By Sarah Lemos

Terror, tragedy, and desperation fill the atmosphere in Texas as the devastating blow of Hurricane Harvey continues. Friday night, Aug. 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey came crashing onto the Texas coast bringing in strong winds and large amounts of rain that has now resulted in  major flooding. The hurricane struck as a category 4 with winds of 130 mph, taking with it in its wake trees, power poles, and lives. Local officials have reported approximately 30 suspected flood related deaths, as rescue teams continue to search for and haul people out of the disaster.

As of Monday night, over 3,000 people have been rescued by air or boat assistance, according to Houston mayor Sylvester Turner. However, phone calls continued to flood Coast Guard offices day and night as thousands of people wait for some form of help.

The devastation, and the number of victims, continues to grow as the rain continues. Some areas are predicted to reach 50 inches of water by this Friday night, reaching the average annual rainfall in the area. There is little to no indication that the water will stop rising anytime soon.

Citizens are so desperate and frustrated that some have resorted to violence, causing the Cajun Navy – a rescue crew that has been around since Hurricane Katrina – to come to a halt,  slowing down the process in rescuing people.

Federal officials are already predicting that by the end of this traumatic tropical storm, as many as 3,000 individuals will be living in shelters around the city, as well as over 450,000 who will need some type of medical assistance.

According to Politico, The Federal Management Agency has approved more than $23.5 million in aiding and assisting people that were caught in the crossfire of Hurricane Harvey.  So far, about $647,000 has gone toward housing assistance,  while the rest of the funds will cover other needs, such as child care, medical expenses, and anything that these families would need in the following days and weeks.

President Donald Trump has signed the disaster declaration for the state before visiting Texas on Tuesday morning, tweeting that he is keeping a close watch on the situation and has advised the governor that he is willing to help in anyway possible if needed. He has also mentioned that he is working with Congress on authorizing aid funding in response to the hurricane.

There is no predicting what can happen next; waiting for Hurricane Harvey to end is the only option at this point.