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Harvey

cooby Aug 28 2017 12:57 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 28 2017 02:19 PM

there is a major catastrophe going on in Texas. This is a serious storm and it will affect us all eventually in some way. The amount of rain and flooding is beyond belief.

Lefty Specialist Aug 28 2017 01:03 AM Re: Harvey

Texas senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn urged Trump to grant Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request for federal assistance to the disaster. Both voted against providing relief to East Coast victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2013.

MFS62 Aug 28 2017 02:07 PM Re: Harvey

Lefty Specialist wrote: Texas senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn urged Trump to grant Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request for federal assistance to the disaster. Both voted against providing relief to East Coast victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2013. IIRC, only one Republican Senator voted in favor of that aid for victims of Sandy because of a budget debate at that time. The people of the Northeast will show their humanity and our representatives will vote for any aid necessary to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. But we should never forget what those two did. We have relatives in both Tyler (East Texas) and San Antonio and we still haven't heard from them. Later

d'Kong76 Aug 28 2017 02:13 PM Re: Harvey

Good lord, it's hard to imagine 12 feet of rain (and counting) in such a short period of time. Anyone have an opinion on best place for a donation? Red Cross?

cooby Aug 28 2017 02:20 PM Re: Harvey

Good luck to your relatives 62. What a scary event. Floods, tornadoes, no let up.

themetfairy Aug 28 2017 02:29 PM Re: Harvey

d'Kong76 wrote: Good lord, it's hard to imagine 12 feet of rain (and counting) in such a short period of time. Anyone have an opinion on best place for a donation? Red Cross? When in doubt I'd go with the Red Cross. They know how to handle these types of crises.

d'Kong76 Aug 28 2017 02:51 PM Re: Harvey

You're probably right, it's just I (perhaps unfairly) think of them as being one of the giant charities that have over-the-top 'administrative' expenses. Here's a quick link to their Harvey efforts.

MFS62 Aug 28 2017 03:01 PM Re: Harvey

d'Kong76 wrote: You're probably right, it's just I (perhaps unfairly) think of them as being one of the giant charities that have over-the-top 'administrative' expenses. Here's a quick link to their Harvey efforts. And I usually think of them as providing first response food and shelter. But I would also see what your local Salvation Army chapter is doing to provide donated clothing and other longer term help (e.g.- household goods) to the relief effort. Thanks, Cooby. Later

d'Kong76 Aug 28 2017 03:09 PM Re: Harvey

My bad... The president and CEO of the American Red Cross is Gail McGovern, and her base salary has remained $500,000—without any pay increase—since she joined the American Red Cross in 2008. This is considered well within the range for executives of large non-profits like the Red Cross, a $3.3 billion organization.

seawolf17 Aug 28 2017 03:18 PM Re: Harvey

MFS62 wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Texas senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn urged Trump to grant Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request for federal assistance to the disaster. Both voted against providing relief to East Coast victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2013. The people of the Northeast will show their humanity and our representatives will vote for any aid necessary to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. But we should never forget what those two did. This and this, a thousand times. When they go low, we go high. But you bet your ass we'll never forget. And I sure you hope you hear from your family soon, 62.

41Forever Aug 28 2017 03:40 PM Re: Harvey Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 01 2017 01:33 AM

.

themetfairy Aug 28 2017 03:44 PM Re: Harvey

Best of luck to your family 62!

Edgy MD Aug 28 2017 03:52 PM Re: Harvey

41Forever wrote: There were also a lot of shenanigans going on with that Sandy relief bill, IIRC, loaded up with pork for things like Alaska fisheries and such. Maybe, but the rhetoric was clear from a lot of Sandy Relief opponents. It wasn't the pork. "People have to protect themselves from the risks of weather. They should not expect American taxpayers to subsidize a vacation home on the beach." — Congressman Morris "Mo" Brooks (AL) Congressman Brooks is now running for the Senate, and I'm not particularly interested in continuing to subsidize his second home in Washington.

