Big fan of natural disasters. It makes every one humble poor, rich, white, black, you name it. No force is greater than nature and never will be.
1
"Houston is not doing enough to mitigate flooding. It’s not leaving open green space in these developments. And it’s only going to get worse because of climate change.
-Scientists interviewed-2016
…he basically didn’t agree with any of that and told us that they can kind of fight concrete with concrete….we can engineer our way out of this problem with this big flood retention,…..
-Head of the Flood Control District-Houston, 2016
…also said the flood control district has no plans to study climate change or its impacts on Harris County…
-Recently Retired head of Houston Flood Control-Dec, 2016
The above is from a published investigative report over a year ago by the Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and interviews with Scientists and Houston Flood Control last year.
So if they can engineer their way out, let them! Houston flood Control says they have everything under control. Sounds like they don’t need “Big Government” to assist.
-Scientists interviewed-2016
…he basically didn’t agree with any of that and told us that they can kind of fight concrete with concrete….we can engineer our way out of this problem with this big flood retention,…..
-Head of the Flood Control District-Houston, 2016
…also said the flood control district has no plans to study climate change or its impacts on Harris County…
-Recently Retired head of Houston Flood Control-Dec, 2016
The above is from a published investigative report over a year ago by the Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and interviews with Scientists and Houston Flood Control last year.
So if they can engineer their way out, let them! Houston flood Control says they have everything under control. Sounds like they don’t need “Big Government” to assist.
1
Houston couldn't engineer its way out of Harvey because trillions of gallons of water fell on the city. Wetlands mitigation might have soaked up 4 billion -- not negligible, and it absolutely should've been done. But NOTHING would have solved the problem of trillions of gallons of water falling in such a short period. Fortunately, Atlantans can point fingers here because their city has no suburban sprawl and little or no traffic, so clearly the planning has been exemplary.... wait! Atlanta has horrific traffic. It has endless sprawl. In fact, its growth ethos and development pattern is very to those of Houston and other Sunbelt cities. Perhaps time to stop pointing fingers.
This account relates solely to economic damage. But in assessing the destructiveness of a storm, fatalities are generally front and center. Comparing the dollar damage of Katrina and Harvey, while ignoring fatalities, skews the reader's view in comparing the two storms. Katrina wa by far the worse. It caused more than 1600 deaths.
2
Or the Galveston hurricane. But in recent years media have taken their hyperbole and superlatives to a new level. This was made out to be the biggest storm of all time. Heck, the only event in history bigger than this was the eclipse. (I like what a Dorchester, MA comedian said about the eclipse: "Just what the country needs. Another cover-up."
How much of the blame for Houston's troubles should rest on the shoulders of Houston, the city who lacks land use planning, zoning, or flood prevention plans. Really, Houston, build within Buffalo Bayou? OK, but maybe you should pay for your own repairs! Ask for private contributions, do not saddle the taxpayer with this. There is plenty of charity outside taxes, right????? Just like what you want for the poor people of the rest of the country. Cut welfare and depend on private donations! We need smaller government and less taxes. Ask for the billionaires to donate even half what they donate to political campaigns to cut taxes. If you want tax cuts, you want no Harvey relief, if you think it should come from taxpayer money!
1
Hurricane Disaster relief is not "welfare".
The Hurricane Harvey victims are taxpayers, too.
Try to muster up some compassion.
The Hurricane Harvey victims are taxpayers, too.
Try to muster up some compassion.
1
Just wait until roofers and builders are subcontracted out to 10 firms before the actual company gets the work. Each subcontractor will add their fee for managing the work and the government will pay 10 times the actual cost. Everyone will get rich except the roofers who finally do the work.
If Republicans and other politicians want to spend billions on recovery efforts like the one needed as a result of this storm, they should be willing to tax people accordingly - oil and coal producers for starters, plus the gas and energy consumers among us all. What hurts a lot of people in this comment thread - bad decisions about development, apparent hypocrisy on spending when the state is dem or repub, and of course, the imbalance in who pays federal taxes and who receives them, can be alleviated by responsible policy decisions involving taxation. Probably too much to hope for.
And one part of this disaster I haven't heard mentioned is the fact that over-use of groundwater by the City in the 1970s resulted in land subsidence of up to 10 feet, centered on some of the areas hardest hit by this storm. Yes, over-exploitation of natural resources does have a nasty legacy in places like Houston, and will bite us all in the end.
And one part of this disaster I haven't heard mentioned is the fact that over-use of groundwater by the City in the 1970s resulted in land subsidence of up to 10 feet, centered on some of the areas hardest hit by this storm. Yes, over-exploitation of natural resources does have a nasty legacy in places like Houston, and will bite us all in the end.
3
I think it's overdue time for Trump to champion a literacy initiative.
He could serve as an example:
Stop tweeting, and watching television, and
start reading and start listening in order to acquire knowledge about the recent history of nations and how that applies, at this very moment, to diplomacy.
