Texas is just beginning to recover after Harvey wreaked havoc on the state, leaving behind residential areas partially submerged in flooded waters.
New satellite images from DigitalGlobe show the extent of the catastrophic damage that the storm caused, as experts claim that flood damage alone will amount to at least $35billion, about what Katrina cost in 2005.
The stunning photos, taken from November through Wednesday, show areas outside of Houston flooded with murky waters after Harvey dumped more than 19 trillion gallons of water on the region, a stark contrast from the green land just months beforehand.
Officials said most of the flooded waters are expected to recede by the end of the weekend, as residents salvage items from soaking homes and bury loved ones as at least 47 people died because of the life-threatening floods.
These images of the tiny city of Simonton, Texas, shows how the community of 800 people had a rush of brown, murky waters flood their homes on August 30 (right). However, on November 20, 2016 (left) streets were still visible from above
These striking photos of Angleton, Texas on April 6 (left) and August 30 (right) reveal how waters overtook the city which boasts of 20,000 residents. Houses along the stream are presumed to have taken on water after Harvey flooded the land
Simonton, Texas, (pictured) was completely overtaken by flood waters, causing the death of preacher Donald Rogers, 65, and his 58-year-old wife Rochelle who drowned on Wednesday when they were swept away by a current in their car
Home to around to 1,000 people, Holiday Lakes (pictured left on April 3 and right on August 30) had a mandatory evacuation on Saturday afternoon after officials were concerned about catastrophic flooding
More than 100,000 homes were destroyed when Harvey slammed into the Lone Star State last Friday night, and some cities are left without water as the storm continues to dump record-setting amounts of rain.
After touring the devastated Texas Gulf Coast on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday more than 300,000 people have applied for disaster aid as the region begins to put the pieces of their lives back together.
Now that flood waters have receded enough for the recovery mission to begin, the death toll is expected to rise past 47 when most of the water is gone from Houston and Harris County by Friday or early Saturday.
Texan fire fighters were going door-to-door in a grim search for survivors and victims of Hurricane Harvey as hospitals and homes that were the last to be hit are evacuated on Thursday.
At least two the dead recovered in the waters were from the areas shown in the striking aerial satellite photos included in this story.
These stunning photos show Brookshire, Texas, (left on November 20 and right on August 20) before and after Harvey dumped more than 19 trillion gallons of water on the region, a stark contrast from the green plains just months beforehand
Officials in Houston estimate that most of the flooded waters will recede before the end of the weekend. Pictured: Rosenberg, Texas, (left on April 3 and right on August 30)
Residents are left weary, having to salvage items from their soaking homes and bury loved ones as more than 40 people died because of the life-threatening floods. Pictured: Wharton, Texas (left on October 9 and right on August 30)
There were two explosions at Arkema Inc. Plant on Thursday morning. Fifteen police officers were taken to hospital for treatment after being exposed to the harmful substances which were released the plant as a result of the blasts. Pictured: Arkema Inc. Plant in Crosby, Texas (left on January 29 and right on August 30)
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said previously that he feared how many bodies his officers would find. His bleak outlook was echoed by Fire Department Chief Terry Garrison at a press conference late on Tuesday night.
As emergency crews switched their efforts from rescue to recovery mode on Thursday, the military faced harsh criticism for how it has handled the catastrophe which has been described as a 1,000-year-flood.
Residents in some parts of Tyler County, which has a population of around 20,000 which sits to the north of the city, were told to ‘get out or die’ on Wednesday night as rivers overflowed, triggering yet more floods.
Anyone who chose to stay behind was told to write their social security number on their arm so that emergency services would later be able to identify their body.
There was also fresh danger in Harris County in Houston after two explosions at a chemical plant. Fifteen police officers were taken to hospital for treatment after being exposed to the harmful substances which were released from Arkema Inc. Plant as a result of the blasts.
The fire was put out but officials are monitoring the site for more blazes.
Texas is just beginning to recover after Harvey wreaked havoc on the state, leaving behind residential areas partially submerged in flooded waters. Pictured: Wharton, Texas (left on October 9 and right on August 30)
Houston has ‘turned a corner’, the mayor said on Thursday night. Power to much of the city has been restored and flood waters have receded, with officials claiming most of the water should be gone by Friday night or Saturday morning
Houses in Port Arthur, Texas, on Thursday morning. The true devastation of Hurricane Harvey unfolded on Wednesday as emergency crews began the grisly mission of recovering bodies from homes and flood water
A house in Orange, Texas, on Thursday where flood waters continue to swallow up homes after Hurricane Harvey
In Houston alone, the fire department has received 15,000 calls for help since Harvey made landfall. Some areas of the city continue to be at risk as water from the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs is released, causing the flood level in areas nearby to rise.
On Thursday, 40 survivors were rescued from flood water in the city. The emergency services have rescued 3,500 in total since Harvey began.
Homeowners suffering flood damage from Harvey are more likely to be on the hook for losses than victims of prior storms — a potentially crushing blow to personal finances and neighborhoods along the Gulf Coast.
Insurance experts say only a small fraction of homeowners in Harvey’s path of destruction have flood insurance. That means families with flooded basements, soaked furniture and water-damaged walls will have to dig deep into their pockets or take on more debt to fix up their homes. Some may be forced to sell, if they can, and leave their communities.
‘All these people taken out in boats, they have a second problem: They have no insurance,’ said Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America who used to run a federal flood insurance program.
Hunter estimates that total out-of-pocket costs for flooded homeowners could reach $28 billion, the largest in U.S. history.
Hunter expects flood damage alone from the storm to cost at least $35 billion, about what Katrina cost. But in that 2005 hurricane about half of flooded homes were covered by flood insurance. With Harvey, only two of 10 homeowners have coverage, Hunter estimates.
Houses in Port Arthur, Texas, on Thursday morning. With the rain finally over in Houston and other parts of Texas and the flood waters now receding, recovery missions can start
Water swamps Port Arthur, Texas, where thousands were impacted by the wrath of Hurricane Harvey earlier in the week
As residents wade through the declining murky waters to salvage what is left of their homes, experts warn that it has ‘millions of contaminants’, including toxic chemicals, sewage, debris and waste
More than 100,000 homes were destroyed when Harvey slammed into the Lone Star State last Friday night
Volunteer rescuer Matt Clarke searches for local residents after a mandatory evacuation was ordered in the area beneath the Barker Reservoir as water is released, after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread flooding in Houston
A man stands in his flooded home in a west Houston neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Thursday
A truck underwater in Houston, Texas, on Thursday where floods continued to surge in parts due to the controlled release of water from two over spilling dams