Hurricane Harvey

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:02 am

Hang in there guys.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:43 am

Johnnie wrote:I was just reading that there wasn't a mandatory evacuation call by the mayor or governor or anything? How can that even happen?

Giff, I'm glad you're doing ok.

Also, search #houstonflood on Twitter. That hashtag has crazy pics and video.

Twitter thread that Keith Law quoted last night with a lot of information, including on possible evacuation starts here:

https://twitter.com/CorbettMatt/status/ ... 6850804737

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:12 am

That's a good thread. The Houston metro area has nearly 7 million people, so a full-scale evacuation would be a huge logistical nightmare. It would be virtually impossible to pull off with just a few days' notice and would probably make things worse if motorists were still stuck on the roads when the flooding began.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:29 am

Joe K wrote:That's a good thread. The Houston metro area has nearly 7 million people, so a full-scale evacuation would be a huge logistical nightmare. It would be virtually impossible to pull off with just a few days' notice and would probably make things worse if motorists were still stuck on the roads when the flooding began.

Yup, most of the deaths due to Hurricane Rita happened to evacuees on the road. My story of that night is one of my favorites considering I find my sense of direction is one of my better attributes. I made it to just south of Wichita, KS in 11 hours which is how long it took a buddy of mine to get to Katy from downtown Houston (30 miles west) and then up to Conroe (40 miles), which would normally be an 90 minute drive or so.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:30 am

Joe K wrote:That's a good thread. The Houston metro area has nearly 7 million people, so a full-scale evacuation would be a huge logistical nightmare. It would be virtually impossible to pull off with just a few days' notice and would probably make things worse if motorists were still stuck on the roads when the flooding began.

Yup, most of the deaths due to Hurricane Rita happened to evacuees on the road. My story of that night is one of my favorites considering I find my sense of direction is one of my better attributes. I made it to just south of Wichita, KS in 11 hours which is how long it took a buddy of mine to get to Katy from downtown Houston (30 miles west) and then up to Conroe (40 miles), which would normally be an 90 minute drive or so.

I'd also like to add Houston Food Bank to the donation list. I'll be volunteering there when I can.

Post by **brian** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 12:11 pm

Barstool is the fucking worst.

https://twitter.com/CharlesRobinson/sta ... 6871505921

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 12:13 pm

Fucking assholes.

Post by **brian** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 12:54 pm

Will Trump accept Mexican aid for Harvey?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:54 pm

Joe K wrote:That's a good thread. The Houston metro area has nearly 7 million people, so a full-scale evacuation would be a huge logistical nightmare. It would be virtually impossible to pull off with just a few days' notice and would probably make things worse if motorists were still stuck on the roads when the flooding began.

Yup, I feel for everyone down there.

Having been through the flood here, it is something that creeps up on you. You don't think its "that bad" but suddenly you have no power, no water, your parkade door won't open, its pitch black in the hallways of your condo building.

I don't think people realize the scale of what this catastrophe will be, but if the storm is stalled or leaves and returns it will be massive.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:57 pm

I just assume this will be like Katrina where it'll seem like maybe things weren't so horrible and then we'll slowly start to find out how horrible they are.

Post by **brian** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 2:00 pm

mister d wrote:I just assume this will be like Katrina where it'll seem like maybe things weren't so horrible and then we'll slowly start to find out how horrible they are.

Yeah, unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the need for assistance for this one is going to be like almost nothing we've ever seen before. The death toll won't be as high as Katrina and maybe even the total dollar amount in damage won't be as bad, but it's going to be a humanitarian disaster as far as those left homeless and in need of shelter, food, etc.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 2:36 pm

brian wrote:
mister d wrote:I just assume this will be like Katrina where it'll seem like maybe things weren't so horrible and then we'll slowly start to find out how horrible they are.

Yeah, unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the need for assistance for this one is going to be like almost nothing we've ever seen before. The death toll won't be as high as Katrina and maybe even the total dollar amount in damage won't be as bad, but it's going to be a humanitarian disaster as far as those left homeless and in need of shelter, food, etc.

Yeah journal picked up a story this morning saying

WSJ wrote:Harvey’s timing is good for insurers and insurance customers from one perspective: Personal and commercial insurers have record levels of capital, the money they have on hand that isn’t required to back obligations. With insurers’ overall strong capital position, Harvey is unlikely to cause extensive damage to the industry’s financial strength, though it could hurt quarterly earnings for those carriers with blocks of business in hard-hit areas.

Most residential flooding isn’t covered by private-sector insurers, but is the responsibility of the U.S. government’s National Flood Insurance Program. Many carriers, however, do sell flood insurance to businesses.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/hurricane- ... 1503849284

TT2.0 · Post by **TT2.0** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 2:42 pm

the confusing part is that ive been kindof trapped by the flooding. all of the towns around me have feet of water where as i wouldnt know there was a hurricane at all

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 3:23 pm

mister d wrote:I just assume this will be like Katrina where it'll seem like maybe things weren't so horrible and then we'll slowly start to find out how horrible they are.