It's disconcerting, almost terrifying, that once again, Trump ignores the advice of his experienced and knowledgeable cabinet members
He could serve as an example:
Stop tweeting, and watching television, and
start reading and start listening in order to acquire knowledge about the recent history of nations and how that applies, at this very moment, to diplomacy.
It's disconcerting, almost terrifying, that once again, Trump ignores the advice of his experienced and knowledgeable cabinet members
5
Yesterday, an article in this papers stated that Trump gets most of his information
on world events by watching Fox News .
That is truly frightening.
on world events by watching Fox News .
That is truly frightening.
only since 1980, when alphabet was created?
or some inconvenient outliers happened prior to that year?
or some inconvenient outliers happened prior to that year?
While some federal aid will be required, Texas tax payers and businesses should shoulder the majority of the cost. This is about people living in a flood plain who should be expecting devastation every time a major tropical storm comes through. It is only exacerbated by the local and state governments giving permits to builders to build on flood planes because the land is rightfully less expensive. Time to make those businesses that have had great success over the years pay out to repair their state and not just to share holders.
Oops. I wrote a response saying 'I'm with Pete". I am absolutely NOT with Pete and I apologize.
1
In Manhattan playwright Dr. Larry Myers is headed to Houston to help.
Dr. Myers, a Professor at St Johns University, directs The Playwrights Sanctuary- a bicoastal theater foundation which helps younger newer dramatists assemble their works. Myers( a self proclaimed walk on water yet Advance Catholic)
s studied mysticism 25 years. He was a post Katrina & post Sandy volunteer so this visitation for service to Houston is no surprise. Myers sees these crises as akin to Greek subject matter. These must be recorded & playwrights must prophesize. Myers ( a Spy Magazine Trump lookalike 30 years ago) is eco activist. He was active at Standing Rock II at he Lancaster Amish farm, Black Lives Matter & Trans marches. His "Houston Future Atlantis" will be performed at Art Saves Lives Studio in San Francisco where he is playwright in residence. Theater arts must be implemented in healing. A new café theater arises from oppression ,suppression & omission for inclusive expression.
Dr. Myers, a Professor at St Johns University, directs The Playwrights Sanctuary- a bicoastal theater foundation which helps younger newer dramatists assemble their works. Myers( a self proclaimed walk on water yet Advance Catholic)
s studied mysticism 25 years. He was a post Katrina & post Sandy volunteer so this visitation for service to Houston is no surprise. Myers sees these crises as akin to Greek subject matter. These must be recorded & playwrights must prophesize. Myers ( a Spy Magazine Trump lookalike 30 years ago) is eco activist. He was active at Standing Rock II at he Lancaster Amish farm, Black Lives Matter & Trans marches. His "Houston Future Atlantis" will be performed at Art Saves Lives Studio in San Francisco where he is playwright in residence. Theater arts must be implemented in healing. A new café theater arises from oppression ,suppression & omission for inclusive expression.
God, Americans are insane! There is a regular occurrence of utterly destructive weather in one area of the country or another every year. We are never prepared. We always pay. We applaud ourselves as though watching professional athletic feats for helping each other, when in fact, as we fall off a cliff, we grab even the hand we hate to hold or even to see when not falling off a cliff. Soon, it will be revealed that the poor, minorities, and immigrants, legal or not, were discriminated against in the dispensing of aide. And on it goes. Year after year. Right now, though,
Kim is coming in Trump's bell and causing gasping notes! Snap out of it! Kim and Trump are stomping at each other with nuclear weapons! What, Trump's surrounded by generals? So, the military "saves us" and then just, "quietly fade away"? Or do they succumb to the "voter demand" that they take the helm? Slave owner that he was, Washingtons do not surround Trump.
We have far bigger fish to fry than Harvey. Our eye is way off the ball. The Times' placing of placing and emphasis of headlines is absolutely, well, "Co-Mnuchian," and just what you'd expect.
Kim is coming in Trump's bell and causing gasping notes! Snap out of it! Kim and Trump are stomping at each other with nuclear weapons! What, Trump's surrounded by generals? So, the military "saves us" and then just, "quietly fade away"? Or do they succumb to the "voter demand" that they take the helm? Slave owner that he was, Washingtons do not surround Trump.
We have far bigger fish to fry than Harvey. Our eye is way off the ball. The Times' placing of placing and emphasis of headlines is absolutely, well, "Co-Mnuchian," and just what you'd expect.
I keep harping that if government(s) worked for all of the people, all of the time in an equal fashion, then there would be no need for charity of any kind. There would be appropriate funds for whatever disaster, and to make those affected close to whole as possible. ( also in a timely fashion )
By the way, where are all those charitable 501c3 or 4s that took in BILLIONS of dollars for so called charitable endeavors ?
Did they spend all that money on political ads ?
By the way, where are all those charitable 501c3 or 4s that took in BILLIONS of dollars for so called charitable endeavors ?
Did they spend all that money on political ads ?
