Hurricane Harvey was the headline on the BBC this morning. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41070237)
(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/C414/production/_97569105_mediaitem97569104.jpg)
It's unfathomable... up to 50 inches of rain? It's like a lake dumping on that entire section of Texas. Hard to imagine.
I can imagine how those people feel. I spent a day paddling a two man kayak around a flooded village in the 1960s, delivering mail, food, camping stoves and medicine, taking kids and pets to dry land etc. There waa 10 feet of water and a lot of very unhappy people.
I was in the RAF then and went back to warmth and comfort, those poor buggers had months of cleaning and repairing and fighting insurance.companies, if they are even insured against flood.
It is unfathomable, and the scope and depth of this storm and the effect on the region is pretty unprecedented I can't imagine living through that right now...and with no let down in site as heavy rain in expected to last through the week, so they really don't know how bad it still might get. (The average annual rainfall in Houston is 50 inches. The city has seen 25 inches of rain in two days. Another 25 could fall by Saturday...fuck)
I also saw the Governor activated the entire National Guard of the State of Texas, and that's the largest contingent state forces in the US, about 22,000 members.
I really feel for everyone down there.
I read this somewhere: "God is punishing Texas for voting for Trump."
Quote from: Davin on August 28, 2017, 07:57:34 PM
I read this somewhere: "God is punishing Texas for voting for Trump."
Hey, that's a twist, thought Trump was god's chosen according to his evangelicals.
...and Trump will continue to deny global climate change.
What happens afterwards? I'm assuming the government will pay to rebuild what was destroyed? Or is it solely up to insurance companies?
Wait a minute.... Is the Houston area where Bruce lives?
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on August 29, 2017, 12:09:50 AM
...and Trump will continue to deny global climate change.
What happens afterwards? I'm assuming the government will pay to rebuild what was destroyed? Or is it solely up to insurance companies?
Little bit of both. Supposed to be anyway.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on August 29, 2017, 12:09:50 AM
...and Trump will continue to deny global climate change.
What happens afterwards? I'm assuming the government will pay to rebuild what was destroyed? Or is it solely up to insurance companies?
It seems that the storm frequency is nothing unusual but perhaps the average severity and duration might be. The Gulf of Mexico water temperature has been rising for 30 years according to one guy on the BBC, this is feeding the storms. But the fact that it stalled over Houston, close enough to the Gulf to still be "fed", is a case of severe bad luck.
So, yes, global warming is still in the mix.
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
Perhaps Trump should seek help from the UN?
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
D. Don't go around bad mouthing other countries and then expect them to help out when you need it.
Heh, maybe if you found a job, Hurricane Harvey wouldn't have happened.
Over 11 trillion gallons of water have fallen in coastal Texas. Try to imagine that.
I live 200 miles from the coast so all we got was rain and refugees.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on August 29, 2017, 08:42:17 PM
Over 11 trillion gallons of water have fallen in coastal Texas. Try to imagine that.
I live 200 miles from the coast so all we got was rain and refugees.
I am trying to think of that in terms of a volume of fluffy clouds. How many cubic kilometers?
Think I'll give up, my brain hurts.
If Trump spends money needed to fix Texas, and maybe Louisiana, and safeguard them against future similar problems (odds on there will be such) on his stupid wall he heeds hanging.
Quote from: Davin on August 29, 2017, 06:50:52 PM
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
D. Don't go around bad mouthing other countries and then expect them to help out when you need it.
I wonder if Cuba has offered to send in medical teams like they did after Katrina? Of course, we refused the offer but I still find it interesting that they made the gesture and we're willing to send the aid.
Quote from: jumbojak on August 29, 2017, 09:38:20 PM
Quote from: Davin on August 29, 2017, 06:50:52 PM
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
D. Don't go around bad mouthing other countries and then expect them to help out when you need it.
I wonder if Cuba has offered to send in medical teams like they did after Katrina? Of course, we refused the offer but I still find it interesting that they made the gesture and we're willing to send the aid.
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
Quote from: jumbojak on August 29, 2017, 09:38:20 PM
Quote from: Davin on August 29, 2017, 06:50:52 PM
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
D. Don't go around bad mouthing other countries and then expect them to help out when you need it.
I wonder if Cuba has offered to send in medical teams like they did after Katrina? Of course, we refused the offer but I still find it interesting that they made the gesture and we're willing to send the aid.
I get the impression Cuba knew we would refuse that and made the offer more as a political gesture, especially when it was obvious we didn't know what the hell we were doing. Not that I doubt they could have helped, but Fidel loved any excuse to tweak us.
Quote from: jjI get the impression Cuba knew we would refuse that and made the offer more as a political gesture, especially when it was obvious we didn't know what the hell we were doing. Not that I doubt they could have helped, but Fidel loved any excuse to tweak us.
That sounds about right.