41Forever Aug 28 2017 04:33 PM Re: Harvey Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 01 2017 01:33 AM

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d'Kong76 Aug 28 2017 04:40 PM Re: Harvey

I'm probably wrong (because I'm never right, sometimes) but we should try to keep our politics out of The Harvey Thread. I've seen estimates that there could be 15-20 feet of rain when it's all said and done. I saw a thing on The Bloomberg (ducks as three sneakers fly by my head) that perhaps 2/3's of the affected by this nightmare don't have flood insurance. 2/3's!

seawolf17 Aug 28 2017 05:06 PM Re: Harvey

We don't have flood insurance either, because we haven't been able to get it, living as close to the water as we do. If something like this hits Long Island, we're basically SOL.

d'Kong76 Aug 28 2017 05:16 PM Re: Harvey

I didn't know that some areas aren't eligible for coverage. I additionally have no idea whether the Houston area is in the same regrettable boat as you and others. I'll shut up now and hope it stops raining soon on these people.

Lefty Specialist Aug 28 2017 05:49 PM Re: Harvey

It won't be 15-20 feet of rain. It could be as much as 50 inches, over 4 feet, which is plenty bad all by itself. And the storm center will drift offshore tomorrow, making it stronger and wetter. By the time this is done, a metropolitan area of 6 million will be totally incapacitated. It'll take years to recover. I know someone outside Houston who never even knew where water was nearby. They were higher up, didn't think they had to worry. They finally grabbed the animals and the valuables and evacuated while they still could and headed to friends in Dallas. They have no idea what they might be going back to.

41Forever Aug 28 2017 06:00 PM Re: Harvey

Here are ways to help: The American Red Cross of South and Central Texas: [url]http://www.redcross.org/local/texas/central-and-south-texas Some other suggestions: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/25/health/iyw-harvey-how-to-help/index.html?sr=twCNN082817iyw-harvey-how-to-help1156AMStory

d'Kong76 Aug 28 2017 06:07 PM Re: Harvey

Lefty Specialist wrote: It won't be 15-20 feet of rain. It could be as much as 50 inches, over 4 feet, which is plenty bad all by itself. Guy this morning had a map with feet totals none lower than 8, many closer to 12 and said more was coming. This was around 6 am. I don't know what his sources were or why there is such a discrepancy between the reports.

Frayed Knot Aug 28 2017 06:17 PM Re: Harvey

Lefty Specialist wrote: It won't be 15-20 feet of rain. It could be as much as 50 inches, over 4 feet, which is plenty bad all by itself. To put that into perspective, 50 inches is right about what the NYC area averages in a typical year, about 4 inches/month. So figure all our usual annual total of rain and snow and ice stuffed into a four or five day period. I'd have no idea what 20 inches in 3 days would even look like and Houston has essentially had 20 already and are expecting an additional 20 before this all moves out maybe late Thursday. Speaking of late Thursday, that's right about the time when the Mets would normally be expected to arrive in Houston for the weekend series but obviously all that's up in the air at this point. The Astros had a one-series road trip out west this past weekend so just missed it all but have the Rangers back home on the schedule starting tomorrow. Almost certainly that gets swapped to Dallas which is only on the fringes of the storm so far -- as of now the Rangers are on a 'fly home and await instructions' order -- but our series will be a bit trickier to deal with. The Rangers will be at home this coming weekend so that won't be an option.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 28 2017 06:24 PM Re: Harvey

They can play the games in Queens.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 28 2017 06:35 PM Re: Harvey

Scheduled to pitch the series opener is...HARVEY.

Lefty Specialist Aug 28 2017 06:43 PM Re: Harvey

Benjamin Grimm wrote: They can play the games in Queens. I'd bet that's what happens. Astros will just bat last.

dgwphotography Aug 28 2017 07:20 PM Re: Harvey

According to bleacher Report, both of the Astros' next two series will be played in St. Pete: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2730 ... ros-series

G-Fafif Aug 28 2017 07:27 PM Re: Harvey

A college-era friend and her family who live in Houston have been flooded out of their home. Pictures are horrifying. Fortunately they are safe.

cooby Aug 28 2017 07:30 PM Re: Harvey

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Scheduled to pitch the series opener is...HARVEY. Holy heck! And I agree with. KC about the political talk. As much as I realize Sandy was also a horrendous storm and things will never be the same, and some politicians showed there true selves, thus is a Harvey thread

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 28 2017 07:33 PM Re: Harvey

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Scheduled to pitch the series opener is...HARVEY. All hail the uncrowned champion!

Mets Willets Point Aug 28 2017 09:15 PM Re: Harvey

I'm really nervous about all the oil refineries between Houston and the Gulf. There's a potential for a major environmental and human disaster there on top of what's already happened.

DocTee Aug 28 2017 11:59 PM Re: Harvey

I was thisclose to taking a job in Galveston this Spring. Man am I glad that didn't pan out.

