Harvey

[rebeccaC]

It's just sad for all those who are now homeless and for all the people who will suffer in the future as these extreme weather events happen more frequently.

agree....i do see blessings in the many acts of random kindness, caring and support in disasters like Harvey though. I’m a believer that kindness and caring begets kindness and caring….and acts of paying it forward are good for all.

[Crankin]

But Republicans are just mean.... they do not understand kindness, compassion, or anything other than their own selfish ideas. We can support the victims, but it will not change the essential fact that a large # of people in our government, who have the potential power to really allocate resources to stop climate change and educate people about it, will not. No amount of compassion changes this essential fact.

[rebeccaC]

But we know they released the reservoirs after that.

sheila...hoping your friend is okay!!! Alex's friend has made it to Austin. i don't think any areas of houston weren't affected with 50 inches of rain. here is some info on addicks and barker reservoirs and the affected release areas if that helps

[rebeccaC]

I just heard from my friend. Apparently she lives on one of the few pieces of dry ground in Houston. Crazy!

....

[emily_in_nc]

I just heard from my friend. Apparently she lives on one of the few pieces of dry ground in Houston. Crazy!

Yes, there are some. One of my Facebook friends, really just an acquaintance, posted a video a neighbor took of their street, and all looks well. She is on vacation elsewhere so had no idea what to expect. They are in a more expensive neighborhood. Most of the time, it seems to be the poorer folks who are in flood-prone areas. I sure do feel for them and simply can't imagine what life there is like right now.

[rebeccaC]

The wealthy have the political power and resources for the dikes, berms and spillways that can protect them. The poor are indeed bearing the brunt of the flood (as with most of Houston’s floods) and they benefit less from recovery programs like fema grants, small-business loans and insurance payouts. There’s also the Texan environmental racism in the placement of the chemical and refinery plants in low-income neighbourhoods of colour and small cities, which cause health problems with the contamination in floodwaters and the air pollution released.

Too many Texans (and unfortunately now the U.S. government) are of the mind that government and regulations are only good when it’s helping their own.