I look at the footage and just think of the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of houses that have probably been destroyed. The small business that will be ruined or will not be able to operate for months.

Woman on the radio said that it was biblical down there. "Thought and prayers" is a cliche these days, but mine are with the folks in Texas right now.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 3:28 pm

A couple other things if there was an evacuation notice:

1. What do you do if you don't own a vehicle to get you and yours out?

2. I can't imagine the level of hysteria and panic that would happen because people get emotionally out of control instead of focusing on the task at hand and how much worse things could (would?) get.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:24 pm

Latest modeling is hella dire. The remanants are back over the gulf and another 12-20 inches of rain possible/probable in Houston proper. Please don't let your guard down, Giff or TT.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:06 pm

So I get the opportunity to take a shot at Joel Osteen. However, I have not seen anything about the Rockets opening the Toyota Center, the Texans using NRG Center, and/or U of H using the new Hoops arena to provide shelter. Sure Joel's arena is a church, but his logistics are probably similar to making available the other facilities.

TT2.0 · Post by **TT2.0** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:18 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:So I get the opportunity to take a shot at Joel Osteen. However, I have not seen anything about the Rockets opening the Toyota Center, the Texans using NRG Center, and/or U of H using the new Hoops arena to provide shelter. Sure Joel's arena is a church, but his logistics are probably similar to making available the other facilities.

they have opened the convention center and its not near capacity. the problem right now is being able to travel to shelter. unless you own a boat you are fucked

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 6:13 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:So I get the opportunity to take a shot at Joel Osteen. However, I have not seen anything about the Rockets opening the Toyota Center, the Texans using NRG Center, and/or U of H using the new Hoops arena to provide shelter. Sure Joel's arena is a church, but his logistics are probably similar to making available the other facilities.

Thanks to this quote I took a look at Osteen's church. I figured how big could it be - 3,000 seats?

I am stunned.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 6:30 am

So my Aunt and Uncle live in Sugarland. They back into the Brazos. I guess last night they decided to try to make a break for it. Roads were too deep to drive on them, so they went for the sidewalk. Too many cars in the way so they are back in their house. They now have water coming into their house.

TT2.0 · Post by **TT2.0** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 6:47 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:So my Aunt and Uncle live in Sugarland. They back into the Brazos. I guess last night they decided to try to make a break for it. Roads were too deep to drive on them, so they went for the sidewalk. Too many cars in the way so they are back in their house. They now have water coming into their house.

im sorry man. a friend of mine is doing rescues by boat if it gets life threatening. the town next to mine is officially underwater, today is supposed to be a bad day for us. probably should have left.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:25 pm

Mother being interviewed on CNN just blew them up, and frankly, she was speaking for the thousands, upon thousands of people that have had a mic shoved in their faces during various tragedies.

https://t.co/9vbCgYSXgg

Don Henley, for the win.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:30 pm

EnochRoot wrote:Mother being interviewed on CNN just blew them up, and frankly, she was speaking for the thousands, upon thousands of people that have had a mic shoved in their faces during various tragedies.

https://t.co/9vbCgYSXgg

Don Henley, for the win.

I would vote for her.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:43 pm

I am hoping against hope that she doesn't become a goddamn meme.

A true desperate person who is thisclose to being at the end of her rope just needs genuine help.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:50 pm

As a baseline for things, the PVC/HDPE market is insane right now.

Gas prices will follow. This is going to be dicey for the next little bit.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:11 pm

How affected is downtown Houston? I have only seen what look like images outside of the downtown core.

TT2.0 · Post by **TT2.0** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:26 pm

we lost power for about four hours earlier today. we have an aquatic escape route if things get bad. if i lose touch for a few days im still probably fine

Post by **brian** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:30 pm

TT2.0 wrote:we lost power for about four hours earlier today. we have an aquatic escape route if things get bad. if i lose touch for a few days im still probably fine

Unless you're running out of supplies probably best to just hang tight but I admit not being the best authority. Good luck, man.

TT2.0 · Post by **TT2.0** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:39 pm

brian wrote:
TT2.0 wrote:we lost power for about four hours earlier today. we have an aquatic escape route if things get bad. if i lose touch for a few days im still probably fine

Unless you're running out of supplies probably best to just hang tight but I admit not being the best authority. Good luck, man.

we are sitting it out unless we,get water in the house at a non surviveable level...couple of the towns closest to me have reported four to five feet of water. i dont know why we, wjo are literally touching the water, seem to be mostly spared. shrug..ill take the luck

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 8:08 pm

Pruitt wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:So I get the opportunity to take a shot at Joel Osteen. However, I have not seen anything about the Rockets opening the Toyota Center, the Texans using NRG Center, and/or U of H using the new Hoops arena to provide shelter. Sure Joel's arena is a church, but his logistics are probably similar to making available the other facilities.

