Hurricane Harvey:
Disaster planning and response
Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Texas and Louisiana in August 2017. The hurricane developed from a tropical wave that emerged from Africa on August 12, 2017. The tropical wave was moving towards the west. The wave had developed into a tropical depression near the Eastern side of Barbados by August 17. Later that day, it became a tropical storm and was named Harvey. On August 18, Harvey made landfalls in Barbados and St. Vincent and proceeded into the Caribbean Sea. Harvey reverted into a tropical wave by August 19 due to adverse weather conditions. Harvey had reached the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico on August 23.
The system regenerated into a tropical storm later that day and had developed into a hurricane on August 24. The hurricane attained a peak magnitude as a Category 4 hurricane on August 25. Harvey made landfall on San Jose Island on August 26 at maximum intensity. The hurricane had strong winds and high atmospheric pressure. Three hours after the first landfall, Harvey made a second one at Rockport, on the Texas mainland in a marginally weaker state. Harvey’s speed weakened after hitting land.
The hurricane degenerated into a tropical storm on August 26. The storm dropped heavy rainfall inland for two days, resulting in extensive widespread flooding. It moved towards the southeast and reemerged on August 28, in the Gulf of Mexico. The system was disorganized and struggled against the strong winds. It caused extreme rainfall near the Houston metropolitan area. Harvey’s last landfall was in Louisiana on August 30. It had transformed into a post-tropical cyclone on September 1 and moved towards the northeast.
Impacts
Hurricane Harvey had widespread effects in different regions. It caused power outages and flooding in parts of Barbados. Harvey also resulted in strong winds and massive rainfall in Suriname and Guyana. Buildings were also damaged in these areas. The severest impacts of the hurricane were felt in the United States, mostly in Texas. 300, 000 structures and 500, 000 vehicles were either damaged or destroyed in Texas according to estimates. Over 300, 000 people in Texas faced power outages due to the hurricane.
Tens of thousands also had to be rescued, and over 30,000 people were displaced from their homes in Texas. Over 48,000 homes were damaged in Texas. 1000 residences were eradicated, 17,000 were severely damaged, while 32,000 were minimally damaged. However, some reports suggest that the number of homes damaged was more than this. Strong winds and storm surge caused significant damages in Aransas county. Harvey caused extreme rainfall in the Houston metropolitan area, resulting in widespread flash flooding.
Flooding was also experienced in Deep East Texas and Beaumont. This flooding resulted in water shortages and evacuations in some parts of these areas. Heavy rainfall was also experienced in Louisiana, resulting in flooding. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated. Several buildings and vehicles were damaged in Louisiana. Hurricane Harvey resulted in 107 deaths in the country. 103 were in Texas, while 2 were in Arkansas. Both Tennessee and Kentucky recorded a single death.
Energy production industry
Hurricane Harvey had a significant impact on the energy production industry. A decline of twenty-one per cent in energy production was recorded in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the hurricane. Oil and gas production in southern Texas was also significantly reduced. Crude oil tankers experienced delays due to the closure of most ports and terminals.12% of the country’s refinery capacity was offline for a couple of days. Some refineries had to be closed due to damages caused by the storm and the subsequent spillage of harmful materials. Due to power outages, refrigeration of some chemicals in the plants of Arkema was not possible, and they decomposed. The chemicals became flammable, resulting in two explosions on August 31. There was a nationwide increase in prices of oil commodities due to the closure of several refineries.
Economic impact
The estimated economic cost of Harvey is between $80 billion to $108 billion. Most of the financial losses are attributed to damages inflicted on homes and commercial properties. Uninsured losses also represent a significant portion of the costs. Direct damages caused by Harvey include the destruction of numerous buildings, automobiles, and infrastructures, such as water systems and power lines. It also had various indirect costs because it disrupted business activities[1]. The loss of electrical power caused severe disruptions in various industries.
Oil refinery was reduced to a great extent in areas hit by the storm due to safety concerns and power outages. Damages to machines and the inability of employees to get to work also resulted in economic losses. Sporting activities were heavily disrupted too. These disruptions affected the economy through loss of business income, jobs, and reduced employee earnings. The economic damages caused by Harvey made it the second-costliest natural disaster in the history of the nation. Hurricane Katrina is the costliest. Reconstruction and restoration exercises, in addition to federal aid and insurance payments, have however boosted the economy.
Preparation
Several warnings were issued as Harvey advanced towards the US, allowing the government to prepare adequately. Various government agencies worked together to prepare for the hurricane and its effects. The Federal Emergency Management Authority(FEMA) was at the forefront of the preparation activities. The agency positioned supplies and personnel in advance to help in response to the storm, alongside the Texas Division of Emergency and other organizations. The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, declared a state of emergency for 30 counties on August 23. He announced mandatory evacuations for various counties. Twenty counties were added to the state of emergency declaration on August 26. Use of satellite coverage for humanitarian purposes was also activated.
Shelter beds and transport were provided to those evacuated out of the coastal areas. Those living in coastal areas were advised to move to higher areas. The Governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency across the state. A mandatory evacuation was issued in various parts of the state, while in others evacuation was voluntary[2]. Half a million sandbags were provided to stop flooding, as well as emergency boats and high-water-rescue vehicles. Education institutions in New Orleans were closed on August 29. There were doubts whether the drainage system could withstand heavy rainfall because some of the water pumps and power turbines were defective. The federal government urged those at risk to follow the instructions provided by local authorities.