Quote from: Gloucester on August 29, 2017, 09:41:03 PM
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
They said they wouldn't help with the wall, but they will help with Harvey.
Quote from: Davin on August 30, 2017, 03:04:26 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on August 29, 2017, 09:41:03 PM
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
They said they wouldn't help with the wall, but they will help with Harvey.
Bet there is a whole sub-text under that! "We will help you with your problems even though you treat us like shit."
Quote from: Gloucester on August 30, 2017, 03:08:01 PM
Quote from: Davin on August 30, 2017, 03:04:26 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on August 29, 2017, 09:41:03 PM
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
They said they wouldn't help with the wall, but they will help with Harvey.
Bet there is a whole sub-text under that! "We will help you with your problems even though you treat us like shit."
I'm pretty sure that's the message they wanted to send.
One thing I find heartening is the number of "ordinary" people, including store owners, who are offering services and opening their doors to those displaced. Food stores cooking and handing out their stock, furniture stores offering beds, people just collecting names to get them on a data base and other large and small jobs. Not all trained or qualified, just started doing it and getting help from the emergency services to do so.
The spirit of civic service is not dead!
So it made landfall in Louisiana. Estimated to reach Kentucky, but by then it will be downgraded a few times.
Quote from: Davin on August 30, 2017, 03:04:26 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on August 29, 2017, 09:41:03 PM
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
They said they wouldn't help with the wall, but they will help with Harvey.
I'm surprised Trump hasn't claimed that the Wall will stop hurricanes, as well.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on August 30, 2017, 09:30:16 PM
Quote from: Davin on August 30, 2017, 03:04:26 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on August 29, 2017, 09:41:03 PM
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
They said they wouldn't help with the wall, but they will help with Harvey.
I'm surprised Trump hasn't claimed that the Wall will stop hurricanes, as well.
Trump doesn't care about hurricanes crossing borders....
Quote from: Davin on September 01, 2017, 06:24:47 PM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on August 30, 2017, 09:30:16 PM
Quote from: Davin on August 30, 2017, 03:04:26 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on August 29, 2017, 09:41:03 PM
I thought I heard that Mexico offered assistance.
They said they wouldn't help with the wall, but they will help with Harvey.
I'm surprised Trump hasn't claimed that the Wall will stop hurricanes, as well.
Trump doesn't care about hurricanes crossing borders....
What!? Even undocumented hurricanes!? :shocked:
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
Those people just aren't paying attention. Mexico is already sending people and supplies to Houston (Trump rejected their offer, but either the mayor of Houston or the Gov. of TX, I don't remember which, overrode 45 and said they'd take it), and Canada has also offered to send people and supplies but been rejected by some Gov't asshat who told them to just send prayers instead.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on September 01, 2017, 06:53:23 PM
Quote from: Velma on August 29, 2017, 06:20:21 PM
I'm starting to see people whining about other countries not coming to help despite the fact the US always seems to send aid to others. There are a few problems with that:
A. Other countries have send aid in the form of supplies and people during past disasters.
B. You probably didn't hear about it because it doesn't fit with the American attitude of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.
C. There are official channels and procedures for that sort of international aid. They can offer, but it has to be acknowledged and accepted. I doubt that is high on the list of things to do for this administration.
Those people just aren't paying attention. Mexico is already sending people and supplies to Houston (Trump rejected their offer, but either the mayor of Houston or the Gov. of TX, I don't remember which, overrode 45 and said they'd take it), and Canada has also offered to send people and supplies but been rejected by some Gov't asshat who told them to just send prayers instead.
Perhsps that is part of el Trumpo's "America First" policy. This is an American disaster and he doesn't want forreigners interfering in domestic affairs?
Someone pointed out another long lasting effect that Harvey will have on people across the country. There are 300,000 cars and trucks in Houston that either are underwater or were a short time ago. It's very likely that these flood damaged vehicles will be making their way out of Texas to unsuspecting buyers in other parts of the country.
According to what I was reading Texas "scrubs" titles for salvaged vehicles that were flooded when they leave the state (maybe Bruce can weigh in here) so buyers might not be able to find out if they are buying a potential problem vehicle. The same thing happened after Sandy. People bought cars and trucks from New Jersey only to have mysterious electrical issues surface later.
Quote from: jumbojak on September 03, 2017, 03:27:38 PM
Someone pointed out another long lasting effect that Harvey will have on people across the country. There are 300,000 cars and trucks in Houston that either are underwater or were a short time ago. It's very likely that these flood damaged vehicles will be making their way out of Texas to unsuspecting buyers in other parts of the country.
According to what I was reading Texas "scrubs" titles for salvaged vehicles that were flooded when they leave the state (maybe Bruce can weigh in here) so buyers might not be able to find out if they are buying a potential problem vehicle. The same thing happened after Sandy. People bought cars and trucks from New Jersey only to have mysterious electrical issues surface later.
There are always those looking to make money out of disaster.