I've been following Hurricane Harvey with growing concern over the last four days. What isn't in doubt is that economically it will dwarf Katrina and Sandy as North America's most expensive disaster in modern history. However I'm also increasingly concerned that there might be Katrina level casualties revealed over the coming days. Not only has Houston been flooded with up to 50" of rain, but the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur and surrounding areas have had as much over 48hrs. This Eastern area alone has 400,000 people and most of it is flooded. I'm further concerned about the Addicks dam, a huge dam inside Houston's city limits which is undergoing emergency and uncontrolled water release on a small end portion of the dam where the water has risen two feet above the lip. Chance of breach failure is small, but if it did...
To add to woes, two more probable hurricanes are set to line up next week. One possibly against Bermuda as a Cat 5, the other - to be named Jose - most models agree to be against Houston AGAIN. These predictions are early, but the UKMet and Euro models which have been accurate on Harvery seem to agree. Houston cannot take any more water, nor can the two city dams of Barker and Addicks. Lake Houston dam to the North of the city also is at its limit. I sincerely dread what potentially might happen. Considering a proper thread, if folk are interested.