The making of Hurricane Harvey

[noregon98]

And if that wasn't enough, there's this (caution loud audio):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSUNn4HEVVo

[psikeyhackr]

Shouldn't those large fire ant colonies make it easy for "professionals" to kill them?

[Alonso Gil]

No need for professionals. Pour soapy water on the thing, and they will sink. Fire ants are nasty creatures and difficult to kill. They can't be drowned with just water. Underwater they have the ability to hold a pocket of air so they can breathe and later float to the surface. Those thousands of fire ants in that floating mound are hanging on to each other, making them even more easy to float together. They float along until they bump into dry land, then they go back to what they were doing -- destroying native species and trying to kill us.

But if you dump soapy water (not pure dishwashing liquid, just soapy water) on it, it destroys their ability to hang on to each other, and it destroys their ability to hold a bubble of air underwater. The result is the thing sinks and most of them die. No need to pollute the water with ant killer. That stuff is designed for ground use. Soapy water has much less effect on the water quality, and is an easy tradeoff for getting rid of those awful nasty satanic fire ants.

[noregon98]

Originally Posted by psikeyhackr

Shouldn't those large fire ant colonies make it easy for "professionals" to kill them?

I think in the link's comment section someone suggested setting them on fire or perhaps using a blow torch on them...how many chances will they get to have masses of them all in one group.

After that they just float away with the water.

At least they'd be one positive from this disaster.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Mr_Geek

The severe drought went away last year for the most part here in the SW. Looks like the North/Central has it the worst now.

United States Drought Monitor > Home

I stand corrected

[Sollaces]

Originally Posted by psikeyhackr

Some sources seem to be saying that the City of Houston has mismanaged land development that has aggravated the flooding problem.

What you fail to remember is Houston was built in a drained swamp. The area is flat with little elevation, so when it rains and pours, the area can't handle the problem. Yes there are reservoirs, bayous, and creeks.


Again, part of it is the building boom and who knows if ethical builders followed code. Just the recent tollway, SH 99 from I-10 up to 290 flooded last year (2016). It wasn't built with flood control in mind. And that's a major freeway. And this is recent.