From the Wall St. Journal: Back to Back Hurricanes To Test Post Katrina Reforms.
FEMA is a relatively small federal agency, but it has 5,000 staffers at work presently.
[Since H. Harvey, several news sources, like the Wall St. Journal, are making articles available with a subscription. Not sure how long it will last, but it is nice to have these extra sources. ]
From the NY Times: Why Hurricane Irma Could Hurt, a Lot: Much Lies in Harm’s Way
How Coastal Cities Are Evolving to Deal With Extreme Rain
Facing the specter of more and worse rainstorms, these vulnerable areas are turning to innovative urban design.
What Hurricane Harvey says about risk, climate and resilience.
Hurricane Harvey has taught us many lessons, but the most valuable may be the oldest lesson of all, one we humans have been learning – and forgetting – since the dawn of time: how much we all have to lose when climate and weather disasters strike.
The risks we face from disasters depend on three factors: hazard, exposure and vulnerability. In the case of Harvey, the hazard was the hurricane with its associated winds, storm surge and, most of all, rain. Houston is one of North America’s biggest metro areas, making 6.6 million people exposed to this hazard. Finally, there’s our vulnerability to heavy rainfall events, in this case exacerbated by the city’s rapid expansion that has paved over former grasslands, overloaded critical infrastructure, challenged urban planning and limited evacuation routes. These three factors explain the immense costs associated with tragedies like Hurricane Harvey.
Just a reminder that the Diva maintains another website called Disastersandfaith.wordpress.com. One of the best models for a major urban area is the New York City Disaster Interfaith Network. See their tip sheets and recovery advice for houses of worship.
FL May Soon Face a Big Test of Its New Building Codes…..
How Will Florida’s New Building Codes Weather Hurricane Season? This year Florida lawmakers changed the way the state building codes are updated. There are concerns the new law could weaken the integrity of Florida homes, in order to cut construction costs. In the wake of Harvey, those concerns are taking on a new significance.
Houston Needs a Hand
*** the challenge facing Houston now is even more daunting. One estimate reported in The Houston Chronicle set the cost of the damage at $160 billion, making this the most expensive natural disaster in the history of the United States. Even a city with as many wealthy citizens as Houston cannot come up with that kind of money from private donations.Which brings me to the subject of government, or rather, the lack of it. Texans in general have never liked it much, and the unruly, unzoned, entrepreneurial residents of Houston have only recently — that is, pre-Harvey — begun to tiptoe toward changing their stance. Tax-funded safety nets for the less fortunate, for instance, have historically generated about as much affection here as, well, flood-borne floating fire-ant beds
From the WashPost, Before the Flood, and After. Feature story by David Conrad and Larry Larson.
The Diva has known Larry Larson for many years and has great respect for his work. He was Executive Director of the Association of State Flood Plain Managers for many years.
On Sept. 5, the NY Times published a related article.
From the ScienceCorps organization, this 28 page handbook titled Chemical Hazards in Floods and Disasters.
Regarding environment hazards in general, the Wall St. Journal noted: Houston’s Environmental Threats Come Into Focus. As Harvey’s flooding recedes, risk of toxic pollutants tests health inspectors
From the NYTimes: In Texas, Distrust of Washington Collides With Need for Federal Aid.
As a taxpayer I am conflicted also – note that the article mentions that the state has a sizeable rainy day fund, but does not intend to spend it on hurricane relief and recovery. Here is the exact quote:
Texas has its own “rainy day fund” estimated at $10 billion, but Mr. Abbott said on Friday that he had no plans to call a special legislative session, which would be required to tap the fund
Recovery Diva 