The World Waterpark Association (WWA) has pledged its support to members affected by Hurricane Harvey, which has caused swathes of devastation across Texas, with unprecedented and catastrophic flooding occurring in the region.

The storm – which battered the state over the course of the last week – was the strongest to hit Texas since 1961. Harvey is so far responsible for at least 44 deaths. Floodwaters are finally starting to recede, but hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.

“While we've heard from a number of members that their parks were damaged but not heavily, we know that thousands of people who work at waterparks and aquatics centers, large and small, throughout Houston and the southeast region of Texas have sustained catastrophic damage to their homes and transportation, and many have likely lost everything,” said a statement from the WWA.

“We are doing what we can to reach out to affected members to see how the WWA and our membership at large can be of service as efforts move from life preservation to recovery and rebuilding.”

The organisation also said that it would continue to provide updates on its members, as well as ways people can help friends and colleagues in affected areas. It also called on affected members to contact the WWA to provide an update on how they, their team members and their park are doing.

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