Just as the Crescent City approached its 12th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the state that took in thousands of hurricane refugees found itself underwater.
On Friday, August 25th, Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast as a strong Category 4 Hurricane. The system threatened to bring gusty winds, heavy storm surges, and large amounts of rainfall. The worst part is, that storm did cause that devastation and much more.
By the time Harvey hit the coast, it slowed to a tropical storm, drenching Houston and surrounding areas, moving as slow as two miles per hour. As of Tuesday, August 29th, the Storm dropped over 39 inches of rain, with over 50 inches in some local areas. Over 15 people are believed to be dead after the recent natural disaster.
“Many parts of Eastern Texas, especially in and around Houston, are experiencing historic flooding causing the need to grow for additional resources that will allow us to answer the call for help from our fellow Texans,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott in an official statement. “I thank those at FEMA for their attention to the severity of the situation in Texas and the people of this great state for coming together in this time of need.”
Earlier this week President Donald J. Trump granted Texas and the State of Louisiana Federal Disaster Declaration. Over 30,000 Texans are currently residing in Texas after the storm.
“I want to reassure all Texans impacted by this storm that federal, state, and local officials are working around the clock to respond to this disaster and ensure the safety of all those in the storm’s path,” said Governor Abbott. “I also want to thank President Trump for his leadership and commitment in helping the people of Texas recover from this storm. The Texas response to this unprecedented disaster has been swift and focused, and we are committed to continuing our work with all federal and local partners for as long as it takes to help these communities recover.”
Forecasters at The Weather Chanel determined Harvey to be the strongest hurricane to hit the United States in the last 12 years. In fact, it has been nine years since a hurricane hit Texas.
In a recent analysis by Asset Management Company, William Blair & Co., there can be as much as $30 billion in personal property damage caused by the storm. In a recent article by Washington Post, over 80 percent of victims in hard-hit areas do not have flood insurance.
“Nobody’s ever seen anything like this, and I just want to say that working with the governor and his entire team has been an honor for us,” said President Trump in an official statement. “Recovery will be a long and difficult road, and the federal government stands ready, willing and able to support that effort. We’ve pledged our full support as Texas and Louisiana recover from this devastating and historic storm.”
Earlier this week, the Federal Highway Administration pledged $25 million for Texan cities to rebuild transportation networks.
“The clean-up after this hurricane will be a huge task,” said Tryon Lewis, Texas Transportation Commission Chairman. “These funds, quickly provided by the Trump Administration, will help TxDOT to fulfill Governor Abbott’s direction to get our highways clear so Texans can get back to their daily lives.”
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August of 2005, meteorologist reported it as the third strongest Hurricane to hit The United States, leading to the death of over 1,800 people. That storm, in combination with a levee breach, left most of New Orleans underwater.
Hurricane Harvey brought nearly 5 inches of rain to some areas on New Orleans between August 27th and 29th.
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