Harvey Devastates Southeastern Texas

Hurricane Harvey, which began on August 17, has caused major infrastructure damage and displaced the citizens of Houston and surrounding areas, affecting an estimated 6.8 million people.

Flooding reached over 50 inches in some areas, about the average height of an 8-year-old boy, breaking the current record for the continental United States. The Colorado River was higher than it’s been in 104 years.

Mayor Sylvester Turner made the call not to evacuate, saying it would have been “a nightmare” to put that many people on the flooded roads.

On August 25 he tweeted “Please think twice before trying to leave Texas en masse” and claimed storm predictions were exaggerated. Katharine Hayhoe, a Canadian climate scientist, urged Texans within range of the hurricane to evacuate despite no official orders.

Five days later, the death toll is now up to 32. Other problems arise as flooding continued, including sewage overflow, lack of electricity and wildlife fleeing the storm.

In 2015, Houston Public Works admitted that after only 10 inches of rainfall the sewage systems would be compromised. This could contaminate water and risk safe access for millions.

First responders were overwhelmed with emergency calls and insufficient resources. Tens of thousands were forced to move to shelters. In the future these types of situations will only become more common as climate change increases the risk of natural disasters such as Harvey.

Budget cuts by President Trump left FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) with $3.8 billion dollars, which may be insufficient for rebuilding after Harvey; damages from Hurricane Katrina cost around $108 billion.

In addition, The Texas House passed a bill in May discouraging business and homeowners from taking insurance companies to court over claims involving hailstorms, floods and hurricanes. The individual citizens may be burdened with the majority of repairment costs as insurance companies will face fewer penalties for not covering costs.

If you wish to help those affected the flood consider donating to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, the Houston Food Bank, Save The Children, or the Houston Humane Society.