Hurricane Harvey: Life Threatening Overflows

My experience during hurricane Harvey was mostly calm. I was very fortunate because, my house did not flood. The water only got up to the edge of my driveway, and that was as it was pouring off into the storm drain. I drove to Walmart to buy some extra cases of water, in case the faucet water became undrinkable. When I got there 100’s people were in line with cases of water, and when I checked the aisle there were none left. I was irritated, but also hoping there would be bread to buy. When I checked for bread, I flipped the store cart and walked out, and now I had to drive to Kroger. Kroger had both bread and water, I was so relieved that I didn’t have to drive to H-E-B, I wanted to do a backflip, but I would’ve most likely broken my neck.

August 25, 2017 Hurricane Harvey hit the coast of Texas with absolute power. It was originally predicted that it would not surpass category 1, the elements combined and made Harvey extremely vicious. It hit the most populated areas on the United States becoming one of the most destructive. People did not have enough time to properly prepare for the unpredicted devastation ahead. However, the government and the people responded with strong efforts. Let’s start with the federal department. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (which is referred to as FEMA), with its government accomplices mobilized a work force and with many assets to help states affected. About 21,000 government assets were sent to help out during the vicious Tropical Storm. A lot of people sought refuge during the storm and the Federal government gave them many places to stay for example many government owned sites were converted refuge sites for the victims. The U.S coast guard played a huge role to aid victims. Thousands of coast guards were deployed in support of the relief efforts. They evacuated victims through government transport such as helicopters and big vehicles that could travel through the flooding. They are also opened various docks and waterways within Brownsville, Kentucky without any restrictions to the public. FEMA provided thousands of meals, medical and household items. Fema also paid rent for the victim’s short-term housing. Other ongoing Federal

(Ref. 4) On April 28, 2009 Houston, TX experience yet another flood and it was caused by the aftermath of a Tornado. People, houses, vehicles and roads were affected. Many people had to rescued and cars along with ambulances were submerged under water. Highways were forced to be closed and people were captured canoeing or walking to get to places due to high waters in the area. In just 24 hours about nine inches of rain were being reported in areas in Houston.

Hurricane Katrina was a big threat to the coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and the governor declared a state of emergency in reaction towards potential destruction the hurricane may fall in New Orleans, a major city in Louisiana. To prepare for the threat of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), was sent to Louisiana to help aid the state. Later, a big disaster befalls in the state of Louisiana, and the governor declared a national evacuation. New Orleans, the heavily populated city, ordered its citizen to evacuate in the Superdome, with food, shelter, and rations being distributed. After the state evacuation was made, there was a shortage of food, water, and operable toilet facilities, thus creating

On August 26th, 2017, Hurricane Harvey crashed into Texas and devastated Houston and the surrounding area. Harvey battered cities along the Gulf of Mexico, hitting primarily low income communities, and leaving 52 inches of rainfall, destroying about 22,000 homes, and displacing thousands in its wake. The image discussed in this essay depicts a Red Cross relief center in Houston providing shelter for residents unable to evacuate. The aforementioned image is of a domestic event, but the people, objects, and context demonstrate the complex social processes of globalization. Details in this image of Hurricane Harvey illustrate the harmful effect of the globalizing market in leading developed nations to be more focused on short term economic gain rather than long term environmental protection.

In the article “For Houston’s Homeless, a Terrifying Night Under Siege by Hurricane Harvey” by Julie Turkewitz, the main focus is the harsh reality of a hurricane this string for those who are homeless in Houston. First, Turkewitz sets the harsh reality by telling the readers about Roy Joe Cox- a homeless man in Houston- who is preparing to cope for the Hurricane with what little he has. She then builds her claim by writing about what the effects of Hurricane Harvey are, and what officials are expecting to happen. Next, Turkewitz suggests that any homeless person who is in Houston at this time should seek shelter at the available locations. Finally, she brings the harsh and sad reality for the homeless men and women in Houston by quoting Roy Joe Cox as he asks, “I’ve never experienced a hurricane. Is it going to rain out that bad? Is it going to flood me out? I mean, I don’t want to die over a hurricane . . . I’d rather not die.” (Turkewitz, 2017).