4
The purpose of Government should not be to shift costs from one person to another, via the tax increases required to fund rescues.
What needs to be done, is to make the Real Estate Developer, who builds on low lying ground, steep hills, tornado zones, areas prone to forest fire, and so on, bear responsibility for the cost of any required cleanups and rebuilds.
This should be done by requiring the developer to provide a fully paid up, 500 year environmental disaster insurance policy for each of the homes he is selling. If this is "prohibitively expensive", if proves that homes should not be built there.
The developer would, of course, have the opportunity to keep the cost of the insurance low, by carefully designing and engineering the buildings and the surrounding areas.
In no circumstances, should the costs associated with bad planning, bad design and bad engineering, be dumped, first on the homeowner; and then, when the homeowner crumbles, on the taxpayer.
What needs to be done, is to make the Real Estate Developer, who builds on low lying ground, steep hills, tornado zones, areas prone to forest fire, and so on, bear responsibility for the cost of any required cleanups and rebuilds.
This should be done by requiring the developer to provide a fully paid up, 500 year environmental disaster insurance policy for each of the homes he is selling. If this is "prohibitively expensive", if proves that homes should not be built there.
The developer would, of course, have the opportunity to keep the cost of the insurance low, by carefully designing and engineering the buildings and the surrounding areas.
In no circumstances, should the costs associated with bad planning, bad design and bad engineering, be dumped, first on the homeowner; and then, when the homeowner crumbles, on the taxpayer.
1
Having bragging rights to surviving the biggest storm ever is quite impressive to throw out at a party. But first clean up the mess before throwing it. However, the little old lady sitting there whose house burned down years ago unnoticed is hardly impressed at all, I'm sure.
1
Trump's parting words to the people of Houston at the end of his visit: "Have a good time, everybody." I can't imagine any human being saying that.
13
The chart claims to compare every natural disaster costing $1 billion or more since 1980, but it would be more accurate to say that it compares every weather and climate related natural disaster. There have been several earthquakes since 1980 that caused damages exceeding $1 billion, including the 1994 Northridge event that had estimated costs ranging from $30-$70 billion. Earthquakes may not happen as frequently as storms, but they pack a big punch when they do occur.
I enjoyed your graphs, thank you.
1
It would be interesting to see this chart by geographic area. It would be enlightening to see if the regions that tend to resist federal government mandates are the same regions that take advantage of federal disaster relief.
7
I do not have any particular problem with providing aid in this instance - I am from NJ - however I do have concerns about how the money is spent - no more business as usual - and where it will come from - perhaps some of the egregiously wasteful spending for defense could be permanently budgeted to FEMA.
5
Reducing defense spending is fine if you are will to reduce the Defense Department missions at the same time. In other words, save money by pulling U.S. forces out of NATO, South Korea and the Middle East, but don't redeploy forces to those areas in case of crisis. Tell our NATO. South Korean and Middle Eastern allies they are on their own.
nonsense - all of the sweet heat deals for the defense industry - that produces a lot of junk and waste.
2
What is surprising me is how commentators are looking for people to blame for what is in essence, a natural, unavoidable disaster.
It's not Trump's fault. Climate change has nothing to do with this, a big rainfall that stalled over land for days the likes of which has never been seen in this area ever in recorded history. Even the change in the are's topography and the influx of habitation, had nothing to do with this.
It just happened.
For those of you who believe in god, blame her.
It's not Trump's fault. Climate change has nothing to do with this, a big rainfall that stalled over land for days the likes of which has never been seen in this area ever in recorded history. Even the change in the are's topography and the influx of habitation, had nothing to do with this.
It just happened.
For those of you who believe in god, blame her.
4
Willful ignorance is even scarier than trying to blame a particular person. The sprawl of development without concern for adequate water runoff certainly increased damages. There is most certainly further damage that may not have occurred had true free market principles applied to flood and disaster insurance.
Finally, there is no evidence that CC didn't increase the storm capacity as well, but just like I know living a healthy lifestyle doesn't guarantee freedom from illness...it sure pays to treat our one earth as best we can.
Finally, there is no evidence that CC didn't increase the storm capacity as well, but just like I know living a healthy lifestyle doesn't guarantee freedom from illness...it sure pays to treat our one earth as best we can.
4
Thank you ,Mike. The victim blaming comments are sickening, just as they are after every natural disaster.
Very interesting graphic!
But I wanted to point out that it does not include the Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes, each of which resulted in 10s of billions of dollars in damages, an odd omission.
But I wanted to point out that it does not include the Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes, each of which resulted in 10s of billions of dollars in damages, an odd omission.
3
Houston, a man-made disaster waiting to happen.
6
Who. knows if this is the end of it. Irma is coming. The cost of long-term lack of planning may be coming home to roost in spectacular fashion. Freedom to do what you want pales in the face of the power of nature. Do what you want fine but don't expect others to pay for your stupidity.
