Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 25 august 2017

Harvey strengthens into hurricane, takes aim at Texas coast

Director Louis Uccellini said
By MICHAEL GRACZYK scientists were “looking
Associated Press at a potentially impactful
HOUSTON (AP) — Harvey storm over a two-, three-,
intensified into a hurricane four-day period.”
Thursday and steered for No widespread evacua-
the Texas coast with the tions were immediately
potential for up to 3 feet ordered. Officials in Port
of rain, 125 mph winds Aransas and Aransas Pass,
and 12-foot storm surges in two small coastal towns
what could be the fiercest near the projected landfall
hurricane to hit the United area, asked the 12,000 resi-
States in almost a dozen dents to leave and warned
years. those who stayed behind
Forecasters labeled Harvey that no one could be guar-
a “life-threatening storm” anteed rescue.
that posed a “grave risk.” “We are closing down,”
Millions of people braced said Bethany Martinez, a
for a prolonged battering front desk clerk at a Holiday
that could swamp dozens Inn Express at Port Aransas.
of counties more than 100 The 74-room hotel a cou-
miles inland. ple of blocks from the Gulf
Landfall was predicted of Mexico was about two-
for late Friday or early thirds full before all guests
Saturday between Port were cleared out.
O’Connor and Matago- Aaron Berg fills up a gas can and his portable generator Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Houston as This would be the first hur-
rda Bay, a 30-mile (48-kilo- Hurricane Harvey intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico. Harvey is forecast to be a major hurricane ricane for Martinez, who
when it makes landfall along the middle Texas coastline.
meter) stretch of coastline (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) is pregnant and has two
about 70 miles (110 kilome- boys, 5 and 6. They were
ters) northeast of Corpus was Hurricane Wilma in Oc- Typical Category 3 storms broad. The hurricane cen- with grandparents in Aus-
Christi. The region is mostly tober 2005 in Florida. damage small homes, top- ter said storm surges as tin.
farm or ranchland dotted Superstorm Sandy, which ple large trees and destroy much as 3 feet could be Asked about her demean-
with waterfront vacation pummeled New York and mobile homes. As in all hur- expected as far north as or, she replied: “Afraid.”
homes and has absorbed New Jersey in 2012, never ricanes, the wall of water Morgan City, Louisiana, Harvey would be the first
numerous Gulf of Mexico had the high winds and called a storm surge poses some 400 miles away from significant hurricane to hit
storms for generations. had lost tropical status by the greatest risk. the anticipated landfall. Texas since Ike in Septem-
Harvey grew unexpect- the time it struck. But it was As of late Thursday after- And once it comes ashore, ber 2008 brought winds of
edly quickly Thursday from devastating without for- noon, Harvey was about the storm is expected to 110 mph (177 kph) to the
a tropical depression into a mally being called a major 305 miles (490 kilometers) stall, dumping copious Galveston and Houston
Category 1 hurricane. Fu- hurricane. southeast of Corpus Christi, amounts of rain for days areas and inflicted $22 bil-
eled by warm Gulf waters, “We’re forecasting con- moving to the north-north- in areas like flood-prone lion in damage. It would
it was projected to be- tinuing intensification right west at about 10 mph (17 Houston, the nation’s fourth be the first big storm along
come a major Category 3 up until landfall,” National kph). Sustained winds were most-populous city, and the middle Texas coast
hurricane. The last storm of Hurricane Center spokes- clocked at 85 mph. San Antonio. since Hurricane Claudette
that category to hit the U.S. man Dennis Feltgen said. Harvey’s effect would be National Weather Service in 2003 caused $180 million
Harvey likely to boost gas prices for US drivers in damage.
It’s taking aim at the same
vicinity as Hurricane Carla,
By The Associated Press the storm passes, possibly service-station signs. as some past storms, such the largest Texas hurricane
Hurricane Harvey could disrupting gasoline sup- Patrick DeHaan, an analyst as Hurricane Katrina in on record. Carla came
cause U.S. gasoline prices plies. with GasBuddy, says Har- 2005, which caused a 40- ashore in 1961 with wind
to rise, with the storm ex- Wholesale gasoline futures vey could show up in retail cent jump overnight. gusts estimated at 175 mph
pected to hit a refinery-rich rose Thursday by 5 cents, prices as early as Thursday In the Gulf of Mexico, oil and inflicted more than
stretch of the Gulf Coast. or 3 percent, to $1.66 per night. and gas operators are $300 million in damage.
Some refineries are ex- gallon, and experts say But he says doesn’t expect evacuating workers from The storm killed 34 people
pected to shut down until that will quickly show up on it will have as much impact rigs.q and forced about 250,000
people to evacuate. q