stocked up on food and water ahead of the storm, the effects of which are expected to last for days. 
   
   The storm will stall and dump rain on South Texas and parts of Louisiana into the middle of next week, forecasters predicted. 
   
   Latest developments 
   
   -- Rockport, Texas, officials are advising residents who refuse to evacuate to write their names and Social Security number on a forearm, Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Rios told CNN. Rios said it will "help out first responders should they find a body." 
   
   -- The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi issued an extreme wind warning for portions of the Texas coast. "Widespread destructive winds of 115 to 145 mph will produce swaths of tornado-like damage," the agency said. 
   
   -- Texas' governor requested additional federal help with a presidential disaster declaration. The White House is considering the declaration. 
   
   -- President Donald Trump, who will visit the area next week, has signed a disaster declaration for the state. 
   
   I encourage everyone in the path of #HurricaneHarvey to heed the advice & orders of their local and state officials. https://t.co/N6uEWCZUrv — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017 
   
   FEMA prepared for 'significant disaster' 
   
   JUST WATCHED What Hurricane Harvey looks like from space Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What Hurricane Harvey looks like from space 00:41 
   
   Those who stay should "elevate and get into a structure that can withstand potentially Category 3 winds from a hurricane," said Long, the FEMA director. 
   
   "The bottom line message is, right now, if people have not heeded the warning, again, their window to do so is closing," Long said. "If they refuse to heed the warning, that's on them." 
   
   Long said he is "very worried" about storm surge, or "wind-driven water," slamming coastal areas, saying it has the "highest potential to kill the most amount of people and cause the most amount of damage." 
   
   Trump tweeted that he has spoken with the governors of Texas and Louisiana, saying he is "closely monitoring Hurricane Harvey developments and here to assist as needed." 
   
   Record flooding expected 
   
   Christopher Beafneaux, left, Ernesto Villarreal, center, and Roman Lopez board up windows of a business in Galveston. 
   
   Officials worried that Harvey's deluge of rain will drench Texas and the region for several days. 
   
   "We could see this storm park for almost five days in some places, and we hear three feet of rain," said Bill Read, the former director of the National Hurricane Center. "That's just going to be a huge problem for these areas." 
   
   "The water is going to be the issue," Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb said. "We've never had anything like this." 
   
   Harvey is also causing concern in New Orleans, where heavy rain could usher in as much as 20 inches of rain through early next week and overwhelm the city's already-compromised drainage system 
   
   Storm nears shore 
   
   Joey Walker, 25, works with the Galveston Island Beach Patrol and is riding out the storm from a house on Galveston Island. He posted video of near-white out conditions overlooking Stewart Beach. 
   
   Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said anyone not leaving should plan to stay off the roads once the storm starts. 
   
   "People need to know, this is not a one-, two-day event and done," Turner said. 
   
   'I'm trying to be strong' 
   
   The threat of Harvey became evident Thursday when several coastal Texas counties issued evacuation orders, leading to hordes of residents sitting bumper to bumper for miles. 
   
   Traffic on Interstate 37 between San Antonio and Corpus Christi was backed up for miles Thursday. 
   
   Rose Yepez told CNN it took her twice as long as usual to drive 140 miles from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, en route to Texas Hill Country. 
   
   Private vehicles -- along with city buses packed with adults and children carrying backpacks -- jammed roads for hours. 
   
   "I'm shaking inside, but for them, I'm trying to be strong," a Corpus Christi woman who was waiting with her two daughters to board a bus out of town told CNN affiliate KRIS. 
   
   Workers at 39 offshore petroleum production platforms and an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico also evacuated Thursday, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said. 
   
   A sign reading "Be Nice Harvey" was left behind on a boarded-up business in Port Aransas. 
   
   First responders such as Brittany Fowler stayed behind and waited for the storm. 
   
   "Hopefully, it doesn't do any damage, but if it does, we've prepared," Fowler, a firefighter in Corpus Christi, wrote on Instagram. 
   
   Fowler's family helped by boarding up windows and doors at her home, and she bought plenty of water, food and a small power generator. 
   
   Special thank you to my Dad, brother and Marz for boarding up the house and getting it squared away for #Harvey! Hopefully it doesn't do any damage but if it does we've prepared. #HurricaneHarvey #WeatherChannel #CorpusChristi #hurricane #gulfcoast A post shared by Brittany Fowler (@bafowler1) on Aug 24, 2017 at 1:56pm PDT 
   
   Despite the warnings, Elsie and David Reichenbacher prepped supplies and planned to stay put in Corpus Christi. 
   
   "I've gone through a lot of hurricanes. I've lived here most of my life," Elsie Reichenbacher said. "I'd rather take care of my home and my animals and be safe here. I'm on high ground with my house." ||||| For critical weather information, please visit www.weather.gov. To learn more, see www.commerce.gov. Parts of the U.S. Government are closed. However, because the information this site provides is necessary to protect life and property, it will be updated and maintained during the Federal Government shutdown.
target: – Texas is bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Harvey, a storm that meteorologists say could turn into a slow-moving "monster" that batters the state for several days. Harvey is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane late Friday or early Saturday, and AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski says it "may be nothing short of a flooding disaster" for Texas, USA Today reports. Forecasters say that after it moves ashore, Harvey is likely to end up trapped between two areas of high pressure, keeping it stalled over Texas for up to five days, dumping as much as 35 inches of rain on parts of the state. The latest developments: The National Weather Service says ingredients including warm water and calm air high up have made Harvey a potentially life-threatening storm, with a possible storm surge 12 feet high and winds up to 125mph. "It's a very dangerous storm," National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini tells the AP. "It does have all the ingredients it needs to intensify. And we're seeing that intensification occur quite rapidly." The service's safety resources can be found here. The latest from the National Hurricane Center is here. Harvey strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane early Friday, CNN reports. Several counties along the coast had already issued evacuation orders. If it does become a Category 3 by the time it is expected to make landfall around 70 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, it will be the first storm that size to hit the US since Hurricane Wilma in Oct. 2005 The Corpus Christi Caller-Times looks at what people can expect from a Category 3 hurricane—and at what people who choose to ride it out instead of following recommendations to evacuate should do. With massive flooding and power outages possible in the Houston area, people have been rushing to stock up on essentials, causing chaos at grocery stores and gas stations, the Houston Chronicle reports. Liquor stores are also experiencing a huge rise in demand. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office says President Trump has called the governor and offered whatever federal resources are needed, KHOU reports. Abbott has already declared a state of disaster in 30 counties. He has also activated 700 Texas National Guard members. Interstate 37's northbound lanes were clogged with traffic late Thursday as people fled the Corpus Christi area. "There is no doubt in my mind that the city will flood," resident Angie Flores, who went to Austin with her husband and their four dogs, tells the American-Statesman. "There are some people who aren't going to leave because they think it’s going to be a good time. I worry about them."