Hurricane (The Cyclone) Season 2017

[Cackalacky]

Hope all the Texans on the board (and elsewhere) are doing as well as you all can right now. I went and helped out during Katrina and this looks as bad or worse. Stay strong.

 

[Cackalacky]

Like I said, this was always a disaster waiting to happen with all the contributing factors coming together: massive urban sprawl, tidal surge, poor drainage, excessive rain totals, extensive subsidence.
Their problems are just beginning: thousands of damaged homes, no utilities, mountains of trash/debris, roadways under water, families scattered, schools unable to open.
What a disaster.

Agree. In general all low lying areas along the gulf and east coast fit this description. My area has avoided a direct hit since 1989, luckily but was still hit hard with that 1000-year rain event. The devastation can be removed and replaced. Not sure about the policies or strategy in dealing with natural devastates along the coast lines which contain the countries largest economic engines, though.

 

[irishff1014]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash">#BREAKING</a> Officials in Brazoria County, southwest of Houston, say levee is breached, urge residents to evacuate <a href="https://t.co/HulXeIF1fU">https://t.co/HulXeIF1fU</a></p>— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) <a href="https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/902546194873778177">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[irishff1014]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looters Shoot at Houston Police Officers, Firefighters, <a href="https://t.co/3UlpL6f2fe">https://t.co/3UlpL6f2fe</a> <a href="https://t.co/FfDto8NMyH">pic.twitter.com/FfDto8NMyH</a></p>— Firefighter Nation (@firenation) <a href="https://twitter.com/firenation/status/902564916632068096">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[texbender]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looters Shoot at Houston Police Officers, Firefighters, <a href="https://t.co/3UlpL6f2fe">https://t.co/3UlpL6f2fe</a> <a href="https://t.co/FfDto8NMyH">pic.twitter.com/FfDto8NMyH</a></p>— Firefighter Nation (@firenation) <a href="https://twitter.com/firenation/status/902564916632068096">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Looters will lose that battle...this is Texas.

 

[texbender]

Agree. In general all low lying areas along the gulf and east coast fit this description. My area has avoided a direct hit since 1989, luckily but was still hit hard with that 1000-year rain event. The devastation can be removed and replaced. Not sure about the policies or strategy in dealing with natural devastates along the coast lines which contain the countries largest economic engines, though.

Just that Houston is the biggest city along the coast. I went in following IKE, and there were areas east of Houston that were wiped clean, like they never existed. Just were lucky that they were relatively lightly populated areas. The Houston area will feel these affects for years, and cities like Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Waco, Lufkin will see big numbers of people relocating to their areas.
Just a matter of time before my firm gets the call to come in and provide our mapping services like we did following IKE. Will come after rescue and recovery is completed.

 

[calvegas04]

Looters will lose that battle...this is Texas.

What happens when the looters are from texas?

 

[BGIF]

Pretty clear ... equal opportunity prosecution.

Pretty clear ... equal opportunity prosecution.

What happens when the looters are from texas?

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/aug/28/looting-will-not-be-tolerated-officials-say/

By Ismael Perez
Aug. 28, 2017 at midnight

Burglaries are a state jail felony, but if people are caught looting it will moved up to a third degree felony, said Deputy Bryan Simons, spokesman for the Victoria County Sheriff's Office.

He said law enforcement officials are in the middle of responding to people and places affected by Hurricane Harvey and that kind of behavior will not be tolerated from anybody.

Texas lawmakers vow zero tolerance for looters after thefts reported in Harvey&apos;s aftermath - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Debbi Baker 8/29/17

As Houston grapples with the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Texas lawmakers are vowing to be tough on anyone caught looting after the city’s police chief reported some thefts and armed robberies.

"We've already arrested a handful of looters,” said Houston police Chief Art Acevedo in an interview with Good Morning America. “We've made it real clear to our community we're going to do whatever it takes to protect their homes and their businesses."

The chief said that his officers on Monday apprehended three looters at a Game Stop video game store, as well as some armed robbers he said accosted residents.

There have also been reports that an Apple store was damaged by gunfire.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez also admonished people bent on trying to take advantage of the disenfranchised to think twice.

“To the crooks out there, be warned,” Gonzalez said in a Tweet. “No looting & burglaries. We will not have it. My jail is open and you will be arrested and charged,” he wrote.

