In pictures: Houston overwhelmed by 'unprecedented' floods

The city is pictured beneath clouds as a whole highway is overwhelmed by flood waters almost reaching the over-road signageAFP/Getty

Water is so deep in places in Houston that it almost reaches signage over roads

A whole road is pictured submerged with Houston skyline in the distanceAFP

Much of the city's road system has been overwhelmed by floodwaters

Flood victims in Red Cross blankets look for clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention CenterAFP

Many shelters have been set up, including at a convention centre

Flood victims receive food at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention CenterAFP

Officials say 30,000 people are expected to be housed in these emergency shelters

Car is pictured totally under water beneath pouring rain and floodwaterAFP

Scores of vehicles are submerged across the city, with some owners having to be freed by emergency workers

Evacuees leave a US Coast Guard helicopter after being rescued from flooding due to Hurricane Harvey in HoustonReuters

The coastguard has been among the rescuers working to help stranded residents

A man is pictured with a small child on board a rescue helicopterReuters

Helicopters had to winch people up to evacuate them to safety

A couple are pictured with two dogs inside a coolerboxReuters

Many evacuees prioritised rescuing their pets above their belongings

A resident is moved from a rescue boat on to a kayak in Dickenson, Texas (27 August 2017)Reuters

Emergency 911 operators in Houston received 56,000 calls over a 15-hour time period - seven times more than during a usual working day.

Photograph from high rise shows the scale of flooding overwhelming HoustonReuters

Aerial photographs from the city's high-rises show how overwhelmed Houston's infrastructure has become

A woman is pictured on an inflated airbed with her small dogReuters

A woman and her dog awaited assistance on a floating airbed

A woman is carried after being rescued from a hotel by boat due to heavy flooding by Hurricane Harvey in HoustonAFP

At a news conference, the Federal Emergency Management Agency called on ordinary citizens to "get involved" in the unprecedented rescue efforts

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