Family’s desperate fight to survive Hurricane Harvey

One man has told of his family’s desperate fight to survive Hurricane Harvey as he tells how they ‘didn’t stand a chance’ when 130mph winds blew apart their home, forcing them to take shelter on a bus to save their lives.

The storm of the decade slammed into Texas with devastating winds and an expected five feet of rainfall on Friday, leaving at least one dead, 14 injured and thousands of family homes left in ruin.

Eight million residents have been warned the worst is yet to come, as hundreds of thousands of shell-shocked Texans on the Gulf Coast prepare for life-threatening flooding as they began to pick up the pieces of their lives. 

The coastal city of Rockport was one of the hardest areas hit by the Category 4 hurricane and local man Kevin Rea, 23, revealed that his family was lucky to survive the long and brutal night.

Speaking to Dailymail.com on Saturday, Rea said: ‘We tried staying in our house for as long as we could but the hurricane was just too much. We didn’t stand a chance. 

‘A small bus saved our life; it is where we spent the next six hours riding out the storm and keeping dry.’  

Kevin Rea, of Rockport, Texas, shared his horrific story of how he and his family survived Hurricane Harvey, which slammed into the Texas Gulf Coast on Friday night. Strong 130mph winds ripped apart Rea’s home, he said on Saturday 

In order for his family of six to survive, Rea had to knock down the home's front door and escape to a small bus that was parked outside. His family huddled together for six hours to wait out the devastating storm

In order for his family of six to survive, Rea had to knock down the home’s front door and escape to a small bus that was parked outside. His family huddled together for six hours to wait out the devastating storm

The coastal city of Rockport was one of the hardest areas hit by the Category 4 hurricane and Rea said he felt lucky to survive

The coastal city of Rockport was one of the hardest areas hit by the Category 4 hurricane and Rea said he felt lucky to survive

Although the hurricane has since diminished, Texans are still bracing for the aftermath of the storm with 'life-threatening' flooding expected to hit the region in the following days 

Although the hurricane has since diminished, Texans are still bracing for the aftermath of the storm with ‘life-threatening’ flooding expected to hit the region in the following days 

Winds of 130mph ripped apart Rea's home, tearing off the roof and blowing the home off the foundation. Rea said his family lost almost everything and he is planning to move away from the city after the catastrophic storm

Winds of 130mph ripped apart Rea’s home, tearing off the roof and blowing the home off the foundation. Rea said his family lost almost everything and he is planning to move away from the city after the catastrophic storm

 Rea said: 'We tried staying in our house for as long as we could but the hurricane was just too much. We didn't stand a chance. 'A small bus saved our life; it is where we spent the next six hours riding out the storm and keeping dry' 

 Rea said: ‘We tried staying in our house for as long as we could but the hurricane was just too much. We didn’t stand a chance. ‘A small bus saved our life; it is where we spent the next six hours riding out the storm and keeping dry’ 

Rea said he and his family battled the hurricane in their home just miles outside of Rockport, which was the epicenter of the deadly storm. 

He said there were four adults and two young children who waited out the storm and it almost cost them their lives.

Rea and the other adults tried to keep their front door from blowing open during the powerful natural disaster with wind gusts up to 130 mph.

‘We even moved our piano up against our door to try to get it close, but the winds were just too strong. We didn’t stand a chance. We finally kicked the piano down in the hopes to barricade us in, but it didn’t work.

‘Our house blew off the foundation and the supports poked through the floors of the house.

‘Within hours and you could hear the house slowly coming apart, it was like a movie set, surreal. 

‘The rain was pouring down like I’ve never seen before and water was rising into the house, it was practically knee deep by the time we left.

‘We made the decision we needed to get out of the house or risk injury or possible death so we all jumped into a small bus we had parked.

‘A small bus saved our life; it is where we spent the next 6 hours riding out the storm and keeping dry.’

Rea said there were four adults and two young children who waited out the storm and it almost cost them their lives. They attempted to keep their front door from blowing open during the powerful natural disaster 

Rea said there were four adults and two young children who waited out the storm and it almost cost them their lives. They attempted to keep their front door from blowing open during the powerful natural disaster 

Rea said the hurricane's strength caused the house supports poked through the floors, making him fear for his life 

Rea said the hurricane’s strength caused the house supports poked through the floors, making him fear for his life 

Rea said his family decided to ride out the storm instead of fleeing because they didn't think it was going to be that bad

Rea said his family decided to ride out the storm instead of fleeing because they didn’t think it was going to be that bad

Eight million residents have been warned the worst is yet to come, as thousands of shell-shocked Texans on the Gulf Coast began to pick up the pieces of their destroyed homes

Eight million residents have been warned the worst is yet to come, as thousands of shell-shocked Texans on the Gulf Coast began to pick up the pieces of their destroyed homes

Rea said that he plans on leaving the area for good as soon as he can, adding: ‘Now we’ve lost everything like a lot of people, we are going to have to start over.’

