Hurricane Harvey: Some Forced To Evacuate While Others Brave The Storm

FORT BEND COUNTY, TX — Severe weather, rain and high wind began impacting communities in the Houston area, within a few hours of Hurricane Harvey making landfall in Rockport.

In Katy, the manager of a storage facility claims a tornado skipped across Interstate 10 in Katy, and slammed into his business in the 27000 block of the Katy Freeway. (Want to get daily updates about Hurricane Harvey and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Sugar Land Patch morning newsletter.)

The city of Katy reported on their website that they are trying to determine if the damage was caused by a tornado, which will be confirmed later by the National Weather Service. Mayor Chuck Brawner is out in the community assessing damage.

RELATED: Hurricane Harvey: Tornado Hits Missouri City

Early Saturday morning, a tornado touched down in Sienna Plantation in Missouri City, damaging about 50 homes knocking down trees and leaving some in the area without electricity.

Along other parts of the coastline, residents faced rain and high wind, hours after Harvey made landfall.

“The flood and the rain is so bad, but we still have power,” said Sarah Martinez who lives in Galveston County. “I have never seen trees blown so hard. It’s scary stuff.”

Officials have not determined if the fires were caused by a lightening strike, or by some other means, or if the homes were occupied at the time.

Flooding is a concern with heavy rain falling throughout Houston early Saturday.

Much of the rain was situated in areas south of downtown, with heavier rain along the coast and in Fort Bend County.

“We have to evacuate,” said Danny Morales, a Richmond resident. “They say the (Brazos) river is suppose to rise, and parts of Rosenberg are under mandatory evacuation. Hopefully the reports they are predicting are not so bad.”

Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert issued evacuation orders for people along the Brazos River and the San Bernard River

Morales, and his family are headed to Pearland, in Brazoria County, he said.

Cutline: A sign reading "Be Nice Harvey" was left behind on a boarded up business, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Port Aransas, Texas.

Image: (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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