WaPo wrote:The total rainfall from the storm is likely to tally up to a widespread 15 to 30 inches, with a few localized spots picking up 50 inches or more. Many textbooks have the 60-inch mark as a once-in-a-million-year recurrence interval, meaning that if any spots had that amount of rainfall, they would essentially be dealing with a once-in-a-million-year event.
The evacuation issue is a tough one. Governor Abbott urged Hositonians to evacuate, but it was too close to the event. Getting people out of a city this large so close to the event would have been even more chaotic than the infamous Rita evacuations 12 years ago. Most fatalities during that storm happened on the road as people were stuck in their cars for hours and hours.
Our mayor urged people to stay put after Abbott's too little too late evacuation notice.
The best thing would have been a staggered evacuation in the days leading up to this, but at that time no one had a good idea of what Harvey would do.
Can't be said enough how amazing the volunteer and local govt response has been for this so far. I'm on an island right now and feel helpless, but there will be plenty to do once all of these areas drain.
Few updates:
-The flood management department made the decision last night to release water from the two reservoirs west of town, pumping a LOT more water into the already flooded Buffalo Bayou. This should prevent levee damage which would obviously be catastrophic. Lots of homes in the western suburb of Katy will be affected, surely, but this bayou flooding could extend all the way to downtown. Just...wow.
-There are so many bayous in this city. Everyone I am checking on lives in a different bayou's flood plain. Everything you see on the news is a different side of town. Water is everywhere, and it is STILL raining. This is just surreal.
-Cajun Navy is using Zello to coordinate rescue efforts. There's also a coordinated effort on Facebook through a group called Houston Area Off Road Rescue. HFD/HPD Boat rescues are being officially suspended at night now due to visibility. My heart breaks for those stuck in danger overnight, but I feel good knowing that these renegade rescuers are no doubt working 24/7 despite that suspension.
-"you need anything, you just ask the mayor." -Sylvester Turner. Still a new mayor, but I kind of like this guy. He's like a calm, reassuring grandpa.
Last edited by washing machine on Mon August 28, 2017 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.