HURRICANE Harvey is dumping a "catastrophic" amount of rainfall as it churns slowly across the Texas Gulf Coast today — sparking fears of a biblical flood and ALLIGATORS being washed up onto the streets.

The "storm of the decade" wrought havoc last night with 130mph winds, 40 inches of rain and catastrophic floods.

49 The roof of a gas station sits in flood waters in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in Aransas, Texas Credit: AP

49 A car moves through floodwaters left behind by Hurricane Harvey in Aransas Pass, Texas Credit: AP

49 This trailer was overturned due to the force of Hurricane Harvey which caused havoc in Texas Credit: AP

49 Hurricane Harvey rolled over the Texas Gulf Coast on Saturday, smashing homes and businesses and lashing the shore with wind and rain Credit: AP

49 A tree was thrown across the road in Corpus Christi, Texas as the Category 4 storm made landfall last night Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 There has been extensive damage across south east Texas as winds of up of 130mph ripped through the region Credit: Reuters

49 Police in Texas warned of alligators being swept up and dumped on residential streets as floods sweep across the state Credit: FBCSO Texas

Initially a Category 4 hurricane, it is the strongest to hit the United States since Wilma in 2005 where 64 people died and £24billion worth of damage was caused.

Among the worst hit places were the cities of Corpus Christi and Rockport, where one person died and rescuers were expecting to find more bodies.

But as the intensity of the winds petered out this afternoon, officials have warned that the coming days will see intense rainfall that could see large swathes of Texas submerged.

The National Hurricane Center has said that "catastrophic flooding" over the next few days is expected — after nine inches of rain was deposited since last night alone.

And in a bizarre and terrifying warning, authorities told of the threat of alligators roaming residential areas.

The killer reptiles are being lifted and moved by rushing flood waters from their natural habitats and being dumped on streets.

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office tweeted images of crocs approaching homes and walking down busy roads, warning: "Expect them to be displaced. Simply looking for higher ground. Leave alone until water recedes".

49 Residents have been boarding up their windows as the governor ordered an evacuation of low-lying areas Credit: Rex Features

49 Winds picked up yesterday afternoon as the storm ramped up to a Category 4 Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 The storm has destroyed a school in the town of Rockport as intense winds ripped off roofs Credit: Reuters

49 Hurricane Harvey hit Corpus Christi on the Texas coast last night

49 Hurricane Harvey is pictured off the coast of Texas, U.S. from aboard the International Space Station

49 Extensive infrastructure damage is predicted as the storm sweeps through Texas Credit: EPA

49 Parts of buildings have flown off in the high winds Credit: Getty Images - Getty

49 Trees have been uprooted by the force of the storm Credit: Getty Images - Getty

49 The full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed Credit: Getty Images - Getty

49 South east Texas was battered by high winds as Harvey made landfall last night Credit: AFP or licensors

Governor Greg Abbott urged Texans yesterday to evacuate low-lying and coastal areas as the storm made landfall last night.

He sent a written request to President Trump asking him to declare a major disaster in Texas.

He wrote: “The storm surge, coupled with the deluge of rain, could easily lead to billions of dollars of property damage and almost certainly loss of life.

“It is not hyperbole to say that if the forecast verifies, Texas is about to experience one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the state.”

Speaking to KPRC television station he added: "A lot of people are taking this storm for granted thinking it may not pose much of a danger to them.

"Please heed warnings and evacuate as soon as possible."

Officials are advising residents who refuse to evacuate to write their names and Social Security number on a forearm, mayor Patrick Rios told CNN.

He said it will "help out first responders should they find a body."

49 A satellite image showing the scale of Hurricane Harvey as it approaches Texas Credit: EPA

49 Storms have begun to batter the Texas coast Credit: AFP

49 Craig "Cajun" Uggen, 57, nearly floods his truck as Hurricane Harvey comes ashore in Corpus Christi, Texas

White House officials said that Trump is considering visiting Texas early next week to survey the damage caused by the storm — which was Category 4 as it struck the mainland.

A high school in Rockport has been destroyed, dozens of trees uprooted and makeshift hospitals have been set up to treat the wounded and displaced.

The president wished Texans "good luck" as he flew off to his country retreat Camp David - as millions prepare for the tropical cyclone with 40 inches of rain and catastrophic flooding.

"Good luck to everybody," the president said on the way to the Marine One helicopter. "They're going to be safe. Good luck to everybody. Good luck."

Tweeting as soon as he arrived at Camp David, Trump reassured the American public that he was monitoring the hurricane situation. He wrote: "I am closely watching the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey, as it strengthens to a Category 3. BE SAFE!"

Hurricane Harvey, the first major natural disaster since Trump took office, is thought to be the biggest hurricane to hit the US mainland in more than a decade.

Just arrived at Camp David where I am closely watching the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey, as it strengthens to a Category 3. BE SAFE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017

The storm, downgraded to a Category 3 this morning and to a Category 1 later, is expected to move further across Texas today bringing more rain and intense winds.

Trump plans to visit Texas early next week, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

He will spend the weekend in Camp David, though White House officials said the president will be in full communication with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to stay updated on the events.

49 Waves pound the shore in Corpus Christi, Texas

Category 4 Hurricane Category 4 hurricanes are tropical cyclones that reach Category 4 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Category 4 is the second-highest hurricane classification category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and storms that are of this intensity maintain maximum sustained winds of 130–156 mph. Based on the Atlantic hurricane database, 94 hurricanes have attained Category 4 hurricane status since 1851, the start of modern meteorological record keeping. Category 4 storms are considered extreme hurricanes; homes and other buildings without fixed structures can be completely destroyed, and the lower floors of sturdier structures usually sustain major damage. Low-level terrain may be flooded well inland.