Lefty Specialist Aug 29 2017 11:50 AM Re: Harvey

By the way, if you haven't already, gas up your car because gas prices are probably going to rise significantly shortly. Much of the nation's refining capacity is near Houston, and it's all shut down right now.

MFS62 Aug 29 2017 12:25 PM Re: Harvey

The storm missed my cousins in Tyler and the ones in San Antonio are apparently ok (we heard it from their mom in Tyler), but no direct contact yet. Phew! Later

dgwphotography Aug 29 2017 02:46 PM Re: Harvey

That's good to hear MFS62

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 30 2017 03:14 AM Re: Harvey

My cousin and several nephews live in Sugar land and Pasadena; they're under a voluntary evacuation order, but have their exit routes mostly blocked by flooding. They've been okay thus far, but with burgeoning levee issues, it's edging into a second round of squeaky-asshole time.

themetfairy Aug 30 2017 03:18 AM Re: Harvey

Best wishes for their continued safety!

MFS62 Aug 30 2017 12:39 PM Re: Harvey

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: My cousin and several nephews live in Sugar land and Pasadena; they're under a voluntary evacuation order, but have their exit routes mostly blocked by flooding. They've been okay thus far, but with burgeoning levee issues, it's edging into a second round of squeaky-asshole time. I hope they stay safe. Later

Ceetar Aug 30 2017 01:51 PM Re: Harvey

My cousin moved to Beaumont like..3 weeks ago. I imagine she's not particularly thrilled about it right now. As of last night they still had power and weren't flooded, just very very wet. What a mess. I feel like they thought Harvey was going to peter out too and then all of a sudden it was category 4. At least with Sandy it felt like we had 2 weeks of warning.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 30 2017 04:27 PM Re: Harvey

There were also a lot of shenanigans going on with that Sandy relief bill, IIRC, loaded up with pork for things like Alaska fisheries and such. Maybe, but the rhetoric was clear from a lot of Sandy Relief opponents. It wasn't the pork. "People have to protect themselves from the risks of weather. They should not expect American taxpayers to subsidize a vacation home on the beach." — Congressman Morris "Mo" Brooks (AL) Congressman Brooks is now running for the Senate, and I'm not particularly interested in continuing to subsidize his second home in Washington. Brooks' comments are terrible. But it was the pork for Cruz, per the Austin Statesman: [url]http://www.statesman.com/news/local/rep-king-says-won-hold-ted-cruz-sandy-vote-against-texas/LsXpGNe9xUHeUXHVoWKSOJ/ “Hurricane Sandy inflicted devastating damage on the East Coast, and Congress appropriately responded with hurricane relief. Unfortunately, cynical politicians in Washington could not resist loading up this relief bill with billions in new spending utterly unrelated to Sandy,” Cruz said in a January 2013 statement. “Emergency relief for the families who are suffering from this natural disaster should not be used as a Christmas tree for billions in unrelated spending, including projects such as Smithsonian repairs, upgrades to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration airplanes, and more funding for Head Start.” “Two thirds of this spending is not remotely ‘emergency’; the Congressional Budget Office estimates that only 30% of the authorized funds would be spent in the next 20 months, and over a billion dollars will be spent as late as 2021,” Cruz said. “This bill is symptomatic of a larger problem in Washington – an addiction to spending money we do not have, ” Cruz said. “The United States Senate should not be in the business of exploiting victims of natural disasters to fund pork projects that further expand our debt.” It almost certainly wasn't "the pork" for Cruz, because the stuff he was talking about: A: ... was actually disaster-related. The stuff he mentions specifically was storm-repair (Smithsonian, Head Start) and mitigation/data- collection (NOAA). B: ... is entirely normal for disaster spending, timetable-wise. Not everything in disaster response is first- or second-stage, MREs-and-tarps stuff. So if he was full of floodswell on this one-- shocker!-- then he was either being willfully ignorant for the sake of "conservative principle," or... what, exactly? Give Texas the money. But tell him he needs to filibuster for it, reading "The Handmaid's Tale" aloud on the Senate floor for 48 hours. Then tell him that the bill passed 48-and-a-half hours earlier, by voice vote.

metsmarathon Aug 30 2017 04:41 PM Re: Harvey

yeah, god forbid we fund NOAA to be better able to gather information about hurricanes and stuff to increase preparedness and minimize disasters before they strike. so much better and more fun for hurricanes and the magnitudes and paths thereof to be surprises.

seawolf17 Aug 30 2017 05:26 PM Re: Harvey

metsmarathon wrote: yeah, god forbid we fund NOAA to be better able to gather information about hurricanes and stuff to increase preparedness and minimize disasters before they strike. so much better and more fun for hurricanes and the magnitudes and paths thereof to be surprises. NOAA is a liberal conspiracy. If we need to know about hurricanes, then Joel Osteen will tell us all we need to know.

