Tropical Storm Harvey

Tropical Storm Harvey intensified Thursday into a hurricane that forecasters said would be the first major hurricane to hit Texas in nine years.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Aug. 24, 2017

Rogelio Ortiz makes his way off the Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier as rain from Hurricane Harvey falls on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Port Isabel, Texas. Pier employees stated that the pier would be closed until further notice when the last few fishing customers departed.

Jason Hoekema Associated Press
Steve Vega cleans his catch as wind-blown rain falls at a fishing pier on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Port Isabel, Texas. The deep South Texas town and surrounding communities are expected to receive several inches of rain and damaging winds as Hurricane Harvey passes along the coast toward the Texas Coastal Bend.

Jason Hoekema Associated Press
What is normally a marina packed with recreational vessels sits empty on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Port Isabel, Texas. Residents and boat-owners secured or removed their property from the coastal waters in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Harvey, which is expected to deliver several inches of rain and damaging tropical storm winds as it churns northward to the Texas Coastal Bend.

Jason Hoekema Associated Press
A lone car crosses the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway in the distance as rain from Hurricane Harvey falls on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Port Isabel, Texas. The causeway will be closed to traffic by the Texas Department of Public Safety when conditions worsen, keeping individuals on South Padre Island in place while the storm passes near the deep South Texas coastal town.

Jason Hoekema Associated Press
Shoppers pass empty shelves along the bottled water isle in a Houston grocery store as Hurricane Harvey intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017. Harvey is forecast to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall along the middle Texas coastline.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
Melodie Griffith holds one of the cats at the Calhoun County Humane Society in Port Lavaca, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017. Griffith and other volunteers have been trying find foster homes for the remaining animals until Hurricane Harvey passes.

Ana Ramirez Associated Press
Motorists in Houston pass a sign warning of Hurricane Harvey as the storm intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017. Harvey is forecast to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall along the middle Texas coastline Friday.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
Jose Contreras stocks up on bottled water in preparation of Hurricane Harvey on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, at the Kroger in Galveston, Texas. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Harvey will become a major hurricane to hit the middle Texas coastline.

Jennifer Reynolds Associated Press
A man cast his fish net along the Port of Brownsville, Texas, ship channel Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as a shrimp boat approaches the Brownsville Shrimp Basin to dock to safely as Tropical Storm Harvey approaches the Texas coast. The National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon that Harvey is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday before it reaches the middle Texas coast.

Miguel Roberts Associated Press
A shrimper stacks bags of fresh Texas Gulf shrimp Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as shrimp crews dock at the Brownsville Shrimp Basin as Tropical Storm Harvey approaches the Texas coast. The National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon that Harvey is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday before it reaches the middle Texas coast.

Miguel Roberts Associated Press
Shrimp crew dock at the Brownsville Shrimp Basin Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as Tropical Storm Harvey approaches the Texas coast. The National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon that Harvey is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday before it reaches the middle Texas coast.

Miguel Roberts Associated Press
Mayor Joe McComb talks about storm surge in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area during a news conference in preparation for Hurricane Harvey on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Gabe Hernandez Associated Press
A Galveston Park Board of Trustees crew removes portable toilets from the seawall Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as they prepare the beachfront for severe weather from Hurricane Harvey in Galveston, Texas. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Harvey will become a major hurricane to hit the middle Texas coastline.

Jennifer Reynolds Associated Press
Colby Boone, back, and Perry Johnson move barricades and secure equipment in the City of Galveston's traffic yard Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as they prepare for severe weather from Hurricane Harvey in Galveston, Texas. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Harvey will become a major hurricane to hit the middle Texas coastline.

Jennifer Reynolds Associated Press