hurricane

Recovery ongoing

Vidor debris

Driving down the interstate through Southeast Texas, travelers may not even realize that only two months ago Hurricane Harvey stopped here and stayed a while, dropping trillions of gallons of rain onto the region and inundating the area. In fact, the freeway itself is relatively clear of debris or other evidence of the massive destruction caused by the storm’s torrential downpour.

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County waives permit fees for disaster-related renovations, makes recommendations to residents

Jefferson County is requiring development permits in unincorporated areas, those outside city limits, and the county is waiving permit fees for disaster-related renovations.

According to a Sept. 26 news release from the Jefferson County Environmental Control Department, development permits are required for all reconstruction/repairs performed due to Hurricane Harvey. This permit will allow them to check flood zones to ensure compliance with FEMA regulations.

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Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron evacuates flooded Vidor shelter

U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher Lindahl

VIDOR, Texas (Aug. 31, 2017) Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Jansen Schamp, a native of Denver, Colorado, and assigned to the Dragon Whales of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, reassures a family after a rescue at Pine Forrest Elementary School, a shelter that required evacuation after flood waters from Hurricane Harvey reached its grounds. The mission resulted in the rescue of seven adults, seven children and four dogs. U.S.

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Torrential downpour causing more closures

MLK at the Irving Street underpass (JCSO/Facebook.com)

Update 8/28:

Bevil Oaks and Northwest Forest are now under mandatory evacuation orders, according to County Judge Jeff Branick as of 11:15 a.m. on Monday, August 28. 

Lamar University classes scheduled for Wednesday, August 30 have been canceled.  This cancellation is in addition to those announced for Monday and Tuesday. The university hopes that classes can resume on Thursday, August 31. 

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Southeast Texas preps for hurricane season with emergency response exercises

Story Attachment: 
application/pdf icon2017 Emergency Evacuation Map.pdf

As Southeast Texas looks forward at the months-long hurricane season, NOAA forecasters and local emergency responders say the time is now to prepare for what could potentially be early and  destructive storms.

First responders across the area are performing drills to perfect evacuation efforts and disseminating information to ready local residents for a quick exit if evacuation becomes mandatory.

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NASA set to launch new fleet of small hurricane-tracking satellites

Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System

NASA is set to launch its first Earth science small satellite constellation, which will help improve hurricane intensity, track, and storm surge forecasts, on Dec. 12 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) hurricane mission will measure previously unknown details crucial to accurately understanding the formation and intensity of tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

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STAN emergency network testing July 14

The City of Pinehurst, along with Orange County Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Office, City of Orange, City of Vidor, City of Rose City, City of Pine Forest, City of West Orange and City of Bridge City will be participating with other cities within the Southeast Texas Region (Hardin, Jefferson and Orange Counties) to conduct a live exercise of our regional Southeast Texas Alerting Network system (STAN), also known as Blackboard Connect. The test will be conducted on Thursday, July 14.

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HUGO team forecasts more active hurricane season

Hurricane Rita, 2005 (NOAA)

The Hurricane Genesis & Outlook (HUGO) Project at Coastal Carolina University anticipates a more active hurricane season in 2016 than last year, calling for a “near to above normal” season, according to its extended range forecast for the North Atlantic calculated in mid-April.

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One body found in search for missing container ship caught in Hurricane Joaquin

Coast Guard Capt. Mark Fedor answers questions during a press conference.

MIAMI — The Coast Guard planned to suspend the search for possible survivors from the cargo ship El Faro at sunset Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015.

The El Faro is believed to have sunk during Hurricane Joaquin.

Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air National Guard and tugboat crews searched more than 183,000 square nautical miles off the Bahamian coast in a joint effort to locate the El Faro crew.

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Hurricane Rita – Then and Now

Today, residents of Southeast Texas can look around at area homes, businesses, and landscape without noticing apparent signs of the damage that occurred during that massive, destructive storm 10 years ago. Though a handful of roof tarps and downed trees linger, the community appears largely healed.

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