A Kent nurse visiting family in Houston has sprung into action to help flood victims in the devastated hurricane struck region where 38 have died.

Aileen Whatley from Herne Bay is running a first aid stand at a rescue centre in Humble, treating dozens of casualties.

She had gone to Houston to see her new grand-daughter when tropical storm Harvey hit, dumping several feet of rain in just a few days.

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After an appeal for help on local Facebook community pages, Mrs Whatley, 56, offered her expertise to a nearby relief centre, treating injured children and pensioners

The storm has caused catastrophic damage, with tens of thousands made homeless after surging floodwaters swamped the region.

Mrs Whately, who is a trained paediatric nurse and now works for the Kent Community Health Trust as a sexual health nurse specialist, had gone to Houston to see son Sam, daughter-in-law, Toni and grand daughters Darcey, 4, and Aurora, who is just six weeks old.

But the day after arriving, the hurricane brought in the rain and flooding.

She said: "When I checked the weather app on my phone back home before I left, it said it might be a bit wet and cloudy so we just weren't prepared for it.

"Fortunately, Sam's house in the Humble area is on higher ground and with the help of sandbags we just managed to keep the flood waters out.

"Then a call went out over social media for anyone with medical experience and I went down to the centre straight away.

"Hundreds of people have been coming in soaked through, mainly walking wounded, like children with cuts and grazes but also a few more serious cases where we have had to call paramedics to get them to hospital.

"It's shocking to see that so many have lost almost everything and their life's possessions are in a black bag."

Mrs Whately was due to fly back this Saturday but the airport remains under water and closed.

She said: "It wasn't quite the holiday I was planning but I have just been happy to be able to help out which has been very rewarding in itself.

"Even my grand daughter Darcey has been down to the centre to give some of her dolls to children who have lost theirs and Sam has been helping to rescue pets from flooded homes."