When a natural disaster comes to mind you think many resources are utilized. You think many agencies from around the world must have come to help one of the biggest disasters the country has seen. Although that is not exactly what happened in New Orleans many agencies did come to help. Local, State, and Federal agencies were present during and after the hurricane. Governor Katherine Babineaux Blanco and Mayor Ray Nagin called a state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation, shortly after, President Bush to issue a state of emergency and mandatory evacuation on a federal level to ensure assistance from agencies like FEMA and the America Red Cross (Kamp). Mayor Ray Nagin also

Harvey known as an apocalyptic storm for many Houstonian’s who have described the scenery and event for that weekend. Many homes, businesses, and schools destroyed causing it to be one of the biggest recovery mission in the nation. A big flare of controversy between the government and the state happened as well. Even with many homes lost and so much sadness spread across south Texas and Houston many texans came together as one.

On April 18, 2016 Yahoo reports Houston, Texas have flooding that forces residents to move out their homes and live in a nearby shelter. The flooding causes damage to the electricity lines, foreclosures of freeways, and forcing schools to close down because of the weather. One million students got the day off including workers. It’s deeply saddened that five victims were dead in this weather. There is over 450 water rescue and victims were transported to the mall to shelter away until the storm passes. It’s hard for people to drive in the freeway because the water can be up to 15 feet deep. The weather causes frustration toward the Houston resident.

The New York Times writers explains all the events happening during Harvey’s next landfall in “Harvey Live Updates: Trump Heads to a Flooded Texas”. In case you’ve been living underneath a construction site for your whole life, Harvey made hard landfalls in Corpus Christi and Houston, TX along with other cities in Texas. With hundreds of thousands of people under evacuation orders, shelters in Houston filled to bursting with people who craved some news about the safety of their loved ones and the state of their homes. Parts of the Houston area set a record for rainfall from a single storm anywhere in the continental United States, with a top reading on Tuesday afternoon, since the storm began, of 51.88 inches. Jeffrey Lindner, a meteorologist for the Harris County Flood Control District, said 25 to 30 percent of Harris County's 1,800 square miles of land was flooded.

In Texas, the road closures have made it difficult for workers to have a timely commute. The property tax may increase by to help for the damages caused by Hurricane Harvey. There is also a shortage of contractors in Texas, which may lead to a longer period of rebuilding. The energy and petrochemical industries are critical in Texas. Texas' oil refineries had to partially or fully shut down during the storm.

The resources most in demand for the vulnerable populations after a storm in Houston: electricity, food, water, information, and housing. Also, citizens

more flooding( the weather company). Many towns in Houston Texas have been overflown by the rain. People are trapped in there houses. Some areas in Houston Texas have had up to 50 inches of rain(the weather company). Several out of state people are brining there own boats to Houston Texas, because there helping people who are trapped indoors by the flood(extreme weather). Many people who live there in Houston are rescuing animals, there risking there own life's to save save animals (CNN.com). Houston is setting up many shelters so people can get, clothes, water and food and etc. And Houston is providing places to sleep at the shelter(hurricane Harvey ). It will be a while before Houston Texas can fully recover from this terrible tragedy.

As hurricane Harvey devastated Texas, prices of necessities hit shocking highs. Gas stations started charging twenty dollars for gas and convenience stores were charging over ninety dollars for a case of water. Delayed help from FEMA left Texans seeking help from other states. People with boats and jet skis made their way to Texas to help those stranded in their homes or in rafts. “The federal response to Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas has quickly depleted FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which dropped by $2.14 billion last Thursday to $1.01 billion as of Tuesday. The figures from FEMA were first reported by Bloomberg and later confirmed by NBC News” ( Khimm, 2017). The House of Representatives enacted a bill allocating more money to FEMA due to a worsening hurricane season than previously expected. “The good news for the research community is that the

As a Houston based law firm with deep ties to the community, we have been devastated to witness the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. While the stories of heroic rescues and the kindness of strangers make us beam with pride at the magnanimity of our great City, we grieve over the unimaginable toll this hurricane has already taken on our friends, clients, neighbors, and colleagues.