20
Before the chorus of commenters snaps vocal chords shouting the CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL CHORALE -- some facts:
1) Between 1851 and 2004 the contiguous US averaged 6 major hurricanes a decade making landfall. From 2005 until Harvey we had a 12 year hiatus. The probability of that happening is the real rarity, not harvey. During the 15 full decades between 1851 and 2000 we always had at least 1 major hurricane hit the US and from 2000 to 2005 we had had 7. The odds of going 12 years w/o a major hurricane strike is less than 1%.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdec.shtml
2) The gulf waters have not warmed since 1870 -- and for the US coastal areas that front on the Gulf, temps have not risen either. The graph below clearly shows nothing but normal variation in gulf temps. Moreover, the author maps major hurricanes that hit Texas during that time frame (1870 - now) against the temp graph. Eleven occurred when gulf temps were below avg, 11 when above. Moreover, in the 15 years where the temp anomaly was .4 C above the avg, only 1 major hit Texas --- Harvey.
http://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/TX-major-hurricanes-vs-Gu...
Harvey is not evidence of CC.
1) Between 1851 and 2004 the contiguous US averaged 6 major hurricanes a decade making landfall. From 2005 until Harvey we had a 12 year hiatus. The probability of that happening is the real rarity, not harvey. During the 15 full decades between 1851 and 2000 we always had at least 1 major hurricane hit the US and from 2000 to 2005 we had had 7. The odds of going 12 years w/o a major hurricane strike is less than 1%.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdec.shtml
2) The gulf waters have not warmed since 1870 -- and for the US coastal areas that front on the Gulf, temps have not risen either. The graph below clearly shows nothing but normal variation in gulf temps. Moreover, the author maps major hurricanes that hit Texas during that time frame (1870 - now) against the temp graph. Eleven occurred when gulf temps were below avg, 11 when above. Moreover, in the 15 years where the temp anomaly was .4 C above the avg, only 1 major hit Texas --- Harvey.
http://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/TX-major-hurricanes-vs-Gu...
Harvey is not evidence of CC.
7
Good points, since Harvey isn't out of the norm then, and not related to more recent changes, insurance companies should have no issue paying out.
1
What about Sandy? Those living in NY and NJ sure thought it hit mainland USA.
(Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.)
I have look at a lot of data scatter plots in my life time - sure looks like an increase in temperature -- can't know for sure without a regression analysis.
(Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.)
I have look at a lot of data scatter plots in my life time - sure looks like an increase in temperature -- can't know for sure without a regression analysis.
1
Reasonable, I don't think Harvey is evidence of global warming. But a Northwest passage opening up north of Canada is, and Alaska's permafrost thawing out is, and sea levels rising is, and Antartica's ice shelf crashing into the sea is, and longer, stronger heat waves are.
In short, it doesn't matter at all that Harvey is not evidence of global warming, because there is a remarkable amount of evidence of global warming. If people want to keep denying it, that's fine, but when the floodwaters come for them, or the heat wave strikes them next, I don't see any reason to bail them out.
In short, it doesn't matter at all that Harvey is not evidence of global warming, because there is a remarkable amount of evidence of global warming. If people want to keep denying it, that's fine, but when the floodwaters come for them, or the heat wave strikes them next, I don't see any reason to bail them out.
1
"intelligence is the ability to adapt to change" - Stephen Hawking
6
Yes this was an expensive storm, but it is a storm that was predicted and one that could have been mitigated by the use of modern engineering knowledge and available construction techniques. This protection was not available to Houston because their leaders as well as the leaders of Texas did not do so because they felt it was too expensive to do so.
They knew from past experience that the rest of the US would bail them out with US tax dollars, why spend their own? They felt no moral hazard. They will continue to practice this poor governance as long as the rest of the country continues to bail them out. The same can be said for Florida, Louisiana and other coastal areas
It is time for the country to put it's foot down and refuse to send good money after bad until these little piggys who build their houses of straw start using their money to protect themselves.
They knew from past experience that the rest of the US would bail them out with US tax dollars, why spend their own? They felt no moral hazard. They will continue to practice this poor governance as long as the rest of the country continues to bail them out. The same can be said for Florida, Louisiana and other coastal areas
It is time for the country to put it's foot down and refuse to send good money after bad until these little piggys who build their houses of straw start using their money to protect themselves.
32
So how about the 2011 Missouri River floods, that also affected Montana. Federal money was spent to "bail out" Montana as well as other states.
1
Let's start with "appropriate construction techniques." Like every city in the country, Houston has strict building codes, which it enforces. Let's move on to "mitigating" the storm. Approximately 19 trillion gallons of water fell on the state of Texas, much of it in the Houston area. One thoughtful writer has noted that Houston built over wetlands that might have absorbed 4 billion gallons of water. The difference between trillions and billions? Immense. NO amount of engineering expertise would have mitigated the effects of so much water falling in so short a time. "This protection was available to Houton...." No, it was not. Protection from 19 trillion gallons of water falling in a short period simply doesn't exist. Yes, Houston should have conserved more of its wetlands. So should the rest of the US, which has also busily built over wetlands for the sake of growth. In its development pattern -- city, plus sprawling suburbs -- mirrors that of many cities in the US. It's not a unique "piggy" pattern.
