Hurricane Harvey

From Plain News…

HURRICANE HARVEY OVERVIEW

With another, even larger, hurricane (Irma) poised to strike the US, it is easy to forget about the intensity and damage of Hurricane Harvey. The following statistics are compiled from several sources. Exact data on the dollar amount of damage cannot be figured at this point, as a few areas are still flooded and owners are just returning to their damaged homes and businesses.

Houston is the fourth largest city in the US, with over 6 million residents in the metro area (some 750,000 are not US citizens, with 500,000 being illegal immigrants). Houston has grown rapidly in the last 15 years, with over 20% increase in population. About 40% of the city is Hispanic. If Houston was an independent country, it would be the world’s 23rd largest economy. Some 24 inches of rain fell in the first 24 hours, with the highest amount being just under 52 inches in one area. Nashville, Tennessee, still got 10 inches of rain from the storm several days later.

• The most important loss is the loss of 60 human lives in 11 Texas counties. About half are from Harris County, which is the location of Houston.

• Estimates for total damage to buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles run between $45 and $180 billion. Hurricane Katrina’s (in New Orleans) damage reached $118 billion, the costliest hurricane to hit the US. If Harvey’s damage exceeds that, it will take the title. However, approaching Hurricane Irma may exceed both of these if conditions are right.

• About 16% of the US refining of crude oil was shut down. This is mostly short term, though, and only caused a 15-cent increase in gasoline prices in the US for a few days.

• Up to one million vehicles were damaged, about one out of every seven vehicles in the Houston area. By comparison, Katrina destroyed 200,000 vehicles. Some of the cars will be able to be sold as parts vehicles (mostly body parts, as electrical and power train components that have flooded cannot be sold as replacement parts). Replacing the destroyed vehicles could cause a shortage of vehicles in the area, and car dealerships will likely see a spike in sales.

• More than 200,000 houses have been damaged to some degree by winds and/or flooding, with 12,700 considered destroyed. About 70% of the affected homes are not insured against flooding (most homeowner plans only cover high winds, with the only available flood insurance being available through the federal government).

• One million people were temporarily displaced, with 39,000 people in shelters.

• Federal authorities rescued more than 10,000 people trapped in homes, with an unknown number rescued by private parties and aid organizations.

• At one point, 1/3 of the city of Houston was under water.

• Some 800 wastewater treatment plants were flooded, as well as 13 Superfund cleanup sites.

• Harris County has 35,431 “lane milesˮ of paved roads … meaning a lot of area where rainfall cannot soak in.

• US President Donald Trump asked Congress for about $8 billion in emergency funds to help in recovery of Harvey. In a deal with Democrats, this was given in connection with a 3-month extension of raising the national debt ceiling. This amount will be just a beginning in what is expected to be needed to fully deal with the destruction.

~Mike Atnip