Thanks to this quote I took a look at Osteen's church. I figured how big could it be - 3,000 seats?

I am stunned.

It was the Compaq Center. The Rockets used to play there until 2003.

They've since changed their tune once the internet shamed them. Osteen was Donkey of the Day today.

https://youtu.be/7M4PeAl2rFI

Post by **Shirley** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:03 am

TT2.0 wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:So I get the opportunity to take a shot at Joel Osteen. However, I have not seen anything about the Rockets opening the Toyota Center, the Texans using NRG Center, and/or U of H using the new Hoops arena to provide shelter. Sure Joel's arena is a church, but his logistics are probably similar to making available the other facilities.

they have opened the convention center and its not near capacity. the problem right now is being able to travel to shelter. unless you own a boat you are fucked

I've been to that convention center. You could put hundreds of thousands of people in that place if you had to.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 11:12 am

Charles Pierce, still on point. Really, he's been white hot fire since the election (and before):

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/po ... m-effects/

TT2.0 · Post by **TT2.0** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 11:51 am

sunlight for the first time in six days. thank fuck

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:42 pm

tennbengal wrote:Charles Pierce, still on point. Really, he's been white hot fire since the election (and before):

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/po ... m-effects/

Today's guest on Jonah Keri's podcast, fyi

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:58 pm

tennbengal wrote:Charles Pierce, still on point. Really, he's been white hot fire since the election (and before):

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/po ... m-effects/

Horrifying, absolutely horrifying.

Post by **brian** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:57 am

Gotta be some kind of a sign or meaning that the biggest rainfall/damage/effects from Harvey were in an area shaped almost exactly like Ohio.

https://twitter.com/EricHolthaus/status ... 5800358913

Post by **brian** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:58 am

Or is what is considered the boundaries of metropolitan Houston? That would also still be weird.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 6:57 pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYd0fqehkQH/

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:14 am

Lifted trucks are the dumbest thing in the entire world except for this exact situation in which they're perfect and it's pretty cool to see guys using them for something other than trolling for lot lizards.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Sep 01, 2017 9:08 am

I think it is way too early to judge the overall government response to Harvey, so I am not going to comment on the actual handling of the response, but I do think Trump's words and continuing to campaign for 2020 is fucking horrific. He is wearing the hats he selling to raise money, and as of yesterday, he was continuing to sell his campaign merch with no mention of donating to disaster relief. I haven't heard all of Trump's speeches since Harvey, but I have not once heard him mention the victims who have died or are still missing, I have not heard him call for volunteers or provide info on where to donate, I haven't heard him show any sign of caring about the victims or a plan to help the region recover or rebuild.

I do think in times of crisis, the words of the President set a tone. After 9/11, I rallied around Bush grabbing the megaphone at ground zero. I rallied around Bush's address to Congress, and it absolutely set the tone to rally and move forward in New York. I will never forget that speech. I was in the East Village and popped into a bar to watch. People in the streets ran to the nearest bar/restaurant with a TV, and it was a bizarre, tense silence. People cheered and were energized. For a brief moment, I felt that clown may actually have it in him to be a strong leader. It mattered.

Trump talks about Harvey the way he talks about his historic election, his tremendous business, and everything else. It's all about claiming "the biggest" rainfall, a tremendous storm nobody has ever seen before, an epic storm. It's like he is claiming the adulation for Harvey, or setting the table for excuses. He paid slight lip service to rebuilding better than anyone else, but I don't think he has spent a second thinking about what that entails. He made it sound like everything will be resolved in 2 weeks, not 10 years. The really disturbing thing is how much time he spent discussing how unfair the media coverage has been. Once again, he is the only victim of Harvey. And while he never mentioned the actual victims, he took time to single out Hannity and Fox and Friends for being in the minority of the media treating him fairly. I mean, FFS, he gushed about Fox and Friends! Not sure which is worse, that F&F is without question the dumbest, least commendable "news" show out there, or that the President is proclaiming in a speech which news shows he likes and watches. Imagine if during Sandy, Obama complained about Fox's coverage and gushed over how great Rachel Maddow and Chris Cuomo are? It's just ludicrous.

ETA: I forgot to add his speech in Missouri. Holding a rally to push for tax reform while the water was still rising in Houston was in horrible taste, and shows where his concerns are, but he also blasted McCaskill and urged the crowd to vote her out. It violates campaign law to endorse a candidate or criticize another while on official government business. Interesting discussion from the Pod Save America guys (former Obama aids and speechwriters). They said they had to be extremely careful with this, and if something slipped, Obama's campaign would have written a check reimbursing the travel costs for the event. Again, this would have been a major story for any other President, but ranks outside the 20 worst things Trump did that day. Such an amazing lesson. If you do one illegal/immoral/unpresidential thing, it's a shitstorm. If you do 500, nothing sticks.

Speaking of Hannity, this is a fun clip showing his journalistic integrity.

https://www.facebook.com/CAFE/videos/1922601248062759/