The most powerful storm in 12 years caused catastrophic flooding in the US

Hurricane Harvey is engulfing the city of Houston, Texas, USA, in "catastrophic flooding".

Floods caused tens of thousands of people to leave their homes and move to higher places to live. Local authorities still receive emergency calls for help, Fox News reported. The storm killed at least 5 people and injured dozens.

According to Houston mayor Sylvester Turner, as of the night of August 26, more than 1,000 people were rescued. The 911 emergency number received more than 2,000 calls thanks to rescue and the number is definitely increasing.

Director of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency Brock Long said the government is planning a large-scale response and disaster recovery may take years.

Texas governor Greg Abbott called the storm "bad news and getting worse". "We measured rainfall levels in the past days not by inches but by feet , " he said.

According to the US National Weather Service, Hurricane Harvey caused "catastrophic flooding " in Houston and the situation is likely "to be even more serious."

Houston Art Acevedo police chief said the city's 911 system has become "overloaded" since the storm Harvey landed. "Don't call 911 if you're not in a critical situation . We call on people not to panic , " Acevedo said.

The truck was blown by the wind in the storm.(Photo: AP).

Houston police chief also asked people not to hide in the attic but to climb onto the roof."There are people who go into the attic to avoid the flood. Don't do it unless you have an ax or something in your hand to break the roof and climb up."

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas state on August 25 with winds of up to 210km / h. This is the strongest storm the United States has suffered in 12 years and is the strongest typhoon to hit the state of Texas for more than 50 years. US President Donald Trump signed a declaration of disaster for Texas.