On August 25, Harvey became a category 4 hurricane. Soon after, it made landfall on the Texas Gulf Cost. It would stay over southeast Texas for days, dumping rain on the area (Cedar Bayou, Texas, registered 51.88 inches of rainfall) and causing massive flooding before moving on to southern Louisiana on August 29.
For residents of the affected areas, the results of the hurricane and flooding have been devastating. USA Today reports that Harvey will be the costliest disaster in U.S. history, with a potential price tag of $160 billion. Even as Harvey moves and the rain slows in some areas, the problems remain.
As this Newsweek report notes, some of the problems moving forward come from the health risks associated with water in the affected areas:
Dirty floodwater can spread infectious diseases. Floodwaters can carry pathogens such as E. coli, Shigella, and Legionella. There’s also the potential for tetanus to enter the body through open wounds (Texas health officials have urged residents to get a tetanus shot).
Finding safe drinking water may be a concern. In some areas, drinking water has come into contact with floodwater. Health officials in Houston are recommending people boil water before drinking it, and efforts are being made to get bottled water to residents in need.
Read more about the water health risks resulting from Hurricane Harvey here.