"These little piggys who built their house of straw start using their money to protect themselves."
How can you call Hurricane Victims who have suffered horrific devastation : "little Piggys"? !
Wait until a natural disaster blows down your own house of straw.
You'll be looking help from the Federal government, just as anyone else in dire need of help would.
More importantly, how on earth could comment moderators choose this as a NYT Pick ?
How can you call Hurricane Victims who have suffered horrific devastation : "little Piggys"? !
Wait until a natural disaster blows down your own house of straw.
You'll be looking help from the Federal government, just as anyone else in dire need of help would.
More importantly, how on earth could comment moderators choose this as a NYT Pick ?
What Trump and the NYT have in common is that everything is competitive. When Irma turns and goes up the east coast of FL from Miami to Orlando to Jacksonville, Houston will be a drop in the bucket.
2
My heart goes out to the people of Houston.
However, from an economic standpoint
It would be interesting to see of how much the Blue Sates pay into the Federal tax system that is used each year to bail out and help Red States, including natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding tornados and other expenses like the opiod crisis, and healthcare ( Medicaid). Red States vote for politicians who want to cut funding for the very benefits that they constantly reap.
What if the Blue States stop supporting them exonomically?
However, from an economic standpoint
It would be interesting to see of how much the Blue Sates pay into the Federal tax system that is used each year to bail out and help Red States, including natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding tornados and other expenses like the opiod crisis, and healthcare ( Medicaid). Red States vote for politicians who want to cut funding for the very benefits that they constantly reap.
What if the Blue States stop supporting them exonomically?
4
So-called president trump's reassuring words still ring in my ears ... "Obamacare is an utter disaster folks. I will repeal it entirely and replace it with something much much better, believe me ... and very quickly". Now with the havoc and chaos of this severe Harvey weather event it's "we're going to fix this immediately, believe me". Frankly this "believe me" nonsense is wearing thin, very thin.
7
If you were eligible for flood insurance and you didn't take it, then you shouldn't be eligible for Federal Disaster Relief. If you weren't eligible for flood insurance, then you most definetly should not be eligible for Federal Disaster Relief. Developers should be responsible for flood damage in flood planes. If they try to do a Trump, declare bankruptcy, then the rule should be "No Re-Entry" to business in any capacity.
13
We can perhaps expect legislation to be introduced, requiring cost-benefit analysis for prospective hurricanes before they will be allowed to make landfall. Weighed against the damage any storm would do, would be the need for distraction in the News Cycle, and opportunities for official posturing. It is even possible that the reason why some people choose to deny the effects of climate change, is that they see a silver lining -- for instance, being able to sell anything that survives climate change at a higher price. Here is an illustration --
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/europe-s-winemakers-face-shrinking-ha...
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/europe-s-winemakers-face-shrinking-ha...
Listen to the Texas Good Old Boys and Girls tell us all how "they do it alone".
Good. WE THE PEOPLE can demand that lawmakers use OUR hard-earned taxpayer dollars to strengthen Senator Elizabeth Warren/ President Obama's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other watchdog consumer agencies instead of awarding the Robber Barons highly inflated "rebuilding" contract - in other words Corporate Welfare.
Good. WE THE PEOPLE can demand that lawmakers use OUR hard-earned taxpayer dollars to strengthen Senator Elizabeth Warren/ President Obama's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other watchdog consumer agencies instead of awarding the Robber Barons highly inflated "rebuilding" contract - in other words Corporate Welfare.
25
With Harvey and Katrina we've had the two most expensive hurricane disasters in recent history. Both were spawned into devastating events by the warming of the Gulf of Mexico which has become, like the oceans, a heat absorber due to global warming. Houston, New Orleans and the entire gulf region needs a unified approach to building a 21st century infrastructure to defend against the certainty of future events that most certainly will occur as global warming and climate-change denial denial continue. It is foolish and irresponsible to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild without protecting against the next massive hurricane. It's time to move beyond denial.
12
When is the USA going to start recognising the role it plays in intensifying these storms and call them what they have now become - UN-natural disasters.
9
As the article points out, the storms aren't growing more intense. Today's hurricanes do more damage because more people are putting themselves in harm's way by residing in sea coast cities. No one thinks climate change affects earthquakes, but the next major quake that hits a major cities will case far more damage than it would have a century ago,
4
@William Please stop quoting facts and let these people believe that there are more hurricanes, which are more intense, because of global warming. Its like telling a child that Santa isn't real...
3
Ray pls don't say that CC isn't real. To the progressives that's worse than saying Obama isn't the greatest president forever and always or that Trump isn't evil and Hillary didn't lose because of 1) Russia 2) Comey 3) a whole lot of other things that just weren't her fault.
