Around 13 million people are under flood watches and warnings stretching from Corpus Christi to New Orleans as the remnants of Hurricane Harvey menace drenched Texas and Louisiana.
"Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding" continues in southeastern Texas, where bands of storm have been repeatedly pummeling the same areas.
Over the next few days, Tropical Storm Harvey is forecast to head back into the Gulf of Mexico, where it will pick up moisture before moving back over Galveston and into Houston again, CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis says, meaning at least four more days of rain.
#Harvey is expected to retreat back to the Gulf of Mexico before heading back toward #Houston Wednesday. #txwx#TropicalStormHarvey
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that flash flood emergencies are in effect for some areas and the rain -- which can be measured by feet rather than inches -- is not letting up.
It says that up to 25 inches of rain (2 feet) could fall through Friday over the upper Texas coast, while "isolated storm totals may reach 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston Galveston metropolitan area."
Latest developments
-- Over two days, Houston got 25 inches of rain -- more than half of its annual rainfall.
-- 11 p.m curfews were introduced Sunday in the City of Alvin, City of Friendswood, League City, City of Pasadena, City of Pearland, City of Seabrook and City of Webster.
-- A mandatory evacuation order was issued for areas along the Brazos River in Fort Bend County.
-- Several states and the US military are sending emergency workers and equipment to Texas.
-- Dallas is opening a "mega-shelter" capable of accommodating 5,000 evacuees at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center by Tuesday morning.
-- The Houston Independent School District has canceled school for the week.
-- President Donald Trump will travel to Texas on Tuesday, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
-- 316,000 customers had lost electricity across the state.
Houston volunteers
Flooding continued in and around Houston on Sunday night as citizens with boats assisted authorities in search and rescue efforts on roads turned rivers.
A CNN crew was with one such volunteer when he used his vessel to rescue an elderly couple, their daughter and two dogs in Dickinson, Texas.
The family became trapped upstairs when flood waters came through the garage, filling the house with about three feet of water.
"It was shocking," Pam Jones said. "It just creeped up."
An eldery couple was rescued by volunteers.
Houston resident Louise Walker told CNN she was trapped in her neighbor's apartment.
"Our bottom level is waist-deep in water. We have helicopters that are flying over us rescuing people, we have people who are living in these first-floor apartments like I have. They have been breaking into empty second level apartments just to have somewhere to go because we can't get out. We're simply completely surrounded with water," she said, adding that the helicopters were only rescuing people who were in immediate danger.
"My only plan at this point is to stay out of the water. I've been keeping in contact with family and friends, but other than that we can't do anything. We are literally stuck here," Walker said.
Officials say they have executed over 250 water rescues and rescued over 1,000 people from floods. The US Coast Guard's Captain Kevin Odditt says 19 Coast Guard helicopters are also involved in relief efforts.
As of Sunday evening, between 800 and 1,200 people had been rescued from their homes in Galveston County, County Judge Mark Henry said.
One thousand additional National Guard members are being called in to help Houston flood victims affected by flooding, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced via Twitter Sunday evening.
The governor is expected to tour the Texas Coastal Bend region Monday with Senator John Cornyn.
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