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| Live: Hurricane Harvey Churns Toward Texas Coast | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| • Hurricane Harvey, powered by the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters and poised to strike the United States as a major hurricane, swept toward Texas on Friday. High winds and dozens of inches of rain were expected to begin battering coastal and inland communities. | • Hurricane Harvey, powered by the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters and poised to strike the United States as a major hurricane, swept toward Texas on Friday. High winds and dozens of inches of rain were expected to begin battering coastal and inland communities. |
| • The storm, which strengthened to Category 2 overnight, could make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane or higher — with winds of at least 111 miles per hour — by early Saturday near Corpus Christi, Tex., the National Weather Service said. | • The storm, which strengthened to Category 2 overnight, could make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane or higher — with winds of at least 111 miles per hour — by early Saturday near Corpus Christi, Tex., the National Weather Service said. |
| • After making landfall, Harvey is expected to stall over Texas, and could dump more than 35 inches of rain onto some areas, overwhelming bayous and flooding streets. | • After making landfall, Harvey is expected to stall over Texas, and could dump more than 35 inches of rain onto some areas, overwhelming bayous and flooding streets. |
| • For breaking news, follow @NYTNational on Twitter. National correspondents tracking the storm include @mannyNYT in Corpus Christi, @alanblinder and @ckrausss in Houston, @viaSimonRomero in Albuquerque, N.M., and @jswatz in New York. | • For breaking news, follow @NYTNational on Twitter. National correspondents tracking the storm include @mannyNYT in Corpus Christi, @alanblinder and @ckrausss in Houston, @viaSimonRomero in Albuquerque, N.M., and @jswatz in New York. |
| Even when a hurricane is not menacing the Texas coast, Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, is flood-prone. But emergency officials said they did not expect to order evacuations as the storm that Mayor Sylvester Turner called “a rainmaker” neared. | Even when a hurricane is not menacing the Texas coast, Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, is flood-prone. But emergency officials said they did not expect to order evacuations as the storm that Mayor Sylvester Turner called “a rainmaker” neared. |
| Residents cleared grocery store shelves and airports braced for the possibility of delays. The school district has canceled events on Friday as well as classes on Monday. | Residents cleared grocery store shelves and airports braced for the possibility of delays. The school district has canceled events on Friday as well as classes on Monday. |
| Houston is within the zone that is expected to receive 15 to 25 inches of rain, and the forecast has revived memories of past storms. In 2001, for instance, a tropical storm named Allison inundated southeast Texas and was blamed for 22 deaths in the area. | Houston is within the zone that is expected to receive 15 to 25 inches of rain, and the forecast has revived memories of past storms. In 2001, for instance, a tropical storm named Allison inundated southeast Texas and was blamed for 22 deaths in the area. |
| The storm was far from the first major flooding episode: The Harris County Flood Control District notes that the area “flooded from the beginning” — Houston was founded in 1836 — and that the county usually experiences some major flooding every two years or so. | The storm was far from the first major flooding episode: The Harris County Flood Control District notes that the area “flooded from the beginning” — Houston was founded in 1836 — and that the county usually experiences some major flooding every two years or so. |
| Government officials spent some of their time this week batting down rumors and speculation. Mayor Sylvester Turner complained that “false forecasts and irresponsible rumors on social media” were interfering with efforts to distribute accurate information. | Government officials spent some of their time this week batting down rumors and speculation. Mayor Sylvester Turner complained that “false forecasts and irresponsible rumors on social media” were interfering with efforts to distribute accurate information. |
| “Rumors are nothing new,” Mr. Turner said, “but the widespread use of social media has needlessly frightened many people today.” — ALAN BLINDER in Houston | “Rumors are nothing new,” Mr. Turner said, “but the widespread use of social media has needlessly frightened many people today.” — ALAN BLINDER in Houston |
| Dozens of flights had already been canceled on Friday morning as airports along the Texas coast warned that Harvey could disrupt travel for days. In Houston, many flights were still operating on time, but 37 flights had been canceled at George Bush Intercontinental Airport by 8 a.m. local time. | Dozens of flights had already been canceled on Friday morning as airports along the Texas coast warned that Harvey could disrupt travel for days. In Houston, many flights were still operating on time, but 37 flights had been canceled at George Bush Intercontinental Airport by 8 a.m. local time. |
| At Corpus Christi International Airport, all flights after 7 a.m. were canceled. South of there, at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, morning flights were operating as scheduled, but most afternoon trips were canceled. And at the airport in McAllen, there was a mix of cancellations and on-schedule flights. | At Corpus Christi International Airport, all flights after 7 a.m. were canceled. South of there, at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, morning flights were operating as scheduled, but most afternoon trips were canceled. And at the airport in McAllen, there was a mix of cancellations and on-schedule flights. |
| Farther inland, FlightView reported few significant delays, with flights in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio mostly operating as scheduled on Friday morning. But even in some of those cities, officials were warning of potential disruptions to come. | Farther inland, FlightView reported few significant delays, with flights in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio mostly operating as scheduled on Friday morning. But even in some of those cities, officials were warning of potential disruptions to come. |