Ceetar Aug 30 2017 05:39 PM Re: Harvey

metsmarathon wrote: yeah, god forbid we fund NOAA to be better able to gather information about hurricanes and stuff to increase preparedness and minimize disasters before they strike. so much better and more fun for hurricanes and the magnitudes and paths thereof to be surprises. I was away and not dialed in, but I haven't seen much on how critically understaffed NOAA and FEMA are right now.

Edgy MD Aug 30 2017 07:39 PM Re: Harvey

Yes Ted Cruz was playing the ideologue stance then. It's his act. Sandy, of course, damaged a lot of American resources up and down the East Coast, and there were other continuing response disaster relief items that were (as is apparently regular practice) folded into that bill that were not a Christmas tree. And that sort of rhetoric isn't much better than the "vacation home" crack. But unfortunately, again, that's his game.

Edgy MD Aug 31 2017 02:28 PM Re: Harvey

Beaumont Texas is a city of over 118,000 that is now out of water because its pumps have failed Beaumont native Jay Bruce is matching donations made here.

G-Fafif Aug 31 2017 06:22 PM Re: Harvey

Times debunking the Sandy "pork" claim. Of 23 examples of extraneous spending that a spokesman for Mr. Cruz provided, all but one — $195 million in discretionary funds for the secretary of health and human services — were Sandy-related or sought to mitigate future storms, as the law required. The spokesman also pointed to a Congressional Quarterly analysis that said that $17 billion in the bill went toward immediate aid for Sandy victims while $33.5 billion was for “near- and long-term assistance and mitigation” of damage from future disasters. But providing nonemergency aid and preparing for future storms are not the same as spending on projects that are entirely unrelated to Sandy. Mr. Cruz’s original claim — that just $16 billion to $17 billion was actually connected to disaster relief — is similarly not plausible, as is evident from even a cursory look at the CQ analysis and another breakdown of the aid from the Congressional Research Service. More than $28 billion was allocated to programs for Sandy relief. They included money for the Federal Emergency Management disaster fund ($11.5 billion), repairs for damaged transit systems ($10.9 billion), repairs to damaged Army Corps of Engineers projects and dredging ($5.35 billion), disaster loans to small business ($520 million) and emergency farm, food and conservation assistance ($224 million). The Washington Post’s Fact Checker awarded Mr. Cruz three Pinocchios out of four for his statement. The Sandy package also provided substantial funding to ease the impact of future storms. It earmarked more than $200 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve and study weather forecasting, $86 million for Amtrak recovery and resiliency projects in the affected area and $50 million to the Corps of Engineers for storm damage reduction studies, for example. Mr. Flores’s claim that areas not affected by Sandy also received funding is correct, but the money was nonetheless earmarked for emergencies. (The law’s title, after all, is Disaster Relief Appropriations.) The Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, was allowed to distribute $16 billion to areas affected by Sandy or by other disasters in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The American territories that Mr. Flores listed were eligible for no more than $20 million of the $2 billion in emergency relief for highways affected by a natural disaster. So what was Mr. Flores referring to in criticizing “pork” in the Sandy relief bill? Head Start, the federal program for low-income preschoolers, received $100 million. But even that was storm-related; more than 100 of its centers were damaged by Sandy, the office said. The provision “necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricane Sandy” was also attached to funding for Justice Department agencies, many of which have offices in the areas damaged by the storm. This was also true of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and veterans’ cemeteries — which all sustained damage during the storm. The law also provided $25 million for assistance to dislocated workers “directly related to Hurricane Sandy.” Similarly, $500 million for a social services program was limited only to New York and New Jersey, which were hit hardest by the storm. And lastly, NOAA was awarded $44.5 million for repairs and upgrades to aircraft known as hurricane hunters that are crucial to forecasting storms. The funding allowed the agency to refurbish NOAA’s two planes — one of which has been monitoring Harvey.