Hurricane Harvey, "Catastrophic?"

[echoes]

Have been watching this on the Weather Channel today...hope everyone stays safe.


Holly


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/25...for-worst.html

Hurricane Harvey likely to be 'catastrophic,' 'life-threatening,' forecasters warn


As "catastrophic" Hurricane Harvey churns toward Texas, bringing with it a "life-threatening storm surge," major cities have devolved into ghost towns while authorities use their last hours before landfall to warn of the chaos to come. A tornado warning was issued for Galveston on Friday.

Flooding could reach heights of 6 to 12 feet above ground level along the Texas coast, according to the National Hurricane Center, and nearly three feet of rain could fall in some regions as Harvey potentially strengthens to a Category 3 storm when it makes landfall late Friday or early Saturday.

Authorities are anticipating extensive damage, including "structural damage to sturdy buildings" and "complete destruction of mobile homes," according to a bulletin from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Corpus Christi. Damage is likely to be "greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles.

Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months." At least one county, Nueces, is expected to be without power for up to a week.

Normally bustling with residents and tourists, Houston's Galleria was nearly vacant Friday afternoon, with the parking lots about 80 percent empty.

"Not worth it," Janelle Givens told Fox News about forgoing her shopping experience at the glitzy Galleria.

At Houston's University Co-op shop, the manager told a Fox News reporter: "You're brave. I think we're going home early."
Another associate said, "We all live pretty far away and flooding here's a real concern. My mother is all alone. I have to make sure she's okay."

At The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, preparations were being put in place for the expected deluge to come.

"I'm never surprised by the weather in Texas," said William McKeon, president and CEO of TMC. "The hurricane is elevating in strength over us. We're not so much concerned with the wind as we are with it stalling over us. It's daunting to think of how much rain we could get."

McKeon said the hospital had emergency plans in place and had been working with the city on communications and worst-case scenario preps. Some hospitals on the coast, meanwhile, have been evacuating patients, FOX7 Austin reported.

President Trump tweeted late Friday morning he was being constantly updated on the hurricane's progress.

"I have spoken w/ @GovAbbott of Texas and @LouisianaGov Edwards. Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey developments & here to assist as needed," Trump tweeted.

Landfall was predicted for late Friday or early Saturday between Port O'Connor and Matagorda Bay, a 30-mile stretch of coastline about 70 miles northeast of Corpus Christi.

Harvey has been fueled by warm Gulf of Mexico waters.

To put the hurricane’s strength in perspective, superstorm Sandy, which wasn’t formally called a major hurricane and still devastated New York and New Jersey in 2012, didn’t have the high winds like Hurricane Harvey and lost tropical status by the time it hit land.

"We're forecasting continuing intensification right up until landfall," National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said.

As of late Thursday afternoon, Harvey was roughly 305 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, making its way north-northwest at about 10 m.p.h, with sustained winds clocked at 85 mph.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has activated about 700 National Guard members ahead of Hurricane Harvey’s arrival, said in a statement that President Trump called him to pledge all available federal resources to assist in preparation, as well as rescue and recovery efforts. Abbott said he assured Trump that Texas was working hand-in-hand with local and federal partners.

“FEMA stands ready to support state, local and tribal officials as they prepare for Hurricane Harvey,” Brock Long of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. “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.”

[echoes]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

This video should answer your question. It is also an example of why people did not evac /new Orleans when told to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxigYdxZ7to

Very interesting video B.O.

Guess we will see....


Holly

[Old Dog New Trick]

I moved here (Houston) just in time for the big show!!!

Hopefully far enough north and east to only see minor to moderate flooding (hopefully minor around the house) those closer and along the coast my thoughts are with you.

[LarryW]

I'm amazed at the interviews of people who have decided to ride it out. "Oh, we have water, food, flashlight batteries, and we live on the second floor, so...(tee hee) we're just going to hunker down and ride it out."

Gone. You never see them again.

Kind of like: ISIS is coming. "Oh, we have a Glock and two clips of ammo, pepper spray, and cat litter...(tee hee) we'll be fine. We're just going to ride it out. (tee hee)."

Gone.

Use your brains, people!

[LarryW]

LOL, Brush Okie! Yep, fake news and fake weather! What're gonna do?

It's just hard to find the logic to "ride it out" when the forecast (nevermind the MSNBC crapola) calls for 30+ inches of rain, and for the rain to last thru next Wednesday! Where's the common sense in taking the risk?