In neighboring Montgomery County, the District Attorney’s Office forcefully stated that it would have zero tolerance for anyone charged with looting and similar crimes committed during the disaster and that his office will seek mandatory jail or prison time for every offender.

"Leniency and probation will be off the table for these offenses committed during this time," said Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon in a Facebook post.

According to his office, Texas law allows harsher punishment for offenses committed during a natural disaster.

Houston Chief Acevedo also said that he would seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law for those trying to victimize the already traumatized residents of the hard-hit region.

"This is the state of Texas. We are a welcoming city, but we are not going to tolerate people victimizing others," he said.

Houston combating Harvey looters with mandatory jail time | Fox News
jail time
Published August 29, 2017

The City of Houston and surrounding counties are not playing around with looters taking advantage of the massive floods caused by Harvey.

“People displaced or harmed in this storm are not going to be easy prey,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said, noting that burglarizing a home in a disaster area could carry a life sentence under Texas law. Prosecutors said at least 14 suspected looters were arrested, and Brazoria County announced a curfew in mandatory-evacuation areas for Tuesday night.

“Anyone who tries to take advantage of this storm to break into homes or businesses should know that they are going to feel the full weight of the law,” Ogg said. “Offenders will be processed around the clock without delay.”

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office posted a warning on Monday that any looters, thieves or burglars caught victimizing area residents would be arrested and served up mandatory jail time, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“(District Attorney Brett) Ligon announced today that his office will seek prison or jail time in each and every forthcoming case where the defendant stands charged with theft (looting), burglary, robbery, or any similar crime committed during Hurricane Harvey,” the DA’s office posted on Facebook. “Leniency and probation will be off the table for these offenses committed during this time.”

According to Montgomery County officials, state law “allows for enhanced punishment ranges for certain offenses committed during a declared natural disaster event.”

...

 

[irishff1014]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash">#BREAKING</a> Officials in Brazoria County, southwest of Houston, say levee is breached, urge residents to evacuate <a href="https://t.co/HulXeIF1fU">https://t.co/HulXeIF1fU</a></p>— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) <a href="https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/902546194873778177">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The weather channel said that there was approximately 186 million gallons a min flowing.

 

[yankeehater]

Climate change is a hoax

I guess climate change had the largest impact in the 1880's then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_hurricanes

 

[BGIF]

Harvey flooding: Cedar Bayou, Texas, sets new continental U.S. record for rain - KTXS

HOUSTON (AP) - The rains in Cedar Bayou, near Mont Belvieu, Texas, reached 51.88 inches as of 3:30 p.m.

That's a record for both Texas and the continental United States, but it doesn't quite pass the 52 inches from tropical cyclone Hiki in Kauai, Hawaii, in 1950 (before Hawaii became a state).

 

[FLDomer]

The was an email sent to a close friend from one of his friends who lives in Katy Texas and part or the Katy Water Authority. Pretty terrifying stuff.


"To give everyone an idea of how big this problem is in S. TX. Here is a map of the city of Houston which is bigger than a number of combined major American Cities, this does not cover the total impact area of Harvey.

Also, the third road "belt" around Houston (SR99) is 175 miles long. This means that the area inside this circle is 2,200 sq miles (presented by local media). Most of this area has been impacted by Harvey with flooding, to a depth in some places of more than 14 feet. The lowest road bridge in Houston is 14 feet and there were places where the water contacted these bridges. In some places traffic control lights went under water, stop-lights. The total impact area is much bigger than what is inside SR99 circle. For example we live outside SR99 and we have two high schools open as shelters. These shelters are full.

The dry reservoirs, the Army Corps of Engineers owns and manages these structures, were built to protect the city of Houston. These reservoirs, Barker and Addicks, are full and the water is topping the levees at spillways. The ACOE started releasing water, 8,000 cubic feet per second, to relieve the pressure on the levees as they fear these levees will fail. The ACOE estimates it will take 2 to 3 months to lower the water in these reservoirs. What all this means is the recover time for many will be a very long time.

At this time mandatory evacuation near rivers are being issued because rivers are going to rise for the next few days and leave their banks flooding a massive number of houses.

People who have lost their homes to flooding will need a place to live for a long time. Also, the destroyed businesses will have to find places to operate from.

Right now the George R. Brown Houston convention center in the city of Houston has 9,000 people housed. This 5,000 over capacity. They are opening more shelters in this area and other places in TX.

