Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that "we are prepared" for Hurricane Harvey but that "people need to understand the most important thing to have is their life.
"They must do everything they can to preserve their life," the first-term Republican told Jake Tapper on CNN. "They can deal with their property later."
Harvey intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, the third most powerful, early Friday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Forecasters said the storm would land near Corpus Christi around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. CDT.
Scientists warned that Harvey could dump more than three feet of rain in some areas along the central Texas coast before reaching Houston after looping back over the Gulf of Mexico.
Harvey also could swamp counties more than 100 miles inland and could stir up dangerous surf as far away as Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, 700 miles from the projected landfall, scientists caution.
Tens of thousands of people fled Friday from Harvey's path, though many residents told local authorities that they intended to ride out the storm — which could bring rainfall lingering into next week.
All seven Texas counties on the coast from Corpus Christi to the western end of Galveston Island ordered mandatory evacuations from low-lying areas.
Four counties ordered full evacuations and warned there was no guarantee of rescue for people staying behind.
Abbott told Tapper that residents needed to understand that "this is going to be most likely a much heavier rainstorm than what people are familiar with.
"We are just seeing a record amount of flooding in regions ranging from Corpus Christi up to the Houston area.
"People need to be prepared for very heavy flooding and take the measures they need to both stay safe and be prepared for the potential of being without power, water and supplies for several days."
The governor said that he has talked several times with President Donald Trump and "we're getting everything we need.
"The president was very kind and very generous," he told Tapper. Abbott also has been working with the FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.
"They're working very closely with us, and we have a local administrator for FEMA who works hand in glove with our operations.
"We have one of the best Department of Emergency Management coordinators in the country.
"We are prepared to deal with this storm," Abbott said. "Our chief concern right now is the general public.
"They are in control of their lives — and they need to take the measures to stay safe."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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