There will be the costs of rebuilding entire neighborhoods, rehousing people, lost education time for children, lost wages, health issues, the cost of gas, the huge environmental costs and others we probably haven't considered. One issue that ought to be considered is if we want to keep on building anything in coastal areas or flood plains like oil refineries, chemical plants, and housing. The more we pave over the soil or take away the plants and trees that keep it there the more flood prone an area becomes.
It's pretty ironic to hear Trump and the GOP calling for prompt action to help Texans when New Yorkers were told, after Sandy, that the costs were too high or that we should do it ourselves. Whatever happened to Texan self reliance as exemplified by that prototypical "Texan" Senator Cruz? Why isn't he out there in his shirtsleeves and jeans helping?
It's pretty ironic to hear Trump and the GOP calling for prompt action to help Texans when New Yorkers were told, after Sandy, that the costs were too high or that we should do it ourselves. Whatever happened to Texan self reliance as exemplified by that prototypical "Texan" Senator Cruz? Why isn't he out there in his shirtsleeves and jeans helping?
24
Actually, Senator Cruz has been very visible during the disaster, since he lives in Houston. And, as he has explained numerous times, he voted against the Sandy relief bill because politicians were using that disaster to cram it full of non-storm related pork. Please listen and stay informed on this topic.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/450912/hurricane-harvey-gop-non-hy...
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/450912/hurricane-harvey-gop-non-hy...
4
No, he was against it because he could be. NY needed help. He, like some of his other friends, didn't want to help NY. Other statements made by the GOP made that perfectly clear. And I haven't heard one thing about him helping out anywhere.
24
Many commentators assert that Texas should shouldn’t get federal aid because “Texas voted against the Hurricane Sandy Relief Act,” but this isn’t true. Texas has 36 representatives. They voted 28-8 in favor of the Sandy Relief Act. The two Texas senators voted, along with 36 senators from other states, against the act because it contained billions of dollars for projects that were unrelated to Hurricane Sandy. They weren’t against Sandy relief. They would have voted for an amended relief act. Many Sandy victims complain that Sandy relief funds were misallocated. But the Texas delegation voted 28-10 in favor of Sandy relief.
Federal aid covered 72% of Katrina's damages and 80% of Sandy's damages. Sandy victims got $50.5.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/31/politics/hurricane-harvey-recovery-money/i...
Federal aid covered 72% of Katrina's damages and 80% of Sandy's damages. Sandy victims got $50.5.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/31/politics/hurricane-harvey-recovery-money/i...
6
It would save money and lives in the future if rebuilding and redevelopment in the damaged areas was done with an eye toward sea level rise due to climate change. President Trump just rolled back those protections in the name of giving choice to consumers. But it is a bad bargain to rebuild in harm's way now that the potential for flooding in Houston has been demonstrated.
It also makes sense to make flood insurance a one time thing. If your property flooded and was destroyed, you will get your flood insurance benefits but you cannot rebuild on that piece of land without building in engineered flood protection.
This isn't the last big storm to hit the Texas coast. Let's plan ahead.
It also makes sense to make flood insurance a one time thing. If your property flooded and was destroyed, you will get your flood insurance benefits but you cannot rebuild on that piece of land without building in engineered flood protection.
This isn't the last big storm to hit the Texas coast. Let's plan ahead.
4
I read the negative comments about president Trump and they are troubling. He is doing a great job leading the recovery of the hurricane and should be commended. M
4
You are being sarcastic, right?
4
In fact, the merit is for the Texans who are doing a great job ...
2
These critics of Trump will never give him one iota of credit for anything positive he has done for this hurricane disaster. The hatred is intense and keeps on growing.
5
Hey Kevin:
I'm sick of catastrophes like Harvey and Katrina being described as "natural disasters."
After Katrina we had 5 ft of water in my house in New Orleans near Tulane U for 13 days before it was pumped out of the below sea level soup bowl that is most of New Orleans proper.
Sure Katrina was the instigator, but poorly engineered Corp of Engineers levees built on the cheap by local contractors who knew the right palm to grease in getting "bids" awarded was the unnatural cause of the flooding and death in NOLA. If the levees had held (they weren't overtopped, they collapsed) the city would have had minimal wind damage and a few inches of rain to deal with from Katrina.
And as Janet, supra, has so eloquently detailed, Houston was no "natural" disaster either.
Rampant overbuilding resulting in paving surrounding prairie land's "natural" drainage conduits for water, with no concern for flood control infrastructure, exponentially increased flooding vis a vis what would have inevitably occurred anyway with 50 in plus of rain.
And speaking of Harvey, with 50 in of rain, and Katrina with wind gusts topping 215 before the gauges broke, and a tidal surge unseen in recorded history, not to mention Sandy:
Does any reasonable, sentient person believe that pumping vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution
has had nothing to do with the ferocity of the planets most recent hurricanes
Disasters, yes. Natural, not so much.
I'm sick of catastrophes like Harvey and Katrina being described as "natural disasters."
