Tropical storm Harvey on the way (Houston, Center: earthquake, quality of life, move)

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Cookiez17

Venturing over from the NYC forum

I hope everyone is doing okay, I have relatives in the houston area and it looks really bad. Good luck.

Take Sandy and multiple by 10. That is what Houston is experiencing.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by cBach

The reason why Houston is affordable is because it doesn't have any infrastructure to deal with events like this because Texas is a low taxes, low services state. In essence, you get what you pay for.

After this, people will do one of these things:
* rebuild and repeat this cycle
* sell their house and buy in a higher less flood prone area
* elevate their current house above Harvey flood line
* decide they've had it with the Houston climate and settle somewhere else

These decisions happened to New Orleans after Katrina and it caused places like Marigny to skyrocket in value while places like Gentilly declined in value whereas it was opposite before the storm. It also caused many people to leave New Orleans.

There will be a reckoning in Houston.

I don't think Bellaire and Meyerland will get cheaper. They already came through series of floodings and hurricanes. I would not like living in a flood zone, but those areas are still highly attractive despite these issues.

My street is not even close to flooding. I had maybe half inch of water in my backyard, but now it's gone. I did some search of flood zones before buying this house. And this area is a lot more affordable than Bellaire or Meyerland.

[DRob4JC]

Originally Posted by Matadora

It's typical flooding for Houston for this type of storm. I witnessed it with Alicia, Ike and Allison.
It was typical when Alicia hit in 1983, when Allison hit in 2001, when Ike hit in 2008.

Definitely not the same as Ike.

Ike was wind and storm surge and some flooding. This is just flooding. Definitely more like Allison (which I was not here for).

If you are comparing Harvey to only three named storms over the past three decades - then it's not typical.

[Dopo]

One thing I love about Houston ....

We have a city full of amazing people willing to help other
As diverse as we are, we become one when it comes to helping our neighbors

I would gladly go and help people but I drive a small car and have three small kids at home

[campers]

Originally Posted by Matadora

Do try to keep up with what's being posted.

I've seen that already. My concern is with your posting.

Calling this typical flooding like from other hurricanes is just wrong. From FEMA to every news agency - this is unprecedented flooding and may be the worst disaster of any type in Texas history.

It is not typical at all. It is unusual.

You are wrong. End of story.

[Cookiez17]

Originally Posted by cBach

Take Sandy and multiple by 10. That is what Houston is experiencing.

And with sandy all the subways were flooded and my school closed for a week (was a HS freshman at the time.) Plus the two blocks below and above me lost power. It was terrible.

Social media is making this even more depressing, I'm seeing all sorts of snaps of people's houses flooding and rescue missions from the national guard.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by DRob4JC

Definitely not the same as Ike.

Ike was wind and storm surge and some flooding. This is just flooding. Definitely more like Allison (which I was not here for).

If you are comparing Harvey to only three named storms over the past three decades - then it's not typical.

Did I say it was exactly the SAME as Ike? No.

I said that Houston can expect flooding when Hurricanes and Tropical storm hit it. That has been the typical pattern observed in Houston over the past 3 decades.

Go back and read where I said no storm is typical. The flooding is typical. Please keep it strait.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by campers

I've seen that already. My concern is with your posting.

Calling this typical flooding like from other hurricanes is just wrong. From FEMA to every news agency - this is unprecedented flooding and may be the worst disaster of any type in Texas history.

You are wrong. End of story.

LOL you clearly don't get what I am posting.

It typically floods in Houston when Hurricanes with a lot of rain or Tropical storms producing a lot of rain hit Houston. Heavy widespread flooding has been the typical theme for Houston with these types of storms. Heck it typically floods in Houston anytime there is heavy rain regardless if it's a hurricane or tropical depression. Houston has poor flood control...it's been that way for a long as I can remember. When purchasing a house in Houston it's good to know if you are purchasing in a flood prone area.

The data does not lie.

[emsman]

Well, more help is coming, I'm in Virginia and I just passed 2 large convoys of support heading Texas' way. One was a LARGE convoy of urban search and rescue trucks from Pennsylvania and the other was NYPD officers. There is also a local, private ambulance company that helped in Katrina that's on it's way too.

Good luck to you all down there.

[campers]

Originally Posted by Matadora

LOL you clearly don't get what I am posting.

You said - and these are your words now:

"I said the widespread flooding we see in Houston right now is typical when storms of this magnitude hit Houston. We saw it with Alicia, Ike and Allison...we are now seeing a repeat of this typical flooding with Harvey."

Again, no it is not.

The widespread flooding we are seeing with Harvey is not typical of storms of Harvey's magnitude when they hit Houston.

It is unprecedented and is probably going to get much worse.