At least 2 dead as catastrophic Harvey flooding continues

Hurricane Harvey was downgraded to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon, but slower winds have not meant safety for drenched and battered eastern Texas. Harvey is moving inland in the Houston area, bringing with it torrential rains and catastrophic flooding.

At least two people, a woman and child caught inside a submerged vehicle, have died in connection to the storm, and a report from Houston of a body sighted in a flash flood suggested a third fatality. "This is a life-threatening situation," said Michael Palmer, the Weather Channel's lead meteorologist, predicting this will "be one of the worst floods in U.S. history."

Houston's emergency services are struggling to handle a deluge of requests. "911 services at capacity," the city tweeted early Sunday. "If u can shelter in place do so, a few inches in your home is not imminent danger. Only call if in imminent danger." All flights out of Houston's airport have been canceled and all bus and rail services suspended.

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Rain is expected to continue through Thursday. See scenes from the destruction in Texas below. Bonnie Kristian