Texas Flood; Most Populous City in the State Declares Curfew

Following the occurrence of Hurricane Harvey and the resulting floods, which have been accompanied by armed robberies and instances of looting and impersonation of police forces, the city of Houston has declared a curfew. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the curfew began at midnight on Tuesday local time and will continue until 5 AM on Wednesday. The regulations were initially set to start two hours earlier at 10 PM, but the timing was changed to avoid hindering the activities of rescuers and volunteers. Mr. Turner stated on Twitter that the curfew is "only to prevent potential criminal incidents" and will not hinder the activities of volunteers and rescuers, the accommodation of those affected by the floods, or individuals who need to go to or return from work. The Houston Police Chief has urged people not to drive or go to public places, citing "issues related to armed robberies and armed individuals." The Houston municipality has announced that new temporary shelters for flood victims have been set up to prevent crowding in shopping centers. The city is facing severe flooding due to Hurricane Harvey. The number of casualties has been increasing in recent hours, including the death of six family members in the city. The Texas coroner has confirmed 18 deaths so far. Houston, the most populous city in Texas, is the fourth most populous city in the United States and the largest city in the southern U.S. Hurricane Harvey hit Texas last Friday. Harvey is the strongest storm that the coastal areas of the southern United States have witnessed since 1961. However, aside from the storm itself, what has caused significant concern is the flooding and river overflow, rising water levels in dams, and the situation of citizens in the state. The floods have forced thousands to evacuate their homes and residences. National Guard forces, police, and volunteers have rescued hundreds of citizens trapped in the floods using helicopters, boats, and SUVs. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, visited Texas on September 7 to assess the situation firsthand. The White House has stated that the purpose of this visit was to lay the groundwork for the reconstruction of the devastation caused by the floods and the storm.