After Katrina we had 5 ft of water in my house in New Orleans near Tulane U for 13 days before it was pumped out of the below sea level soup bowl that is most of New Orleans proper.
Sure Katrina was the instigator, but poorly engineered Corp of Engineers levees built on the cheap by local contractors who knew the right palm to grease in getting "bids" awarded was the unnatural cause of the flooding and death in NOLA. If the levees had held (they weren't overtopped, they collapsed) the city would have had minimal wind damage and a few inches of rain to deal with from Katrina.
And as Janet, supra, has so eloquently detailed, Houston was no "natural" disaster either.
Rampant overbuilding resulting in paving surrounding prairie land's "natural" drainage conduits for water, with no concern for flood control infrastructure, exponentially increased flooding vis a vis what would have inevitably occurred anyway with 50 in plus of rain.
And speaking of Harvey, with 50 in of rain, and Katrina with wind gusts topping 215 before the gauges broke, and a tidal surge unseen in recorded history, not to mention Sandy:
Does any reasonable, sentient person believe that pumping vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution
has had nothing to do with the ferocity of the planets most recent hurricanes
Disasters, yes. Natural, not so much.
34
The Golden Triangle is an area of Southeast Texas between the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. The "golden" refers to the "wealth" that came from the Spindletop oil strike in Beaumont in 1901. "Triangle" refers to the area among the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. Do you think the right wing government of Texas would ask or receive ANY money from the oil industry (and the TX oligarchs who control the state) who have taken so much wealth from this area, but have not given back one dime in "sound" infrastructure for this area? Instead, the "government is the problem" crowd in Texas has their hand out to taxpayers for help even when they said NO to the Northeast after Sandy. The gall of Texas and their disregard for their own citizens is staggering.
43
The federal relief funds go to victims, not to states. Texas residents pay into federal disaster relief funds and are entitled to the same aide as residents of other states,
3
I am ready to help Texas when Trump says I am sorry – I was wrong about Paris – I hereby cancel my withdrawing from the Paris Accord. I also have made such a mess of this job I resign too.
4
Oh well I wouldn't worry about that. There will be more destructive storms coming, really it looked like Texas got off pretty light here. In a few years, we'll look back on this as no big deal.
5
It's looking like a good time to get into the drywall business, eh?
3
These will be the good old days.
3
Texas should know that elections have consequences. Their no regulation, limited government, and ignorance of science has caught up with them. Let them pull themselves by their bootstraps as they claim they are so good at.
13
For Harvey storm costs, I was curious, do these estimates include gas price increases because of refineries damaged in the area?
This past week I understand a gallon costs $0.15 more on average, and US consumption is about 400 million gallons a day, the average in 2016, so that effect alone costs drivers $60 million a day. Over a month that will add another $1.8 billion directly to those who drive the most.
I guess a billion doesn't buy what it used to.
This past week I understand a gallon costs $0.15 more on average, and US consumption is about 400 million gallons a day, the average in 2016, so that effect alone costs drivers $60 million a day. Over a month that will add another $1.8 billion directly to those who drive the most.
I guess a billion doesn't buy what it used to.
3
Elections have consequences. Now is the time for a demonstration of the strength of the limited-government, no-regulation, low taxation society they have built. Now is the time for Texas to stand with its Congressional delegation's record of voting no for hurricane relief and accept no Federal money. Now is the time to show all the strength of their conservative convictions and accept no government aid, rezone nothing and rebuild how, when and where they please, with whatever resources they and their State have, independent of anyone and everyone. Now is the time. Elections have consequences.
50
Texas taxpayers pay into the federal disaster relief funds like everyone else. Why would they not being entitled to help?
Interesting cutoff at 1980. In 1979, a tropical storm flooded Houston and Texas in general with 57 INCHES of rain. Why no comparison to this tropical storm.. Both were tropical storms.
Did Houston learn anything? Apparently not.
AND, to say that this one was a 500 year event, is fiction at its best.
Did Houston learn anything? Apparently not.
AND, to say that this one was a 500 year event, is fiction at its best.
20
I don't see any earthquakes listed. Wasn't Loma Prieta (1989, ~$6 billion) also a natural disaster?
7
With no zoning in Houston thanks to business interests which successfully fought it, with no concern for pouring concrete over every available patch of green growth, with no plans for the future except to get bigger and bigger with all that entails, and given the absence of rational urban planning, is it any wonder that Houston is in the bad shape it's in? We've yet to see the health results of the toxic brew of those floods.
Hurricane Harvey would have done its damage but Houston did little or nothing to mitigate it or have better ideas about dealing with the homeless and now poorer population of Houstonians it helped create. I'll bet that Sen. Cruz will vote for massive amounts of Congressional assistance, the same kind of assistance that he voted against for New York and New Jersey after SuperStorm Sandy. In our New York tristate area we've had the Regional Planning Association for 90 years with many other nonprofit groups in urban planning. It hasn't meant that everything here is terrific but at least some people had the forethought to consider the future of our cities and suburban areas.
