As Waters Rise, Texans Told to Get on the Roof

As "catastrophic" flooding batters Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, President Trump says he will be traveling to Texas "as soon as that trip can be made without causing disruption" in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, reports the AP. Trump tweeted that the "focus must be life and safety." Trump has been complimenting the response to the storm on his Twitter feed, commending "Great coordination between agencies at all levels of government." Trump adds that: "Many people are now saying that this is the worst storm/hurricane they have ever seen. Good news is that we have great talent on the ground." As much as 40 inches of rain could hit cities including Houston. Other developments:

• The National Weather Service is advising residents to not leave their homes, but if the highest floor becomes dangerous, to get on the roof and call 911, reports CBS News. More than 1,000 people have been rescued so far, reports CNN.
• "We could not be more appreciative of what the federal government has done, from the president on down," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tells ABC News of the response. "FEMA has been very active, involved, and engaged in this whole process long before the hurricane even hit ground. Because of their assistance it means that Texas will be able to begin the rebuilding process very swiftly."
• "Houston is an area that is prone to flood at least once a year, but this is one of the worst, if not the worst that Houston has suffered," Abbott says.

(More Hurricane Harvey stories.)