Harvey, which made landfall late Friday, Aug. 25 as a Category 4 hurricane has lingered, dropping heavy rain as a tropical storm, and has sent devastating floods pouring into Houston. The rising water chased thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground and overwhelmed rescuers who could not keep up with the constant calls for help.
Officials released more water from Houston-area reservoirs overwhelmed by Harvey early Aug. 28, in a move aimed at protecting the city's downtown from devastating floods, but that could still endanger thousands of homes, even as the nation's fourth-largest city anticipated more rain.
According to a USDOT release, Secretary Chao directed the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to make $25 million in emergency funds available, upon the request of Gov. Greg Abbott on Aug. 29. The money will be used to make emergency repairs to roads and bridges. The Maritime Administration also activated two National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels for a FEMA mission to support relief efforts in Texas. Thus far, the rain and floods have been blamed in at least 60 deaths as of press time.
Look in upcoming issues of Construction Equipment Guide for continuing coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, particularly as the flooding recedes and the long road to cleanup and infrastructure reconstruction becomes clearer.
