ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan has opened its on-campus housing early to incoming students from Texas who have been impacted by flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The UM Housing Facebook page sent out an announcement to all incoming students from Texas on Aug. 25, letting them know that they would be welcome to come to campus early.

"If helpful, Texas residents (who are moving to one of our buildings on-campus) are welcome to come to campus early - we will house you until your contract starts," the message said.

UM Senior Associate Director of Housing Administration and Public Relations Amir Baghdadchi said 17 students impacted by the hurricane have arrived to move in early, while more than 100 residents of UM housing are residents of Texas.

"Especially for first-year students, moving to Ann Arbor isn't just changing your address, it's making a big transition in your life," Baghdadchi said. "We want to make that experience as smooth as possible, so if we can help a family navigate their travels in the wake of a major storm, we are happy to do it.

"Our university community is made of up people from all over the country, so when something happens in Texas, it affects our community too," he added.

Information for incoming students from Texas: Based on weather reports, we can see Texas has the potential for some... Posted by University of Michigan Housing on Friday, August 25, 2017

Students who are looking to move in ahead of the regular student move-in are asked to email housing@umich.edu with "Texas Early Move In" in the subject line.

More than three days after the storm ravaged the Texas coastline as a Category 4 hurricane, authorities had confirmed three deaths -- including a woman killed Monday when heavy rains dislodged a large oak tree onto her trailer home in the small town of Porter, according to The Associated Press.

The disaster is unfolding on an epic scale, with Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, mostly paralyzed by the storm that has parked itself over the Gulf Coast. Early Tuesday, Harvey's relentless downpour continued to drench Houston and the surrounding area.

The full student move-in for UM residence halls runs Wednesday, Aug. 30, through Friday, Sept. 1. Baghdadchi said he expects around 6,000 first-year UM students to move in during that three-day period.

For more informaiton on move-in week at UM, visit the Student Life Housing website. The fall semester for UM begins on Sept. 5.