The above does not include all the towns, cities and rural folks who live in an area that covers from Corpus Christi to Port Author (west to east) to as far north as Conroe, TX and as far east a Lousiana. This is a huge area, check a map.

At this time more reservoir dams/levees are breaking in parts of TX.

I am sure you have heard the oil refineries have stopped working. This means the fuel prices across the world are going to increase. It is my understanding that 11% of all the gasoline in the USA comes from this part of TX. Then there are all other oil based refined products.

Please continue to pray and keep this matter in your mind.

The amazing thing is that we have not lost electricity or water/sewage at anytime during this storm.

Thanks for the phone calls and emails. Our family including Kathryn's is fine. It has finally stopped raining over our house, Friday to this morning continues rain, not much wind). But it continues rain all the way to Louisiana.

This is the bayou by my house Sunday night, 10PM CT. Normally you can walk across it and the water is only knee deep. At this time the water is most likely 25 feet deep. The lights in the back ground are Cinco Ranch High School, today a shelter. We are near the eastern headwaters of Buffalo Bayou, which flow through down town Houston and on to Galveston Bay.







A military A-WAX is flying the area and controlling the air space. There are several such air control zones along the cost."

 

[Irish#1]

Rescuers should be armed so they can shoot back at any looters.

My youngest son just married a couple of months ago. His wife lived in Houston and just sold her house in Houston a few weeks ago, so she could move up here. Very lucky.

 

[texbender]

What happens when the looters are from texas?

looters are looters...treated equally

 

[Old Man Mike]

My brother, Tim Swords, the USNational Weight-Lifting Coach, lives in League City. His former house was at 8-feet above sea level --- those types of houses are evacuated or had people on the roofs. His new home is at 26 feet above sea level --- that has made all the difference. Water in the street is at sternum level, but does not reach his home. He is still using his "garage" (his modest training facility which has produced 50+ national champions) to train Sarah Robles (the US superheavyweight who won our only Rio medal) for the World Championships as we speak.

I was very worried about the Big Fellow, but that small bit of Houston seems "OK". He has power (in more ways than one) and water (because he stacks it for training), but low on food. The nearby Kroger opened during low tide and people were lined up for about a quarter of a mile to get in.

 

[ACamp1900]

Good to hear your brother's good fortune on that one... hope he stays safe.

 

[yankeehater]

I guess climate change had the largest impact in the 1880's then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_hurricanes

Thanks Andy for neg repping my post and accompanying with a vulgar message. Rahm Emanuel is that you? Or maybe Rahm "Never let a serious crisis go to waste" Emanuel was the poster I replied to in the first place.

 

[BGIF]

NHC 10 pm Advisory has Harvey north of Alexandria, LA. Heading NE, toward Memphis area, Nashville area, and Central KY.

 

[BGIF]

NHC expects Irma, West of Cabo Verde Islands to be upgraded to a hurricane Thursday.

Spaghetti models largely expect Irma to turn northward but it's long ways away.

 

[BGIF]

Houston Area Chemical Plant Expected To Explode

Houston Area Chemical Plant Expected To Explode

'No way to prevent' potential chemical plant explosion near Houston, Arkema CEO says - ABC News

By TARA FOWLER EMILY SHAPIRO
Aug 30, 2017, 6:32 PM ET

Arkema's CEO said Wednesday that there is "no way to prevent" a possible explosion at the company's Crosby, Texas, facility, which has been heavily flooded as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

“We have an unprecedented 6 feet of water at the plant,” Arkema President and CEO Rich Rowe said in comments made Wednesday. “We have lost primary power and two sources of emergency backup power.

"As a result, we have lost critical refrigeration of the materials on site that could now explode and cause a subsequent intense fire. The high water and lack of power leave us with no way to prevent it," he said.

Rowe added: "We have evacuated our personnel for their own safety. The federal, state and local authorities were contacted a few days ago, and we are working very closely with them to manage this matter. They have ordered the surrounding community to be evacuated, too."

Residents within a 1.5-mile radius of the facility, which is near Houston, have been told to leave, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office.

...

On Tuesday, the company said it didn't believe there was any "imminent danger" but stressed that "the potential for a chemical reaction leading to a fire and/or explosion within the site confines is real."

...

