Storms Devastating Cities and Agriculture---Updates

Updates: Fri. Sept. 1

(1) Satellite images show Harvey's impact on Texas towns. (2) More disruption of agriculture. (3) Effects on the beef industry. (4) Health and environmental hazards.

From Thurs. Aug. 31

(1) 90 seconds of drone footage showing the Houston floods.

(2) An update of how agriculture has been affected by the storm--how it upended life for farmers and ranchers across dozens of counties.

(3) There have been a lot of wonderful stories going around on social media of people banding together to help save one another’s livestock--and this article gives updates about crop damage, infrastructure concerns, and livestock problems. And this second article covers the damage to the rice crop.

(4) This ag group provides ideas about how to help.

**NOTE: Severe flooding in Asia and Africa are also affecting humans, animals, and agriculture.

From Wed. Aug. 30

While Hurricane Harvey’s path hit largely populated areas such as Houston, more than 1.2 million beef cows also call the 54 counties that were declared a disaster area home. 

Crops have also been ravaged, and some cotton gins may not operate for the rest of the season.

As the Texas A&M extension group says, feed, forage quality, water, and hay use will all need attention in aftermath of hurricane.

From Tuesday, Aug. 29

(1) Photos of those affected, humans and animals

(2) Many ranchers are still trapped by the high waters and have few ways to check on livestock or assess damage.

(3) Texas farmers are surveying damage caused by Hurricane Harvey after it slammed into the coast, knocking over grain storage tanks and damaging cotton crops. An expected bumper crop of cotton had been underway.

(4) (audio) In some cases, ranchers are riding horses through stomach-deep water to herd cattle to higher ground.  

(5) Historic flooding is also occurring in Asia. Heavy monsoon rains have slammed Nepal, Bangladesh, and India for weeks, leading to what international rescue and aid organizations say is the worst flooding in decades.

Nearly 1,200 people have died so far in the disaster.

From Monday, Aug. 28

With Houston, southeast Texas, and parts of Louisiana currently in crisis mode, the nation is focused on saving those caught in the disaster. Authorities across Texas continue to rescue people stranded by historic flooding left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, even as forecasters warn of looming rain, rising rivers, and floodwaters that could swallow still more streets and neighborhoods. Forecasters predict this storm will produce more rain than has ever been seen in the United States. 

Farmers and ranchers are also facing devastating situations:

(1) Texas farmers are assessing damage caused by Hurricane Harvey after it slammed into the coast, knocking over grain storage tanks and damaging cotton crops.

(2) Some cattle owners closest to the coast have been working to move animals to higher ground, as livestock is under severe threat. 

(3) This blogger explains how ranchers and cotton growers are trying to cope with the hurricane’s effects. 

Many are helping with the disaster, and others want to join the efforts. For many in the nation, that means donations--authorities advise that donors check websites and agencies carefully and donate to reputable groups that can best help those affected.

top photo from abcnews.com, middle one from bbci.co.uk, and bottom one from chron.com