[TWITCHY]

Originally Posted by Old Dog New Trick

I moved here (Houston) just in time for the big show!!!

Hopefully far enough north and east to only see minor to moderate flooding (hopefully minor around the house) those closer and along the coast my thoughts are with you.

Good luck. I just received an interview for a job in Missouri City, too. Hopefully, it's still there for a job.

[Bleed Green]

Stay safe everybody in the projected storm path. I will be keeping you guys and those that we sent off to the area today in our thoughts and prayers.

[Golf1echo]

Originally Posted by Bleed Green

Stay safe everybody in the projected storm path. I will be keeping you guys and those that we sent off to the area today in our thoughts and prayers.

Mine as well.

I would add one piece of advice based on a friends experience who lived in Hattiesburg Mississippi during Katrina...If you are not or can't evacuate from impacted areas have an outside contact away from the effected area that would have the resources to come and evac you and sensitive / important items. It may be sometime before roads are cleared and even then fuel and security could be bigger issues than realized. make contact now before comms are down.

[echoes]

Originally Posted by Old Dog New Trick

I moved here (Houston) just in time for the big show!!!

Hopefully far enough north and east to only see minor to moderate flooding (hopefully minor around the house) those closer and along the coast my thoughts are with you.

ODNT,

Hope all is going well? Have been watching the Weather Channel between laundry cycles, and it sounds like Tornadoes and lots of rain for Houston...

Very sad to see the devastation pictures from Rockport and agree that those who stayed behind in evac areas are without brain function.

All flights to and from Houston, for my AO, have been canceled...Great balls of Fire!

All those travelers are now stuck!


Continue to hope all are well, as the projections of rainfall seem dire.


Holly

[Old Dog New Trick]

Almost 5" of rain so far where I'm at.

Hourly warnings for something or another.

Doing well.

Thoughts and prayers out for those in need.

[Pete]

In an impending/ongoing natural disaster you have those who have a little, but not a lot, don't have money to "evacuate" and everything they own is in the house.

To them staying is the only option - to prevent looting and being in the area - not being kept out by orders when the weather is done.

Now those who want to have a Hurricane Party? Let them be washed out to sea.

[Golf1echo]

Pete that is a great point, with more folks living pay check to paycheck these days there are most likely many in the situation you refere to.

To elaborate on the situation I mentioned, my friend is a very capable, eperienced and a hard man who did have resources. Katrina was a much bigger event than many expected, he was able to endure the initial landfall but found the aftermath of the event and environment untenable for him and his family...weeks of not having power, access to fuel and supplies as well as the opportunists that began looting. His friend came in from FL with a truck filled with fuel and supplies...mostly fuel so they could get back out again when roadways were cleared...many weeks later. What he mentioned of his experience made me understand why they just moved on afterwards and that there can be many more unforeseen issues after the larger events then are worth dealing with...

Edit: All one has to do is look at the images of the aftermath and you can begin to understand.

[echoes]

Originally Posted by Pete

In an impending/ongoing natural disaster you have those who have a little, but not a lot, don't have money to "evacuate" and everything they own is in the house.

To them staying is the only option - to prevent looting and being in the area - not being kept out by orders when the weather is done.

Now those who want to have a Hurricane Party? Let them be washed out to sea.

Thank you Sir, for reminding me. Guess if it was just me, and only me, I would have a tough time leaving.

And I know the older generations in my family would have a reluctance to move.


Hope for the best for those folks impacted...

Holly

[Old Dog New Trick]

People have to remember: Katrina was a man made disaster. The hurricane Katrina wasn't that bad by itself. Lake Pontchartrain pouring through a concrete wall holding the lake back from a city built beneath it was the disaster.

You can blame the barge or blame the idiocy of the planners.

[Texas_Shooter]

Originally Posted by LarryW

I'm amazed at the interviews of people who have decided to ride it out. "Oh, we have water, food, flashlight batteries, and we live on the second floor, so...(tee hee) we're just going to hunker down and ride it out."

Gone. You never see them again.

Gone.

Use your brains, people!

Thats what happened during Hurricane Ike and Bolivar Point by Galveston. People decided to stay and ride it out and the hurricane and the storm surge CLEARED the island. No bodies ever found.

Houston's problem now is the flooding from the excessive rain. Even if it stops raining, its raining up north and then we have to worry about the rivers that run near/through Houston along with the bayous. It'll take a three or four more days to make sure we are out of the woods.