| San Antonio International Airport had posted warnings about Harvey on its Twitter page, including a retweeted view of the hurricane bearing down on the state. — MITCH SMITH | San Antonio International Airport had posted warnings about Harvey on its Twitter page, including a retweeted view of the hurricane bearing down on the state. — MITCH SMITH |
| Seven coastal counties from Corpus Christi to the western end of Galveston ordered mandatory evacuations of at least some areas. Mayor Joe McComb of Corpus Christi encouraged residents to leave voluntarily. | Seven coastal counties from Corpus Christi to the western end of Galveston ordered mandatory evacuations of at least some areas. Mayor Joe McComb of Corpus Christi encouraged residents to leave voluntarily. |
| Anthony Farnell, the chief meteorologist for Global News in Canada, tweeted a video Thursday of the intensifying storm. | Anthony Farnell, the chief meteorologist for Global News in Canada, tweeted a video Thursday of the intensifying storm. |
| “It is critical that users not focus on the exact forecast track of Harvey since cycle-to-cycle adjustment are likely,” the National Hurricane Center said in one of its updates on Thursday. “All locations within the hurricane and storm surge warning areas should be preparing for the possibility of major hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge.” | “It is critical that users not focus on the exact forecast track of Harvey since cycle-to-cycle adjustment are likely,” the National Hurricane Center said in one of its updates on Thursday. “All locations within the hurricane and storm surge warning areas should be preparing for the possibility of major hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge.” |
| With the ultimate path of the storm uncertain, the governors of Louisiana and Texas have declared emergencies. In addition to the evacuation orders from some counties, school districts have canceled classes, and residents have been rushing to prepare their homes and businesses. — ALAN BLINDER in Houston | With the ultimate path of the storm uncertain, the governors of Louisiana and Texas have declared emergencies. In addition to the evacuation orders from some counties, school districts have canceled classes, and residents have been rushing to prepare their homes and businesses. — ALAN BLINDER in Houston |
| With the storm, the Trump administration faces its first test in dealing with a major natural disaster. The storm will also be the first major challenge for the Federal Emergency Management Agency under Brock Long, who was confirmed as director in June by the Senate. | With the storm, the Trump administration faces its first test in dealing with a major natural disaster. The storm will also be the first major challenge for the Federal Emergency Management Agency under Brock Long, who was confirmed as director in June by the Senate. |
| Mr. Long was the director of Alabama’s disaster relief agency when Hurricane Katrina hit the state in 2005, and his selection has inspired confidence among lawmakers and state disaster relief officials. | Mr. Long was the director of Alabama’s disaster relief agency when Hurricane Katrina hit the state in 2005, and his selection has inspired confidence among lawmakers and state disaster relief officials. |
| Lanita Lloyd, the president of the International Association of Emergency Managers, a trade group, told The Times last month that Mr. Long was battle-tested. | Lanita Lloyd, the president of the International Association of Emergency Managers, a trade group, told The Times last month that Mr. Long was battle-tested. |
| “He’s someone we know and trust and will have the agency prepared for whatever disaster might hit.” Read more » — RON NIXON in Washington | “He’s someone we know and trust and will have the agency prepared for whatever disaster might hit.” Read more » — RON NIXON in Washington |
| People have been worried about big hurricanes hitting Houston for a long time. | |
| Damage to the area’s industrial sprawl of petrochemical plants, or disrupting traffic in the Houston Ship Channel, could damage the United States economy — and could release poisons and carcinogens, as this project from the Texas Tribune and ProPublica, as well as this essay in The New York Times from last year by the novelist Roy Scranton make clear. | |
| The Houston Chronicle has published richly reported stories on why the city was hard to drain, including “The Trouble With Living in a Swamp” and “How to Fix the Houston Floods.” | |
| But it doesn’t take a major hurricane to hit Houston hard. A tropical storm, Allison, which struck the city in June 2001, caused $5 billion in flood damage. Hurricane Rita, in 2005, never struck the city directly, but the evacuation, spurred by the recent horror of Katrina in New Orleans, caused disastrous traffic jams; more than 100 people died while trying to get out of town. — JOHN SCHWARTZ | |
| Refineries across the Texas coast have shut down their operations in preparation for landfall of the hurricane, as workers laid down sandbags to lessen the possibility of salt water flooding into their operations. | |
| Gasoline prices were bound to rise, at least for a few days, because Corpus Christi and Houston, major refinery hubs, are in the primary target zone of winds of over 100 miles an hour, surging tides and heavy rains. While oil prices have not soared even as many offshore production platforms have been shut, gasoline futures in New York have risen to their highest levels of the summer driving season. So far, though, prices at the pump around the Gulf region remain at historically low levels for this time of year, and more than a dime below the national average of $2.35. | |
| Drivers in the Houston area waited in lines at the pump Thursday night, preparing for several days of shortages. | |
| Nearly a third of the country’s refinery capacity is along the Gulf Coast between Lake Charles in western Louisiana and Corpus Christi in South Texas. Aside from the refineries, Corpus Christi is the main port for oil and gasoline exports. The port has been closed. Meanwhile Conoco Phillips and several other companies have suspended drilling operations in the Eagle Ford oil and gas shale field to the south and west of Corpus Christi. — CLIFFORD KRAUSS in Houston |