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Much of Houston, the fourth largest U.S. city, is under water and Texas Governor Greg Abbott says more "incredibly heavy" rain is on the way from the tropical storm system that hit the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Harvey.

Rising water chased thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground and overwhelmed rescuers trying to keep up with constant calls for help. The downpours turned some streets into rivers, navigable only by boat.

In a rescue effort that recalled the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the storm that devastated New Orleans 12 years ago, helicopters landed near flooded freeways. Some people managed to escape with kayaks, canoes or inflatable rafts.

At least two deaths have been reported so far, a total that is likely to climb. "It's impossible not to feel overwhelmed," VOA's Celia Mendoza said Sunday from Houston. “Everything is closed."

?President Donald Trump will visit the disaster area Tuesday, White House officials said, but only if it is clear that his trip will not disrupt relief efforts.

Volunteers joined emergency personnel to evacuate people from their homes, some of which were flooded as high as the second floor above ground. Residents were urged to climb onto their homes' roofs, to avoid being trapped in attics by rising water, and to wave sheets or towels to attract attention and assistance.

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center warned of "unprecedented" and catastrophic life-threatening floods across southeast Texas. The National Weather Service said "the breadth and intensity of this rainfall is beyond anything experienced before."

Through the next several days, some areas of the storm zone can expect a total of more than 125 centimeters of rain. Tornadoes are also likely.

Harvey is creeping through southeast Texas extremely slowly - moving at 4 kilometers per hour or less - compared to most storm systems. The latest forecast has it drifting just offshore into the Gulf of Mexico over the next two days, where it may pick up more strength.

Harvey's snail-like pace close to the warm Gulf waters is a major reason the storm is dumping such an incredible amount of moisture on Houston and other Texas towns. The Texas governor told reporters Sunday afternoon that his top priority is to "protect human life."

Abbott warned all residents to stay off the roads, saying that anyone who attempted to drive would be taking their lives into their own hands. He added that anyone who has not left the flood zone should seek refuge in a location as high above ground as possible.

Vice Admiral Karl Schultz of the U.S. Coast Guard said water, not wind, is the biggest danger from a tropical storm.

State officials have deployed 3,000 National Guard members for storm duty, and order 600 boats out to help with rescues, along with numerous aircraft.

Abbott said he was deeply grateful to his fellow Americans for their support and resources, particularly what he called a "very effective federal partner" that has granted every request for aid. Nineteen Texas counties have been declared federal disaster areas, and the governor said that number is likely to grow.

The White House said President Trump led a Cabinet meeting about the storm disaster, and that he expects all federal agencies to stay fully committed to helping state officials in Texas and neighboring Louisiana.

Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Brock Long told an interviewer that CNN that members of his agency will be involved in operations in storm-damaged areas "for years." Long told an interviewer (CNN) the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey was a "landmark event."

The hurricane hit the Texas Gulf Coast as a major storm - category 4 on a 5-point scale. Once over land its peak winds slowed, but the downpour has continued.

At least two deaths have been reported so far, a total that is likely to climb. "It's impossible not to feel overwhelmed," VOA's Celia Mendoza said Sunday from Houston. “Everything is closed."

"People are concerned about what is happening to them, to their neighbors," VOA's Celia Mendoza said. "They’re concerned about their homes," she added, noting that many people were stranded at their jobs by the fast-rising water, and have been trying to keep in touch with their families at home.

"I was scared ... too much. My family tried to call me. ... I tell them I’m on the freeway I don’t know how long I’m going to stay," Ricardo Martinez, who was driving hotel guests to the Houston airport on Sunday, told VOA. "I recommend to people – stay home with your family."

Several Houston-area oil refineries shut down on Sunday as the storm continued. The closures take roughly 12 percent of U.S. fuel-making capacity offline, compounding concerns about fuel shortages in coming days.

Harvey was the strongest hurricane to hit the United States mainland in more than a decade.