N.B. This evacuation is voluntary. There is NO requirement for mandatory compliance with this evacuation order (suggestion?).

 

[Andy in Sactown]

I guess climate change had the largest impact in the 1880's then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_hurricanes

Thanks Andy for neg repping my post and accompanying with a vulgar message. Rahm Emanuel is that you? Or maybe Rahm "Never let a serious crisis go to waste" Emanuel was the poster I replied to in the first place.

I had misread your posting (context mostly, but still), thus the neg, and for anyone curious, my "vulgar" accompaniment/rep decription was 'gtfo'.

I don't mind throwing around a neg when I feel it's warranted. In what.. 6 years I've thrown a neg at another poster who didn't deserve it by reasonable estimation twice (thrice if you want to include the 'what chaps my balls' thread).

But, I also review and realize when a neg wasn't warranted and an interpretation was incorrect on my front. And I'm big enough to admit so publicly.

My apologies.


As far as the hurricane, we're mobilizing now. The Red Cross has had the West Coast on a deployment hold for the last few days due to the Oregon fires and now the Lake Oroville fire. We'll find out tomorrow where we can deploy.

 

[BGIF]

https://weather.com/storms/hurrican...co-possible-tropical-depression-storm-outlook

By Jon Erdman
Aug 30 2017 08:30 PM EDT

...

Next week, however, an area of low pressure could form in this general area of the western Gulf of Mexico, off the eastern Mexican coast.

If thunderstorms can persist and cluster near this low-pressure center, taking advantage of deep, warmer-than-average Gulf of Mexico water undisturbed by Hurricane Harvey, we could get another tropical depression or tropical storm to form.

The next named Atlantic storm would be named Jose.

...


This area is due south of Corpus Christi, Houston, and Beaumont.

 

[IrishinTN]

Charlie Hebdo Cover Portraying Harvey Victims as Neo-Nazis Shocks Twitter: 'Evil' (Photo)

I know they are a "funny, satire" magazine, but I miss the humor in this one.

 

[ACamp1900]

Politico had a pretty shameful cartoon out too...

 

[BleedBlueGold]

So when do they start calling Erma a "100 year storm"?

 

[Legacy]

FLOOD INSURANCE:
Comprehensive Reform Could Improve Solvency and Enhance Resilience (U.S. GAO, April '17)

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is Houston. Wanna know what this line is for? Food? Water? Housing? Nope. These people are waiting in line TO VOLUNTEER. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash">#Harvey</a> <a href="https://t.co/UxGnqSNOQN">pic.twitter.com/UxGnqSNOQN</a></p>— Michael Berry (@MichaelBerrySho) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelBerrySho/status/902882716802265096">August 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Redneck Army saves National Guard. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thisisAmerica?src=hash">#thisisAmerica</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneHarvey?src=hash">#HurricaneHarvey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HoustonStrong?src=hash">#HoustonStrong</a> <a href="https://t.co/9gZS493ZeQ">pic.twitter.com/9gZS493ZeQ</a></p>— Michael Keyes (@michaelkeyes) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelkeyes/status/903222264858124289">August 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey?src=hash">#Harvey</a> has devastated Texas. In time of devastation, people give to disaster relief. And so let’s talk about the <a href="https://twitter.com/RedCross">@RedCross</a> for a second.</p>— ProPublica (@ProPublica) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProPublica/status/902978775368990720">August 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Before you give to the Red Cross, you may want to read this thread of tweets and the article that goes with it. I have heard reference to this site before, but not familiar with it beyond the name so take that fwiw

 

[yankeehater]

I had misread your posting (context mostly, but still), thus the neg, and for anyone curious, my "vulgar" accompaniment/rep decription was 'gtfo'.

I don't mind throwing around a neg when I feel it's warranted. In what.. 6 years I've thrown a neg at another poster who didn't deserve it by reasonable estimation twice (thrice if you want to include the 'what chaps my balls' thread).

But, I also review and realize when a neg wasn't warranted and an interpretation was incorrect on my front. And I'm big enough to admit so publicly.

My apologies.


As far as the hurricane, we're mobilizing now. The Red Cross has had the West Coast on a deployment hold for the last few days due to the Oregon fires and now the Lake Oroville fire. We'll find out tomorrow where we can deploy.

Thank you for the apology and explanation. Good luck with your deployment also!