The people of Houston - small homeowners and owners of multifamily residential properties, small and big business owners - all who live and work in the city deserve a better explanation of what went wrong, why, and see sensible rational plans developed to fix it. Otherwise Houston - an incredible economic engine for the rest of the USA - and its county can kiss the future goodbye.
Hurricane Harvey would have done its damage but Houston did little or nothing to mitigate it or have better ideas about dealing with the homeless and now poorer population of Houstonians it helped create. I'll bet that Sen. Cruz will vote for massive amounts of Congressional assistance, the same kind of assistance that he voted against for New York and New Jersey after SuperStorm Sandy. In our New York tristate area we've had the Regional Planning Association for 90 years with many other nonprofit groups in urban planning. It hasn't meant that everything here is terrific but at least some people had the forethought to consider the future of our cities and suburban areas.
The people of Houston - small homeowners and owners of multifamily residential properties, small and big business owners - all who live and work in the city deserve a better explanation of what went wrong, why, and see sensible rational plans developed to fix it. Otherwise Houston - an incredible economic engine for the rest of the USA - and its county can kiss the future goodbye.
16
Note the dates of the most expensive mega-hurricanes over 20 billion; they are becoming more frequent…
2017 – Hurricane Harvey - ?? billion
2012 – Hurricane Sandy – 70.2 billion
2008 – Hurricane Ike – 34.8 billion
2005 – Hurricane Katrina – 160 billion
2005 – Hurricane Wilma – 24.3 billion
2005 – Hurricane Rita – 23.7 billion
2004 - Hurricane Ivan – 27.1 billion
2004 – Hurricane Charley – 21.7 billion
1992 - Hurricane Andrew – 48.7 billion
2017 – Hurricane Harvey - ?? billion
2012 – Hurricane Sandy – 70.2 billion
2008 – Hurricane Ike – 34.8 billion
2005 – Hurricane Katrina – 160 billion
2005 – Hurricane Wilma – 24.3 billion
2005 – Hurricane Rita – 23.7 billion
2004 - Hurricane Ivan – 27.1 billion
2004 – Hurricane Charley – 21.7 billion
1992 - Hurricane Andrew – 48.7 billion
2
Every year more and more buildings, homes, cheap stores, and hotels are built on the coast, hence more damage. Instead of paying to repair beach homes on barrier islands we need to just buy the properties and turn it into national recreation areas.
It's not the storm that caused the damage. The damage is because of poor building practices. Same with Katrina. It's not the wind that is the problem. It's the storm surge and the rain. Both are avoidable by not building in flood plains in TX and not building under sea level in New Orleans.
31
Bingo. But common sense was never a valued commodity when it comes to sane building practices.
9
Thanks to Trump who is a climate change denier, adaptation is off the table. We should be looking at all populated areas and planing for future extreme weather events to mitigate disasters like Houston - instead of increasing the budget for the military. We should be coming together as one world, like what was intendended by the Paris Climate Agreement, not preparing for war and destroying the EPA.
29
No offense but the damage cost graphic chart presuming to show Harvey as ranking so high was one of the least informative and cluttered formats I've ever seen. A simple list with dollar amount would have been far more clear and convincing. We all know computer graphics are great, but only to those who don't care what they're looking at.
19
Your closing comment.... Trump comes to mind.
1
The true cost of this storm should include personal costs like loss of jobs, and personal effects as well as the cost of infrastructure upgrades to prevent future catastrophies. Also, as global warming takes effect, the impact of future storms or extreme weather events will be even more costly. There will be a point where we can no longer pay the price. Then what?
6
While our so-called president piles some $40 billion into an already bloated defense budget,
his 2018 budget blueprint slashes:
$667 million from FEMA funds including disaster relief;
$90 million in FEMA pre-disaster mitigation funds;
$190 million from the National Flood Insurance program.
Meanwhile the EPA is being gutted.
This is called making america great again.
his 2018 budget blueprint slashes:
$667 million from FEMA funds including disaster relief;
$90 million in FEMA pre-disaster mitigation funds;
$190 million from the National Flood Insurance program.
Meanwhile the EPA is being gutted.
This is called making america great again.
63
You won't be complaining about "bloated defense budgets" when North Korea and Iran decide to launch nuclear weapons against the U.S. But that's normal for revisionist Democrats, liberals and progressives who conveniently forget that it was Clinton and Obama who facilitated the development of nuclear weapon technology in both countries.
3
Do you not believe that our bloated military already has (10,000 times over) enough nuclear weapons to deal with North Korea? The North Koreans are not going to commit national suicide by launching an attack on us. They're playing our so-called president like a cheap fiddle. And why do you exempt our Republican presidents from blame over the Korean situation? Were they just innocent bystanders? What did they do when they had the power to act?
2
No, it's called make Afghanistan what we think is great whether they want it or not. Bin Laden is probably laughing out loud right now thinking about the fool he made out of us. It's irrelevant he can't hear it but we can and that's what matters.
1