In August 2017, a massive storm called Hurricane Harvey hit the coast of Texas. It was one of the strongest storms to ever strike the United States, causing severe damage with heavy rain and flooding. Let’s explore what made this storm so powerful and what we can learn from it.
Hurricane Harvey was incredibly powerful, dropping about 27 trillion gallons of rain. To give you an idea of how much water that is, imagine a giant cube with sides that are 2.8 miles long, or think of 40,882,455 Olympic-sized swimming pools filled with water. It’s hard to picture, right?
When Harvey hit land, it was classified as a Category 4 hurricane, which means it had very strong winds. Later, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. The hurricane scale mainly focuses on wind speed, but it doesn’t fully consider other dangers like flooding. Flooding can be just as destructive, if not more so.
The government marks certain areas as floodplains, which can be confusing. For example, living in a 500-year floodplain means there’s a 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, not that it floods once every 500 years. Houston has seen three 500-year floods in the past decade, showing how probability works. As cities grow, old flood models might not be accurate anymore, making floods more likely.
Climate change is making storms stronger. While the number of hurricanes hasn’t increased, warmer oceans are making them more intense, leading to more rain and damage. Many people know about climate change, but they often don’t think it will affect them personally. This is concerning because more people are experiencing its effects each year.
Hurricane Harvey teaches us that we need to better understand the risks of storms and climate change. It’s important to recognize these risks before they impact us directly. We produce our show in Austin, TX, about 150 miles from where Harvey hit. While we were safe, many people we know were affected. Harvey wasn’t the only major storm that year. If you can help those impacted by such disasters, even small contributions can make a big difference.
Imagine you are a meteorologist. Use online tools or apps to simulate the formation and path of a hurricane. Track its development from a tropical storm to a hurricane, and observe how it affects different regions. Discuss with your classmates how changes in temperature and wind speed impact the storm’s intensity.
Work in groups to design a model of a city that can withstand heavy flooding. Consider factors like drainage systems, building materials, and city planning. Present your design to the class and explain how it would help reduce the impact of a hurricane like Harvey.
Using maps and data, identify floodplains in your area. Calculate the probability of flooding in these areas and discuss how this information can be used for city planning and personal safety. Create a poster that explains the concept of floodplain probability to your peers.
Participate in a debate about the impact of climate change on hurricanes. Research both sides of the argument and prepare to discuss how climate change might be making storms like Hurricane Harvey more intense. Use evidence from scientific studies to support your points.
Organize a project to support communities affected by hurricanes. This could be a fundraising event, a donation drive, or an awareness campaign. Reflect on how small actions can make a big difference in helping those impacted by natural disasters.
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the coast of Texas. It was one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States and also one of the most destructive, bringing days of historic rain and devastating floods. Understanding a storm like this can be challenging.
Hurricane Harvey is difficult to put into perspective. It dropped an estimated 27 trillion gallons of rain, which has been compared to various large volumes, such as a cube with 2.8-mile sides or the equivalent of 40,882,455 Olympic swimming pools. These comparisons can be hard to visualize.
According to the hurricane scale, Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 storm and was later downgraded to a tropical storm. However, this scale is based on wind speeds and does not fully account for risks like flooding. The government designates certain areas as floodplains, but these designations can be confusing. For example, living in a 500-year floodplain means there is a 1-in-500 chance of a flood occurring each year, not that floods happen once every 500 years.
Houston has experienced three 500-year floods in the last decade, illustrating how probability works. Weather events like storms are complex, and as cities grow and develop, older flood models may become outdated. This means that what may have had a low chance of happening in the past could be more likely now.
Climate change is also affecting storms. While the number of hurricanes may not have increased, warmer oceans are causing storms to become stronger, leading to more rain and higher damage costs. Understanding the risks associated with storms and climate change is challenging, as people often underestimate long-term risks.
Surveys show that while many people acknowledge climate change, few believe it will affect them personally. This disconnect is concerning, especially as more individuals experience the impacts of climate change each year.
From Hurricane Harvey, we learn that we need to improve our understanding of these risks and continue researching them. It’s crucial to recognize the potential impacts before they affect us personally.
We produce our show in Austin, TX, just 150 miles inland from where Harvey hit. While we were spared the worst, many of us know someone affected by the storm. Harvey is not the only major weather disaster to occur this year. If you can help those impacted by these storms, even small contributions can make a difference.
Hurricane – A large, powerful storm with strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm ocean waters. – Example sentence: The hurricane caused widespread damage along the coast, uprooting trees and flooding streets.
Flooding – Overflow of water onto land that is normally dry, often caused by heavy rain or melting snow. – Example sentence: After days of heavy rain, the river overflowed its banks, resulting in severe flooding in the nearby town.
Climate – The typical weather conditions in a particular region over a long period of time. – Example sentence: The climate in the desert is hot and dry, with very little rainfall throughout the year.
Change – The process of becoming different, often used in the context of environmental shifts. – Example sentence: Scientists are studying how climate change is affecting the migration patterns of birds.
Storm – A disturbance in the atmosphere marked by strong winds, rain, thunder, or lightning. – Example sentence: The storm knocked out power lines and left many homes without electricity for several hours.
Power – The ability or capacity to do something, often referring to energy sources like electricity. – Example sentence: Solar panels are a clean way to generate power from the sun’s energy.
Probability – The likelihood or chance of a particular event occurring. – Example sentence: Meteorologists use probability to predict the chance of rain for the upcoming week.
Floodplain – A flat area of land next to a river that is prone to flooding. – Example sentence: Building homes on a floodplain can be risky due to the potential for flooding during heavy rains.
Damage – Harm or injury that reduces value or usefulness, often caused by natural disasters. – Example sentence: The tornado caused significant damage to the buildings, leaving many people in need of shelter.
Texas – A state in the southern United States known for its diverse landscapes and susceptibility to hurricanes and other severe weather events. – Example sentence: Texas often experiences extreme weather, including hurricanes along its Gulf Coast.