49 A truck almost overturns in high winds Credit: AP:Associated Press

Storm turned Hurricane is getting much bigger and more powerful than projected. Federal Government is on site and ready to respond. Be safe! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017

49 People rest while waiting to board a bus headed for San Antonio at an evacuation center in Corpus Christi, Texas Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 The storm made landfall in Texas last night Credit: AFP or licensors

49 Residents have boarded up shops and homes as they plead with the storm to 'be nice' Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 The storm is threatening thousands of people as it approaches the Texas coast Credit: AP:Associated Press

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Louisiana and Texas until 2 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/jnLyG5ibiz — NWS Corpus Christi (@NWSCorpus) August 25, 2017

49 Hurricane Harvey pictured off the Gulf of Mexico as it swarms towards Texas Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 People are panic buying supplies as they prepare for the huge storm to hit Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Shelves have been stripped bare as people buy food and water while they wait out the storm Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Shoppers were filmed grabbing water from stores as they rush to build up their supplies

49 Water was reported to run out in many stores in Texas as people panic bought supplies

49 Shops and businesses boarded up windows and doors in preparation Credit: Getty Images - Getty

49 Hurricane Harvey was primed to hit the US this evening Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Shelves were stripped as people prepared to be stuck in their homes Credit: Twitter/Bobbie Byrd‏

49 Heavy traffic as cars flee from the storm

Millions across the country prepared by boarding up windows and strip supermarket shelves bare - even fighting over water supplies.

As the huge weather system loomed towards to Texas coast last night wind speeds reached up to 130mph.

#Harvey is now a category 3 #hurricane with 120-mph winds & a pressure of 943 mb (27.85") See the latest advisory at https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/s0FrcURAsA — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 25, 2017

It was described as a "life-threatening storm" that poses a "grave risk" as millions of people braced for a prolonged battering that could swamp dozens of counties more than 100 miles inland.

Pictures have been posted online of people grappling over food and water supplies as they stock up ahead of the storm.

People reported having to wait in long lines and drive miles to find shops with any groceries left.

One person tweeted: "I had to drive almost 30 minutes to find a store that has water... This Houston hurricane is no joke man."

Another said: "Bread is gone. Gas is gone. Water is gone. If you don't have it already, you need to befriend your neighbors."

Houston is officially out of pallets of water bottles. This is nuts #HurricaneHarvey — Brad (@bradburst) August 24, 2017

This is what happens to the bread aisle when a Hurricane is on the way, no bottled water either #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/zO2cAxWO0I — Texas Toon (@Texas_Toon) August 25, 2017

49 Residents have been warned about the scale of the storm as they are told to prepare Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 People have been boarding up their homes to protect them from the battering of the storm Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Shops have been boarded up as people prepare for the strength of the storm Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 A hurricane warning on the Texas coast has been issued Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Caesar Mendez and his daughter Catalina wait inside the Corpus Christi Natatorium to board a bus to evacuate to San Antonio Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Residents broad a bus at the Corpus Christi Natatorium as they evacuate to San Antonio ahead of Hurricane Harvey Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 People queue to get on a bus which will take them out of the dangerous area Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Jim Gilbert, owner of the Saltwater Saloon and J&T One Stop, boards up a window at his home in Magnolia, Texas Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 People sit with their packed up belongings as they evacuated from their homes Credit: AP:Associated Press

Seven counties in Texas ordered thousands of people to evacuated from low-lying areas.

Anyone who stayed behind were warned there would be no guaranteed rescue.

The last Category 4 storm to hit the US was Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 in Florida.

"We're forecasting continuing intensification right up until landfall," National Hurricane Centre spokesman Dennis Feltgen said.

Once it came ashore, the storm was expected to stall, dumping copious amounts of rain for days in areas like flood-prone Houston, the nation's fourth most-populous city, and San Antonio.

Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi was airlifting at least 10 critically ill, mostly premature infants from its neonatal intensive care unit to Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.

Cook transport director Debbie Boudreaux said the infants were being moved inland for fear that power outages might disable their ventilators.

Mayor of Galveston: We are doing "vertical evacuations" into hotels and high rises #Harvey2017 https://t.co/hZURe0N2av — CNN (@CNN) August 25, 2017

49 Melodie Griffith holds one of the cats at the Calhoun County Humane Society in Port Lavaca, Texas Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 As people prepare for the storm to hit they have stripped supermarket shelves bare Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Residents fill sand bags as they prepare for Hurricane Harvey Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 Scott Martin places a sheet of plywood as he helps board up windows Credit: AP:Associated Press

49 People reported having to drive for miles to find a shop which still had groceries to sell Credit: AP:Associated Press

Harvey would be the first significant hurricane to hit Texas since Ike in September 2008 brought winds of 110 mph (177 kph) to the Galveston and Houston areas and inflicted $22 billion in damage.

It would be the first big storm along the middle Texas coast since Hurricane Claudette in 2003 caused $180 million in damage.

It took aim at the same vicinity as Hurricane Carla, the largest Texas hurricane on record.

Carla came ashore in 1961 with wind gusts estimated at 175 mph and inflicted more than $300 million in damage.

The storm killed 34 people and forced about 250,000 people to evacuate.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump was "briefed and will continue to be updated as the storm progresses."

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