During Hurricane Harvey, thousands of properties behind two federally owned reservoirs flooded. On Tuesday, the United States Court of Federal Claims ruled that the government was liable for the flooding and that property owners are eligible for damages.
In Harvey's Wake
Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the Texas Coast, dumping more than 50 inches of rain in parts of the Houston area, flooding thousands of homes and killing more than 80 people. The devastation was swift, and the recovery is far from over. The Texas Tribune has assigned a team to examine Harvey’s aftermath, including rebuilding efforts, the government’s response, and what Texas is doing to prepare for future storms.
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In Harvey's Wake
Watchdog report finds air pollution monitoring fell short during Hurricane Harvey
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General found that state and federal environmental regulators didn’t start monitoring air quality soon enough during the monster storm, which brought a spike in hazardous emissions from industrial facilities.
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In Harvey's Wake
Texas Senate leaders unveil $1.8 billion package of disaster relief bills
In the first session since Hurricane Harvey, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and three top senators are pushing a legislative package aimed at preparing the state for natural disasters.
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In Harvey's Wake
Bill would prevent Texans from unknowingly buying homes in areas designed to flood
After Hurricane Harvey inundated the Houston area with rain, scores of homeowners learned too late that their properties were designed to flood. Senate Bill 339 would require sellers to disclose that risk, as well as whether a home has previously flooded.
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In Harvey's Wake
Study says to fix Harvey-related housing damage, Houston needs $2 billion more in federal funds
Using new methodology that includes flood maps and hydraulic modeling, scientists and flood engineers worked with the city to find out which parts of Houston are still struggling post-Harvey, and what it’ll take to help residents recover.
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In Harvey's Wake
Hurricane Harvey becomes focal point in Houston-area races for Congress
Democrats on the ballot in communities hit hardest by Harvey argue that Republicans in office haven’t done enough to prepare Texas for the next major hurricane.
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In Harvey's Wake
No place back home: A year after Harvey, Rockport can’t house all its displaced residents
After sustaining a direct hit from the hurricane, this beach town lost roughly 20 percent of its population. Local officials hope they can convince the displaced to return home despite the risks of coastal life in the era of climate change.
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In Harvey's Wake
Nearly 10 percent of Texans displaced by Harvey still haven’t gone home, survey says
Meanwhile, 15 percent of homes damaged or destroyed by the storm are still unlivable. Yet FEMA and Texas officials aren’t keeping track of how many people remain displaced one year later.
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In Harvey's Wake
On Harvey’s anniversary, Houstonians set to decide on historic flood control bond
Harris County voters will head to the polls on Saturday — the first anniversary of Hurricane Harvey — to decide on a $2.5 billion bond measure that would finance hundreds of flood control projects. Flood experts say it would be a good start, but that it won’t come close to solving the region’s chronic flooding problems.
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In Harvey's Wake
After Harvey, questions remain about whether registry helped people with disabilities
Texas has a system in place to identify people with disabilities who will need extra help during a natural disaster. But it’s unclear how many people actually received help through the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, or STEAR, during Hurricane Harvey.