Houston 911: What To Do If You Need To Be Rescued

HOUSTON, TX — The city of Houston’s 911 system is swamped with calls as rain brought by Hurricane Harvey, now Tropical Storm Harvey, swallows the city with quickly rising floodwaters. Officials are asking people to shelter in place, and not call 911 unless it is a real emergency.

Those who are in imminent danger should call 911 or the U.S. Coast Guard but rescuers are busy and it could take some time. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting urban rescue operations in areas of Houston and assisting the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department with rescue operations. (For real-time updates on the flooding in Houston, subscribe to the Houston Patch.)

The Coast Guard can be reached at the following numbers:

• 281-464-4851
• 281-464-4852
• 281-464-4853
• 281-464-4854
• 281-464-4855

Emergency management officials have requested that people escaping flood waters as a last resort do not stay in the attic. If the highest floor of your home becomes dangerous, officials say to get on the roof, call 911 and stay on the line till your call is answered. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said residents should not go into the attic to escape floodwaters unless they have an ax or another means to break through onto the roof.

Officials are also letting residents know that having non-life threatening floodwater inside is safer than going outside and are warning against heading out on to roadways. A flash flood emergency is in effect until 10:45 a.m.

Do not call 911 for routine information that is not life-threatening.

For those waiting to be rescued from roofs, emergency services are working around the clock. The Harris County Sheriff's Office said rescues are being conducted in life-threatening areas first. If you call 911, officials are urging residents not to hang up and though there will be a wait, the call will be answered.

The US Coast Guard said anyone in need of a rescue should be ready to provide their location, zipcode, street name and the number of people in distress. The Coast Guard cautioned that a few inches of water in a home is not considered distress.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez wrote on Twitter that officials were seeing many rescue requests for Southbelt, Pasadena, Gulf Freeway and Beamer. Gonzalez urged residents to hang tight.

Areas of Pasadena and southwest Houston were inundated with heavy rain overnight, leaving hundreds stranded. At least five people have died.

RELATED: Hurricane Harvey: 5 Die In Floodwaters While Hundreds Rescued From Flood Areas

Officials urged residents on the roof to use a red bandana to flag rescuers down. They were told not to wade in the water, where they might be bitten by snakes or alligators, which are common in Houston bayous.

Those Houstonians who have boats and are willing to help, contact your local law enforcement agency or fire department. Anyone with a high water vehicle or a boat should call 713-881-3100 to coordinate.

Image: Courtesy of Paul Martinez

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