Hurricane Harvey rolled into Houston much in the same way that Katrina did to New Orleans almost to the day 12 years ago.
The result, finding both cities under water, people stranded, property damage etc is similar though Harvey will most likely be the most expensive natural disaster in history. What is NOT similar is the aftermath of the two hurricanes.
First a recap of Katrina. Here’s a rundown of what happened after the storm. Looters were running rampant, not just getting survival supplies but raiding the local big box stores to steal tv’s, jewelry, designer jeans etc. You know, survival basics demand you lug around a brand new flatscreen.
Then there are the smaller family run stores which did not fair any better.
From an NBC report from August 30th 2005:
Around the corner on Canal Street, the main thoroughfare in the central business district, people sloshed headlong through hip-deep water as looters ripped open the steel gates on the front of several clothing and jewelry stores.
One man, who had about 10 pairs of jeans draped over his left arm, was asked if he was salvaging things from his store.
“No,” the man shouted, “that’s everybody’s store.”
I wonder what the actual people who own the store think of that. But stolen property is only things. The cost in Katrina came in the form of human life was far worse with the total being an estimated 1836 lives. Now, yes, it is a hurricane but not ALL of those people died in the storm.
by Tony Oliva
