Mandatory evacuation in parts of Houston; Chicago area Harvey relief efforts continue
HOUSTON (WLS) -- New mandatory evacuation orders were in place Sunday night in parts of Houston, where floodwater continues to rise.
The utility companies have turned power off to hundreds to urge residents out of their flooded homes.
In one west Houston neighborhood, they are still deeply submerged with cars still under water and some residents are hunkered down in their homes - despite the evacuation order by the mayor.
"The electricity is still working, the home was untouched inside. We have four kids, two adults, a dog, two cats, one of which is diabetic. And we thought if we could hang just long enough for this to recede maybe we dodged a bullet," said resident Eric Chase.
The U.S. Coast Guard came through a nearby neighborhood by boat Sunday afternoon telling people it's time to go.
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"Are they planning to flood the reservoir again? Are they flooding all of our houses? And if so please god just tell us, because our whole lives are trapped in those houses and we've had no opportunity and no communication to say, 'Oh yeah, go get your stuff, we're going to flood your house,'" said Adam Daquin, who lives in Walnut Bend.
The order is for residents with standing water inside their homes.
"We don't have any water in the house anymore, it got about 10 inches in there, but we're just trying to get things out before the mold sets in," said Denise Tscherny, of Walnut Bend.
Some streets could be underwater for weeks, the city says. West Houston residents are prepared to wait elsewhere, with one plea: leave the power on so their air conditioners can run.
"If they switch the power off, the mold will destroy everything in the house," Tscherny said.
Meanwhile, piles of trash are piling up outside many Houston homes. The mayor of Houston has asked for $100 million in federal funding just for debris removal.
CHICAGO AREA RELIEF EFFORTS
At the Naperville Jaycee's annual Last Fling event, festival-goers were encouraged Sunday to put money into donation jars for Harvey relief efforts. The proceeds will go toward the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
"Everybody sees the cups down there, the donations bins and if they can reach into their pockets and grab a dollar or $20, they are happy to do so because they know they trust where the money goes," Danielle Tufano, of the Last Fling.
The four-day festival ends Monday. The Jaycees, a service organization for young people, usually fundraises for local organizations, but this year they wanted to help Harvey victims, similar to how they supported Hurricane Katrina victims.
In Skokie, supplies such as toiletries, cleaning supplies, clothing and toys, were being packed and loaded into semi trucks at Temple Beth Israel that are headed to the Gulf region. Donations will be accepted 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.
DONATE: CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY HARVEY
CALL 1-800-RED CROSS OR TEXT THE WORD HARVEY TO 90999 TO MAKE $10 DONATION
