hurricane
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Frustration rises in Houston after storm leaves millions without power
Houston residents face prolonged power outages following Hurricane Beryl, with millions still in the dark days after the storm hit.
J. David Goodman and Ivan Penn report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Hurricane Beryl caused extensive power outages in Houston, impacting up to 2.7 million customers.
- CenterPoint Energy promised power restoration for one million customers by Wednesday but many still lack power.
- State officials question the utility's preparedness and response, given the storm's intensity was not unexpected.
Key quote:
“For a Category 1 hurricane to result in over a million customer outages in its immediate aftermath demonstrates that there is plenty of need for the resiliency hardening investments.”
— Wei Due, energy expert, PA Consulting
Why this matters:
Houston’s infrastructure struggles to handle increasing severe weather, highlighting the need for investment in more resilient systems. Residents face recurring disruptions, raising concerns over future preparedness and response effectiveness.
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Newsletter
Houston tackles cleanup after Gulf Coast storm damages city
Houston residents began cleaning up after Hurricane Beryl swept through the Gulf Coast, leaving significant damage and power outages.
In short:
- Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm, caused extensive damage in Houston, including fallen trees, flooded streets, and power outages.
- The storm killed at least three people and left 2.7 million Texas homes without power.
- Residents are now assessing damage, cleaning up, and waiting for power to return.
Key quote:
“The rebuild is going to be significant. There was real damage. But the good news is for Houston, this ain’t our first rodeo.”
— Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator
Why this matters:
Houston, known for its booming energy sector and diverse population, has become a focal point for studying the impacts of severe weather. The city's low-lying geography and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico make it particularly susceptible to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. In recent years, storms like Hurricane Harvey have wreaked havoc, leaving thousands homeless and causing billions in damages.
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Image by Chris Engel from Pixabay
Property over people? New York City’s $52bn plan to save itself from the sea
A decade after Hurricane Sandy, critics of a federal plan that allocates billions to protect the region from rising waters are calling it a ‘failure of imagination.'
Newsletter
Photo by John Middelkoop on Unsplash
Home insurers cut natural disasters from policies over climate risk
Major insurers say they will cut out damage caused by hurricanes, wind and hail from policies underwriting property along coastlines and in wildfire country.
Photo by Muhammad Nasir on Unsplash
As climate change worsens, a Florida Air Force installation eyes base of the future
After Tyndall Air Force Base was leveled by Hurricane Michael, those overseeing its reconstruction hope it becomes the ‘test bed’ for bases to defend against the perils posed by a warming atmosphere.
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
How bad is this year’s hurricane season? 2023’s unusual tropical storms, explained
Ordinarily, all this hot water would portend a season of intense tropical storms in the Atlantic, but there’s another unusual force tamping down on severe weather: An already-strong El Niño this year is roiling the Pacific Ocean.
Newsletter
Hurricanes and climate change are fueling Florida's insurance crisis
There are many contributors to Florida’s insurance crisis. One of the biggest contributors are huge insurance payouts attached to yearly storm damage following hurricane season, exacerbated by climate change.
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