Final report: Harvey’s impact on Houston area laid out in grim detail

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle 6/5/2018 By Mike Snyder

In the weeks and months after Hurricane Harvey, the evidence of its historic scope and intensity trickled out bit by bit: Record rainfall totals. Record reservoir levels. Record destruction.

Now, nine months after the storm, a report by the Harris County Flood Control District combines and analyzes all the available data about Harvey and its aftermath, distilling the numbers into a single message: By every conceivable measure and in every imaginable context, Harvey caused the most disastrous flooding in the nation's history. And it could have been worse.

“All 4.7 million people in Harris County were impacted directly or indirectly during the flood and after the flood waters receded,” states the 32-page memorandum by two flood control district officials, Jeff Lindner and Steve Fitzgerald.

The compilation of all the data into one document provides a useful backdrop for ongoing policy discussions about recovering from Harvey and strengthening the region’s resilience to future floods. On Tuesday night, county officials were scheduled to host the first of 23 planned public meetings on a $2.5 billion August bond issue for flood control projects.

Lindner, the flood control district’s meteorologist and director of hydrologic operations, said district officials prepare similar reports after every major flood. The documents provide a historical record and make it possible to compare the relative impacts of different events, he said.

Perhaps the most powerful theme in the document is the astounding intensity, duration and geographical reach of Harvey’s rainfall.

In Harris County, the highest total recorded over four days was 47.4 inches at Clear Creek and Interstate 45. (Totals exceeding 51 inches were recorded in Liberty County east of Houston.) The lowest four-day total in Harris County was 26 inches.

According to the report, the Texas state climatologist, John Nielsen-Gammon, examined the largest rainfall events in U.S. history and compared them with Harvey for durations of 48, 72 and 120 hours, and covering areas ranging from 1,000, to 50,000 square miles.

“Harvey exceeded the previous records in all of the 18 different combinations except one,” the report states. “The most astounding statistic is that for the 120-hour duration over 10,000 square miles, Harvey exceeded the previous record from June 1899 by 13.33 inches or 62 percent. The rainfall amounts and spatial coverage of those amounts have never been experienced across the United States since reliable records have been kept.”

More: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harvey-s-impact-on-Houston-area-in-grim-detail-12969537.php

[thackney]

Harvey bkmk

There are three ways to examine a rainfall event to determine its historic nature and comparison
to other events. This includes duration, amount, and spatial coverage of rainfall. Texas State
Climatologist Dr. John Nielson-Gammon examined the largest rainfall events ever recorded in
United States history and compared against Hurricane Harvey for durations of 48, 72, and 120
hours and in spatial coverage of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 square miles.
Harvey exceeded the previous records in all of the 18 different combinations except one. The
most astounding statistic is that for the 120 hour duration over 10,000 square miles, Harvey
exceeded the previous record from June 1899 by 13.33 inches or 62%. The rainfall amounts
and spatial coverage of those amounts have never been experienced across the United States
since reliable records have been kept.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Harvey bkmkThere are three ways to examine a rainfall event to determine its historic nature and comparison
to other events. This includes duration, amount, and spatial coverage of rainfall. Texas State
Climatologist Dr. John Nielson-Gammon examined the largest rainfall events ever recorded in
United States history and compared against Hurricane Harvey for durations of 48, 72, and 120
hours and in spatial coverage of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 square miles.
Harvey exceeded the previous records in all of the 18 different combinations except one. The
most astounding statistic is that for the 120 hour duration over 10,000 square miles, Harvey
exceeded the previous record from June 1899 by 13.33 inches or 62%. The rainfall amounts
and spatial coverage of those amounts have never been experienced across the United States
since reliable records have been kept.

Was absolutely incredible, and you can testify to that firsthand, @thackney

[HoustonSam]

Was absolutely incredible, and you can testify to that firsthand, @thackney

It was truly unbelievable, the rain from Rockport to the Sabine.  No one had ever seen anything like that before, because it had never been seen in living memory.  The destruction and displacement in Houston was mind-boggling, but different only in the concentration of people; the water rose across thousands of square miles, affecting every community in SE Texas; none were spared.  Equally inspiring was the response - "Redneck Dunkirk" will never be forgotten by anyone who was here, even those of us who were blessed to remain high and dry through it all.

What's forgotten is those who have still not been able to re-occupy their homes.

[Bigun]

It was truly unbelievable, the rain from Rockport to the Sabine.  No one had ever seen anything like that before, because it had never been seen in living memory.  The destruction and displacement in Houston was mind-boggling, but different only in the concentration of people; the water rose across thousands of square miles, affecting every community in SE Texas; none were spared.  Equally inspiring was the response - "Redneck Dunkirk" will never be forgotten by anyone who was here, even those of us who were blessed to remain high and dry through it all.

What's forgotten is those who have still not been able to re-occupy their homes.

56 inches in 48 hours here ( 70 miles North of Houston ).

[HoustonSam]

56 inches in 48 hours here ( 70 miles North of Houston ).

I live in one of the dry spots - a relatively arid 40 inches in 2 days.

[GrouchoTex]

We were in the +30 range for the 5 days, and we were okay.

[Elderberry]

44 inches for us. Just north of Hobby. Water about half way into the yard. Surrounded by water for days.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

44 inches for us. Just north of Hobby. Water about half way into the yard. Surrounded by water for days.

Like @thackney ?

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,278093.msg1433686.html#msg1433686

[Elderberry]

Like @thackney ?

No, thank God. @thackney got flooded.

I don't know the numbers, but I'd guess about 25% of the homes in my subdivision flooded to some extent.

My yard is about 3 feet higher than each end of the street where they flooded.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Like @thackney ?

No, thank God. @thackney got flooded.

I don't know the numbers, but I'd guess about 25% of the homes in my subdivision flooded to some extent.

My yard is about 3 feet higher than each end of the street where they flooded.

That is really bad.