He said they decided to ride out the storm instead of fleeing because they didn’t think it was going to be that strong of a storm.

At least one person has died and another 14 have been injured after Hurricane Harvey slammed into the state leaving a path of ‘widespread devastation’ and catastrophic flooding over several hundred miles across the state of Texas.

Eight million residents have been warned the worst is yet to come, as hundreds of thousands of shell-shocked Texans on the Gulf Coast began to pick up the pieces after Harvey destroyed homes and businesses, left several injured and the state facing a clean-up bill of $40billion.

Texas utility companies said more than 338,000 were without power and the coastal town of Rockport, 30 miles north of Corpus Christi was hardest hit as the storm – which has weakened to a tropical storm with winds of 70mph – settled over southeast Texas.

It will sit over the Lone Star State well into next week pounding hundreds of miles of coastline with life-threatening storm surges, causing deadly walls of water to move inland.

The hurricane made landfall around 10pm local time between Port Aransas and Port O'Connor, as waves flooded onto roads, roofs were sent flying into the air and residents in the storm's path were told to label themselves in case they died

The hurricane made landfall around 10pm local time between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor, as waves flooded onto roads, roofs were sent flying into the air and residents in the storm’s path were told to label themselves in case they died

By dawn, more than 20 inches of rain had fallen in Corpus Christi and 16 inches of rain had fallen in Houston. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said another 20 to 30 more inches of rain could fall and that 'dramatic flooding' remained the biggest concern

By dawn, more than 20 inches of rain had fallen in Corpus Christi and 16 inches of rain had fallen in Houston. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said another 20 to 30 more inches of rain could fall and that ‘dramatic flooding’ remained the biggest concern

Rea said his family tried to use a piano to blockade their front door before they fled from their home and waited in a bus

Rea said his family tried to use a piano to blockade their front door before they fled from their home and waited in a bus

Rea said that he plans on leaving the area for good as soon as he can, adding: 'Now we've lost everything like a lot of people, we are going to have to start over'

Rea said that he plans on leaving the area for good as soon as he can, adding: ‘Now we’ve lost everything like a lot of people, we are going to have to start over’

Governor Greg Abbot warned Texans to stay away from rising water, noting that currents can be swifter than they appear.

‘Turn around, don’t drown. Don’t risk your life,’ he said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. ‘The most important thing all Texans can do is to put your life and the protection of your life first and foremost.’

With streets flooded and strewn with power lines and debris, authorities warned the storm’s most destructive powers were just beginning. Rainfall that will continue for days could dump more than five feet of water and inundate many communities, including dangerously flood-prone Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city.

By dawn, more than 20 inches of rain had fallen in Corpus Christi and 16 inches of rain had fallen in Houston. In a press conferences, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said another 20 to 30 more inches of rain could fall and that ‘dramatic flooding’ remained the biggest concern. A disaster declaration has been made for 50 counties.

The hurricane made landfall around 10pm local time between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor, as waves flooded onto roads, roofs were sent flying into the air and residents in the storm’s path were told to label themselves in case they died.

A truck is flipped over after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area on Saturday,  in Port Aransas, Texas. It is unclear if the dog lying in the car is dead or injured

A truck is flipped over after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area on Saturday, in Port Aransas, Texas. It is unclear if the dog lying in the car is dead or injured

With streets flooded and strewn with power lines and debris, authorities warned the storm's most destructive powers were just beginning. Pictured: A man checking on a boat storage facility in Rockport 

With streets flooded and strewn with power lines and debris, authorities warned the storm’s most destructive powers were just beginning. Pictured: A man checking on a boat storage facility in Rockport 

The storm will sit over the Lone Star State well into next week pounding hundreds of miles of coastline with life-threatening storm surges, causing deadly walls of water to move inland. Pictured: A destroyed apartment complex in Rockport

The storm will sit over the Lone Star State well into next week pounding hundreds of miles of coastline with life-threatening storm surges, causing deadly walls of water to move inland. Pictured: A destroyed apartment complex in Rockport

A mobile park is destroyed after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area on Saturday in Port Aransas, Texas

A mobile park is destroyed after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area on Saturday in Port Aransas, Texas

Rainfall that will continue for days could dump more than five feet of water and inundate many communities, including dangerously flood-prone Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city. Pictured: The hurricane has since de-escalated in this satellite photo on Saturday evening

Rainfall that will continue for days could dump more than five feet of water and inundate many communities, including dangerously flood-prone Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city. Pictured: The hurricane has since de-escalated in this satellite photo on Saturday evening

As of Saturday morning at least 14 people have been injured after the roof of a single story senior housing complex collapsed – but the extent of the injuries are unknown.

The mayor of Rockport, a coastal city of about 10,000 that was directly in the storm’s path, said his community took a blow ‘right on the nose’ that left ‘widespread devastation,’ including homes, businesses and schools that were heavily damaged. Some structures were destroyed.