Response
Several national and state agencies coordinated the response to Hurricane Harvey. The president declared a major disaster declaration on August 25, 2017. This declaration made it possible for federal agencies to support the response and recovery efforts of the State and local authorities. The National Guard, FEMA, and other federal agencies provided over 31, 000 personnel to aid in response to the hurricane. The Coast Guard provided over 2060 staff, 50 aircraft, 75 boats, and 29 cutters. The agency managed to rescue 11, 022 people and 1, 384 pets. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams managed to save 6,453 individuals and 237 animals. The units used boats and high-water vehicles in the rescue operations.
The Department of Defense, Customs and Border Patrol, and the National Parks Service were also involved in search and rescue operations. Medical personnel and supplies were also provided to those affected by the hurricane. About 780,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Texas after the storm passed. Over 42,000 people were provided with temporary accommodation. 122, 331 people and 5,234 pets were rescued by the local, state, and federal first responders. The Texas Commission of environmental quality (TCEQ) provided technical infrastructure assistance to public water supply and wastewater systems. It also assessed dams and managed debris. The commission also coordinated oil spill recovery operations. Non-government organizations and foreign governments were also involved in rescue operations.
Recovery
The federal government provided $15billion for relief. FEMA received numerous applications for disaster assistance after Harvey. More than $1.5 billion had been paid in federal aid to the victims of the hurricane within 30 days. These funds were paid in the form of assistance grants, low-interest disaster loans, and advance payments for flood insurance. FEMA provided funds for temporary housing, necessary repairs, and other basic requirements[3]. The agency covered hotel charges for thousands of families whose homes were uninhabitable at the time. Around two thousand people had to stay in temporary shelters for a while, as long-term housing was being sought.
Over 87, 000 people in Texas filed flood insurance claims. These claims were paid quickly to ensure rebuilding commenced at the earliest instance. Low-interest loans were also provided to thousands of businesses, homeowners and renters to get them back on their feet. Numerous non-governmental organizations, celebrities, and corporations also made significant contributions to relief efforts. Various foreign governments contributed to recovery efforts too. Considerable strides have been made in the recovery process[4]. Complete recovery in Texas will, however, take a while longer.
Hits and misses
Preparation for the hurricane was adequate in the affected areas. Sandbagging and the use of boats helped to counter the effects of flooding. The decision to issue mandatory and voluntary evacuations in different areas depending on risk profile helped to reduce the adverse effects of the hurricane. The provision of federal support in the response and recovery efforts helped to improve their effectiveness to a great extent. The local, state and federal personnel managed to rescue a lot of people and provide them with shelter and other essentials. The provision of relief by the federal government and other organizations also boosted recovery massively.
There were, however, a few misses in the response and recovery. There was a small number of high-rescue vehicles in several areas which hampered rescue operations. Flooding was also experienced in some parts where it was not expected. There were also lapses in communication between various teams. These lapses resulted in a lack of coordination between the teams and affected their effectiveness. Lastly, the local authorities were not adequately prepared for a disaster of such magnitude. They had not trained their emergency teams on how to respond appropriately and had not set up shelters for people at risk of displacement. Massive damages would have occurred if the federal government had not intervened.
Proposed improvements
Several improvements can be made to the response and recovery efforts. It is essential to conduct a risk assessment of all areas that are prone to flooding. Flooding was experienced in some areas where it was unexpected, resulting in chaos and confusion. Proper communication channels should also be established between agencies involved in the response efforts to ensure that they are more effective[5]. It is also necessary to acquire more high-water vehicles for use in rescue operations. Improvisations can also be made provided that safety is guaranteed. Local authorities should also provide training to response teams and adequately prepare for disasters.
Bibliography
Hegar, Glenn. “Economic Impact: A Storm to Remember: Hurricane Harvey and the Texas Economy.” Economic Impact: A Storm to Remember: Hurricane Harvey and the Texas Economy. Accessed April 19, 2020. https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/fiscal-notes/2018/special-edition/impact.php.
Agrait, Anastasia, and Christina. Learning The Power of Preparedness: A Case Study of Hurricane Harvey Emergency Management, 2019, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
“Historic Disaster Response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas.” Historic Disaster Response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas | FEMA.gov. Accessed April 19, 2020. https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/22/historic-disaster-response-hurricane-harvey-texas#.
Brown, Saundra. “THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY: Response and Rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey.” Texas Bar Journal 81, no. 4 (2018): 242.
Guillote Chivas, Casey Patrick, and Kevin Schulz. “Preparation, Response and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Harvey.” JEMS, September 2, 2019. https://www.jems.com/2018/03/01/preparing-for-catastrophe/
[1] Glenn Hegar. “Economic Impact: A Storm to Remember: Hurricane Harvey and the Texas Economy.” Economic Impact: A Storm to Remember: Hurricane Harvey and the Texas Economy. Accessed April 19, 2020. https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/fiscal-notes/2018/special-edition/impact.php.
[2] Agrait Anastasia and Christina. Learning The Power of Preparedness: A Case Study of Hurricane Harvey Emergency Management (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2019).
[3] “Historic Disaster Response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas.” Historic Disaster Response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas | FEMA.gov. Accessed April 19, 2020. https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/22/historic-disaster-response-hurricane-harvey-texas#.
[4] Saundra Brown. “THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY: Response and Rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey.” Texas Bar Journal 81, no. 4 (2018): 242.
[5] Guillote Chivas, Casey Patrick, and Kevin Schulz. “Preparation, Response and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Harvey.” JEMS, September 2, 2019. https://www.jems.com/2018/03/01/preparing-for-catastrophe/.