Beyond The Dangers Of Flooding: The Public Health Crises That Will Follow In Harvey’s Wake
Infectious diseases from the water, contamination, mosquitoes and mold are just some of the issues the city has to deal with even as the massive storm relents.
The Hill:
Five Public Health Crises Facing Houston After Harvey
Texas is reeling from Hurricane Harvey, with thousands of residents displaced by flood waters and a climbing death toll. But the dangers go beyond the rising waters, as the storm brings an array of public health dangers, from mosquitoes to mold. Here are five public health threats facing authorities in Houston. (Sullivan and Weixel, 8/31)
The New York Times:
A Sea Of Health And Environmental Hazards In Houston’s Floodwaters
Officials in Houston are just beginning to grapple with the health and environmental risks that lurk in the waters dumped by Hurricane Harvey, a toxic stew of chemicals, sewage, debris and waste that still floods much of the city. Flooded sewers are stoking fears of cholera, typhoid and other infectious diseases. Runoff from the city’s sprawling petroleum and chemicals complex contains any number of hazardous compounds. Lead, arsenic and other toxic and carcinogenic elements may be leaching from some two dozen Superfund sites in the Houston area. (Tabuchi and Kaplan, 8/31)
NPR:
Need For Dialysis Soars For Harvey Evacuees In Houston
Among the most pressing medical needs facing Houston at the moment: getting people to dialysis treatment. At DaVita Med Center Dialysis on Tuesday afternoon, nurses tended to dozens of patients on dialysis machines while another 100 people waited their turn. Some were clearly uncomfortable, and a number said they hadn't been dialyzed in four days. Those delays can be life-threatening. (Hersher and Hsu, 8/30)
The Washington Post:
Trump Could Seek Billions In Harvey Recovery Aid Next Week
President Trump could request a package of emergency funding to deal with the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey as soon as next week, a senior administration official said, reshuffling the political agenda as the White House scrambles to deal with devastation left by the storm. The funding package is expected to only be a partial down payment and serve in part to backstop depleted reserves that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had on hand to respond to disasters. (Paletta, O'Keefe and DeBonis, 8/30)
Houston Chronicle:
Public Health Threat From Hurricane Harvey Just Beginning
More than 30 people are dead in the wake of Harvey, but the longest lasting impact of the hurricane turned tropical storm is just beginning: the public health threat. From the bacteria, viruses, and fungi harbored in floodwaters to new breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes to a potentially staggering mental health toll inflicted on those hardest hit by Harvey, the risks are expected to be great. (Ackerman, 8/30)
Texas Tribune:
Texas Chemical Plant Could Explode Amid Harvey Flooding
A fire or explosion looks likely in Crosby, where a chemical plant owned by Arkema Inc. currently sits submerged under six feet of floodwater. The organic peroxides used in the site’s manufacturing process have begun to heat up after the plant lost its primary source of power, then the power from its back-up generators. (Platoff, 8/30)
