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August 26, 2017
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Monster Storm

TxDOT crews install the final portion of a surge wall on TX-361 leading to the Port Aransas ferry in Aransas Pass, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. Conditions
deteriorated Friday along the Texas Gulf Coast as Hurricane Harvey strengthened and crawled toward the state, with forecasters warning that evacuations and
preparations “should be rushed to completion.”
(Nick Wagner /Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Increasingly Menacing Harvey Aims at Texas Coast

By MICHAEL GRACZYK Dennis Feltgen, a spokesman and rain — up to 3 feet. The resulting sandbags. Steady traffic filled the
FRANK BAJAK meteorologist for the National Hur- flooding, one expert said, could be highways leaving Corpus Christi,
Associated Press ricane Center. “We really pray that “the depths of which we’ve nev- but there were no apparent jams.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — With people are listening to their emer- er seen.” Galveston-based storm In Houston, where mass evacua-
time running out, tens of thousands gency managers and get out of surge expert Hal Needham said tions can include changing major
of people fled Friday from the path harm’s way.” forecasts indicated that it was “be- highways to a one-way vehicle
of an increasingly menacing-look- The outer bands of the Category 4 coming more and more likely that flow, authorities left traffic patterns
ing Hurricane Harvey as it took aim storm arrived Friday, with rain pelt- something really bad is going to unchanged.
at a wide swath of the Texas Gulf ing the coast, water levels rising happen.” Federal health officials called in
Coast that includes oil refineries, and winds accelerating. Landfall At least one researcher predicted more than 400 doctors, nurses and
chemical plants and dangerously was predicted for late Friday or heavy damage that would linger other medical professionals from
flood-prone Houston, the nation’s early Saturday near Rockport, a for months or longer. around the nation and planned to
fourth-largest city. fishing-and-tourist town about 30 “In terms of economic impact, Har- move two 250-bed medical units
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned miles northeast of Corpus Christi. vey will probably be on par with to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Other
that the monster system would be If it does not lose significant Hurricane Katrina,” said University federal medical units are available
“a very major disaster,” and the strength, the system will come of Miami senior hurricane research- in Dallas.
forecasts drew fearful comparisons ashore as the fiercest hurricane to er Brian McNoldy. “The Houston Just hours before the projected
to Hurricane Katrina, one of the hit the U.S. in 13 years. area and Corpus Christi are going landfall, the governor and Houston
deadliest ever to strike the U.S. Aside from the winds of 130 mph to be a mess for a long time.” leaders issued conflicting state-
“We know that we’ve got mil- (201 kph) and storm surges up to 12 Before the storm arrived, home ments on evacuation.
lions of people who are going to feet (4 meters), Harvey was expect- and business owners raced to nail
feel the impact of this storm,” said ed to drop prodigious amounts of plywood over windows and fill Continued on Page 3