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| 8.25.17

Hurricane Harvey: Potentially America’s Biggest Storm in a Decade

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What’s the story?

Hurricane Harvey is scheduled to make landfall 70 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, TX late Friday or early Saturday morning. It has been upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane and is still growing. Its winds are up to 125 mph, three feet of rain is expected, and upwards of a 12 foot storm surge should hit the coast. Mandatory evacuations have been instituted for low-lying areas, with officials telling residents who stay that they cannot be guaranteed rescue. Experts anticipate that Harvey will grow in strength and rise to a Category 3 hurricane.

Watch this short video of the situation as of Friday morning, from the Wall Street Journal:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been mobilized to support the efforts of local officials and Governor Greg Abbott has activated 700 National Guard members. FEMA Director Brock Long urged local residents to heed evacuation warnings and be prepared for disruptions to power and other services, reports Fox News:

"FEMA stands ready to support state, local and tribal officials as they prepare for Hurricane Harvey. I encourage residents who will be affected to follow directions from their local officials. Know your threats, heed the warnings, and if you’re in the path of the storm, ensure your family is prepared for possible prolonged disruptions to normal services."

In early Friday interview on MSNBC he said bluntly, "Let’s set the expectations: Texas is about to have a very significant disaster.”

Why does it matter?

The Gulf Coast of Texas holds nearly a quarter of the population of the entire state, approximately 7 million people, and falls within the path of the Hurricane Harvey. Houston, TX -- America’s fourth largest city, with over 2 million residents -- falls within Harvey’s path, too.

Houston is also home to the Houston Ship Channel, one of the most significant centers for oil refining and chemical production in the country, reports ProPublica:

"Flanked by 10 major refineries — including the nation’s largest — and dozens of chemical manufacturing plants, the Ship Channel is a crucial transportation route for crude oil and other key products, such as plastics and pesticides. A shutdown could lead to a spike in gasoline prices and many consumer goods — everything from car tires to cell phone parts to prescription pills.”

The Gulf Coast is also home to the Johnson Space Center, headquarters for NASA’s human spaceflight operation.

The last hurricane to do serious damage to the Texas Gulf Coast was Hurricane Ike in 2008. Ike was a Category 4 hurricane as it built up momentum in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, but was downgraded to a Category 2 when it made landfall. Ike caused $30 billion in damage in the U.S. and killed at least 74 people in Texas.

In total, including Caribbean nations like Haiti and Cuba, and other American states, Ike killed upwards to 200 people, and caused almost $40 billion in damage.

Again, Harvey is expected to be a Category 3 when it makes landfall.

FEMA’s stated mission "is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards."

President Trump stated via Twitter Thursday that he is closely monitoring the situation:

Yet the administration’s 2018 budget blueprint reduced FEMA’s state and local program grants by $600 million. Of that $600 million, particularly pertinent to situations like Hurricane Harvey, is the $90 million cut proposed to the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. The program provides funding to local communities to move people to safer locations and to help rebuild schools, hospitals and police and fire stations so they can better withstand the impact of hurricanes and coastal storms.

The administration has stated that they want local communities and states to step-up in terms of funding their own disaster preparedness and clean-up operations.

What do you think?

When Congress formulates the 2018 fiscal budget, should they allow cuts to FEMA programs? What, in your opinion, is the federal government’s role in helping local communities and regions prepare for and clean up from natural disasters?

Use the Take Action button to tell your reps what you think!

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: National Hurricane Center)

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