HOUSTON - Houston mayor Sylvester Turners said Sunday morning the George R Brown convention center has been opened as a shelter.

Men use kayaks to get through an intersection after heavy rain from Hurricane Harvey flooded Pearland, in the outskirts of Houston, Texas, US August 27, 2017.??[Photo/Agencies]

Hundreds of people sought shelters in the last 24 hours when Hurricane Harvey pummeled Houston area.

Latest news reports said the storm death toll has climbed to at least 5.

Houston government issued notice Sunday morning that the 911 services are at capacity.

"If you can shelter in place do so, a few inches in your home is not imminent danger. Only call if in imminent danger."

Widespread and worsening flood conditions prompted the closure of nearly every major road in Houston as the outer bands of Harvey swept through the Houston area over the weekend.

As of Sunday morning, Houston TranStar has already logged 174 high-water road closures in the area.

Xinhua correspondents saw there is about 2 meters of water under major high way bridges in downtown Houston. With rain is still pouring down, major highways in and out of Houston are completely or partly under water.