By Andrew Davis The scale of Hurricane Harvey was unfathomable. Between the nationwide volunteer efforts, the overtaxed first responders, the drone footage of I-10 looking like the Mighty Mississippi, and the sense that it affected everyone, the storm’s vast impact remains incomprehensible. Reflecting on those heady days, one of the best ways to understand what […]
By Sandra Tzul Houstonians found ways to ensure their neighbors got what they needed by cruising neighborhoods with supplies. Photo courtesy of Debbie Z. Harwell. As Houstonians rode out Hurricane Harvey the most devastating storm in Houston’s history recovery weighed heavily on their minds. Rains pounded the area in late August 2017, as residents witnessed […]
By Christina Shibu Houston Fire Department EMTs administer aid to a Hurricane Harvey evacuee in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center shelter. Emergency medical personnel and doctors treated patients for many different issues from dehydration to mental health issues and chronic illnesses. Photo courtesy of Diana J. Rodriguez. One week in the latter […]
By Andrew Tello As recovery from the storm began, Houstonians found solace in each other. Linda Vogel (second from right) assisted many in her Kingwood community through caring and outreach. Photo courtesy of Linda Vogel. When a hurricane strikes, those caught in its path often feel powerless to do little else but weather the storm. […]
By Carmen Crandell When his family evacuated, José Manuel Méndez was forced to leave his bigger dog at home due to lack of space in his truck. Fortunately, the dog was safe when Méndez returned for him. Photo courtesy of the Méndez family. Many pet owners love their pets and treat them like family members, […]
By Anna Mayzenberg Having found a safe haven, a dog rests on an American Red Cross blanket. The change in policy to allow pets in the shelter was a big step forward in responding to disasters. Photo courtesy of Friends For Life. The first day the George R. Brown Convention Center(GRB) opened as a Hurricane […]
By Sean D. Bartell Built in 1956, Eric Dowding’s Braeburn home had never flooded until he hit the trifecta: Memorial Day 2015, Tax Day 2016, and Harvey in 2017. Photo courtesy of Eric Dowding When Hurricane Harvey came, flooding was nothing new to Braeburn resident Eric Dowding. Having lived in Houston with his wife Trang […]
![“[Houston Strong] was
so widespread in Harvey ... I love how Houston is
so diverse. ... Different ethnicities, different religions, and this crossed that. This was not a Jewish issue. This was not a Christian issue. This was a Houston issue, and it continues to be. ... We can all come together and support each other, even if we don’t have an answer for it.”1 Nomi Solomon, Meyerland resident.](https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/houston-1238154_1920-1-100x100.jpg "Drawing Power from Community — Houston Strong")
By Eva Marie Bernal Although Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, residents’ spirits rose above it all, symbolized by the phrase: Houston Strong. The expression became a rallying cry that symbolized the city’s resilience, hope, and optimism as residents worked to rebuild. But it also meant different things to different people, from helping a neighbor to unifying […]
Download the full pdf here18.1 Letter from the Editor, Debbie Z. Harwell 2Before the Storm: Forecasting Hurricane HarveyBy Samantha de Leon5Stories from the Watersheds: How Harvey Impacted Houston’s NeighborhoodsBy Nadia Abouzir8Looking Back: First Responders Reflect on Hurricane HarveyBy Graciela Cortez11Disaster and Dedication: The Story of Meyerland’s Jewish CommunityBy Anna Mayzenberg15Connecting Through Chaos: How Social Media Platforms Helped Save LivesBy Syed […]
Debbie Harwell and Stephen Klineberg at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. A Conversation with Stephen L. Klineberg and Debbie Z. Harwell This year marks the thirty-ninth annual Houston Area Survey produced by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University under the direction of Dr. Stephen Klineberg. The survey, which […]
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