One person in Rockport was confirmed dead Saturday afternoon as a result of a house fire in the storm’s first fatality. Officials say there are likely more victims as an estimated 5,000 residents remained during the hurricane.

Mayor Charles ‘CJ’ Wax told The Weather Channel that the city’s emergency response system had been hampered by the loss of cellphone service and other forms of communication.

Ahead of the storm, residents were told to head north to cities such as San Antonio, which is a federally and state-designated evacuation center.

Texas state parks are open to hurricane evacuees to camp for free and 12 campgrounds and RV parks were made available for Hurricane Harvey evacuees. Some have even headed east to evacuation centers in Louisiana.

All seven counties on the Texas coast from Corpus Christi to the western end of Galveston Island were under mandatory evacuations from low-lying areas. Four counties ordered full evacuations and warned there was no guarantee of rescue for those choosing to stay behind.

A dog is left tied up and abandoned on a property off US Route 77 in the eye of the storm on Saturday in Victoria, Texas

A dog is left tied up and abandoned on a property off US Route 77 in the eye of the storm on Saturday in Victoria, Texas

Dogs are left tied up and abandoned (left and right) on properties off US Route 77 in the eye of the storm on Saturday in Victoria, Texas. The dogs were untied and taken to safety by the DailyMail.com photographer

By dawn, nearly 20 inches of rain had fallen in some places. By storm's end, more than 40 inches of rain is expected to fall. Pictured: A damaged home is seen after Hurricane Harvey passed through on August 26, 2017 in Rockport

By dawn, nearly 20 inches of rain had fallen in some places. By storm’s end, more than 40 inches of rain is expected to fall. Pictured: A damaged home is seen after Hurricane Harvey passed through on August 26, 2017 in Rockport

Mobile homes are destroyed at an RV park after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area on Saturday in Port Aransas

Mobile homes are destroyed at an RV park after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Coast Bend area on Saturday in Port Aransas

A trailer overturned and objects strewn about in the wake of Hurricane Harvey on Saturday in Aransas Pass, Texas

A trailer overturned and objects strewn about in the wake of Hurricane Harvey on Saturday in Aransas Pass, Texas

Trump tweeted that the administration was closely monitoring the storm from the Camp David retreat and that federal funds would be allocated to help residents in the storm's aftermath (above)

Trump tweeted that the administration was closely monitoring the storm from the Camp David retreat and that federal funds would be allocated to help residents in the storm’s aftermath (above)

President Donald Trump signed a disaster proclamation from the Camp David retreat and tweeted on Saturday morning that the government was ‘closely monitoring’ the storm.

‘We are leaving nothing to chance. City, State and Federal Govs. working great together!’ he wrote

To Texas Senator Chuck Grassley he tweeted: ‘[G]ot your message loud and clear. We have fantastic people on the ground, got there long before #Harvey. So far, so good!’

Governor Abbott warned that Hurricane Harvey would be ‘a major disaster’ before the storm barreled into the state with violent winds and massive rainfall, all on top of storm surges up to 13 feet.

Harvey is the strongest storm to hit the US in 12 years and the National Weather Service warned that this was the ‘start of many difficult days to come’.

Despite the storm’s weekend, forecasters say that Harvey’s impact will be devastating and leave areas ‘uninhabitable for weeks or months’. 

Flash flood warnings continue to be in effect as Hurricane Harvey pounds Port Lavaca, Texas, one of the city's under mandatory evacuations

Flash flood warnings continue to be in effect as Hurricane Harvey pounds Port Lavaca, Texas, one of the city’s under mandatory evacuations

A power generator container tips in front of a hospital on the Corpus Christi shoreline on Friday night as the hurricane came in

A power generator container tips in front of a hospital on the Corpus Christi shoreline on Friday night as the hurricane came in

The insured property losses from Hurricane Harvey were estimated to cost between $1billion and $2billion from wind and storm damage, according to CoreLogic.

Daybreak revealed downed lamp posts and tree limbs and roof tiles torn off buildings. The city’s marina was nearly unscathed, save an awning ripped from a restaurant entrance and a wooden garbage bin uprooted and thrown.

Along Interstate 45 leaving Galveston, motorists had to stop under bridges to avoid driving in whiteout conditions.

Fueled by warm Gulf of Mexico waters, Harvey grew rapidly, accelerating from a Category One early Friday morning to a Category Four by evening. Its transformation from an ordinary storm to a life-threatening behemoth took only 56 hours, an incredibly fast

Harvey came ashore as the fiercest hurricane to hit the US in 12 years and the strongest to strike Texas since 1961’s Hurricane Carla, the most powerful Texas hurricane on record.

Before the storm arrived, property owners raced to nail plywood over windows and fill sandbags. Steady traffic filled the highways leaving Corpus Christi, but there were no apparent jams. In Houston, where mass evacuations can include changing major highways to a one-way vehicle flow, authorities left traffic patterns unchanged.

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