The Houston Flood Disaster: A Social Crime of the American Oligarchy

NDPP wrote:

The Houston Flood Disaster: A Social Crime of the American Oligarchy

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/08/29/pers-a29.html

"Catastrophes such as the Texas flood are social crimes, committed by a financial aristocracy that has spent the past half-century [longer!] plundering the country and neglecting its social infrastructure, while accumulating unimaginable sums of personal wealth.

It is not that society cannot afford the type of social investment needed to prevent or minimize the impact of events such as Hurricane Harvey. What society cannot afford is the rich..."

Yup. Katrina was too, obviously. 

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Quote:

Catastrophes such as the Texas flood are social crimes, committed by a financial aristocracy that has spent the past half-century [longer!] plundering the country and neglecting its social infrastructure

I'm curious what "social infrastructure" would have/could have stopped a storm.

Or would a better social infrastructure have had better cots layed out in a better gymnasium?

Better city planning would have mitigated some of the damage and loss. Houston is infamous for loose regulations on developers, who will not voluntarily build the kind of infrastructure that can save lives and minimize displacement in a disaster. 

While Harvey was was particularly big storm, this isn't the first time Houston has dealt with a hurricane and massive flooding. It's the penny wise pound foolish way the city's been built that made it worse. 

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Quote:

Better city planning would have mitigated some of the damage and loss.

Are you thinking of anything specific?

Houston is notorious for its loose zoning.  Too much concrete and not enough natural drainage and absorption contributed mightily to the flooding.  

Josh beat me to the first point. Also, the massive amount of freeway - Which was actually designed to act like rivers, making it almost impossible to evacuate efficiently. People get stuck in gridlock, the water rises... Totally idiotic planning.

I visited Houston once while working - so much freeway. I've never seen anything like it. And the crazy, multiple levels and complicated ramps and exits. Utterly insane.

Petro Metro: A Toxic Tour of Houston from Refineries to Superfund Sites in Wake of Harvey

In Texas, the devastation from Hurricane Harvey continues. At least 63 people have died, more than 40,000 homes have been lost, and as many 1 million cars have been destroyed. Meanwhile, the long-term environmental impact of the storm is just beginning to be felt. The Center for Biological Diversity reports flooded oil refineries and chemical plants released as much as 5 million pounds of pollutants into the air during the storm. On Friday night, another large fire broke out at the flooded Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas. Then, on Sunday, authorities set fire to six remaining containers of chemicals in what was described as a controlled burn. The company continues to refuse to inform local residents of what chemicals burned at the site. For more, Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Renée Feltz and Hany Massoud take a "toxic tour" of Houston's fenceline communities, led by environmental justice organizer Bryan Parras.