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| Harvey Live Updates: Blasts at a Chemical Plant in Crosby, Texas, and More Are Feared | Harvey Live Updates: Blasts at a Chemical Plant in Crosby, Texas, and More Are Feared |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fresh repercussions from the storm emerged overnight, with explosions reported at a chemical plant in Crosby, Tex., 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, that drove multiple sheriff’s deputies to the hospital. The city of Beaumont, Tex., about 100 miles east of Houston, reported that it had lost its water supply. And evacuation orders were issued for several neighborhoods near the Barker Reservoir in Houston, where the water has risen and new flooding is expected. | Fresh repercussions from the storm emerged overnight, with explosions reported at a chemical plant in Crosby, Tex., 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, that drove multiple sheriff’s deputies to the hospital. The city of Beaumont, Tex., about 100 miles east of Houston, reported that it had lost its water supply. And evacuation orders were issued for several neighborhoods near the Barker Reservoir in Houston, where the water has risen and new flooding is expected. |
| Harvey, once a Category 4 hurricane, has weakened into a tropical depression. People across the vast region it has cut through continued to gather themselves Thursday and take stock of damage that officials say will take years to repair. | Harvey, once a Category 4 hurricane, has weakened into a tropical depression. People across the vast region it has cut through continued to gather themselves Thursday and take stock of damage that officials say will take years to repair. |
| With at least 38 people already reported dead related or suspected to be related to the storm, officials throughout southeast Texas said they were prepared for that number to inch higher as floodwaters began to recede. Meanwhile, tens of thousands remained in overcrowded shelters, waiting for an indication that they could return to their homes. “The shelter mission is the biggest battle that we have right now,” Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday. | With at least 38 people already reported dead related or suspected to be related to the storm, officials throughout southeast Texas said they were prepared for that number to inch higher as floodwaters began to recede. Meanwhile, tens of thousands remained in overcrowded shelters, waiting for an indication that they could return to their homes. “The shelter mission is the biggest battle that we have right now,” Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday. |
| Here is the latest: | Here is the latest: |
| • Vice President Mike Pence and other cabinet officials are expected to visit four locations around Corpus Christi, Tex., on Thursday to meet with storm survivors. | • Vice President Mike Pence and other cabinet officials are expected to visit four locations around Corpus Christi, Tex., on Thursday to meet with storm survivors. |
| • The storm was downgraded to a tropical depression on Wednesday night. It is expected to move through northeastern Louisiana and northwestern Mississippi on Thursday. | • The storm was downgraded to a tropical depression on Wednesday night. It is expected to move through northeastern Louisiana and northwestern Mississippi on Thursday. |
| • Times journalists are chronicling the storm and its aftermath. Here is a collection of the most powerful photographs, and a guide to our coverage. | • Times journalists are chronicling the storm and its aftermath. Here is a collection of the most powerful photographs, and a guide to our coverage. |
| • Follow Times correspondents covering the storm on Twitter: Manny Fernandez, Alan Blinder, Julie Turkewitz, Jack Healy, Dave Philipps, Annie Correal, Rick Rojas, Monica Davey, Richard Fausset, Richard Pérez-Peña and Audra Burch. | • Follow Times correspondents covering the storm on Twitter: Manny Fernandez, Alan Blinder, Julie Turkewitz, Jack Healy, Dave Philipps, Annie Correal, Rick Rojas, Monica Davey, Richard Fausset, Richard Pérez-Peña and Audra Burch. |
| • Are you in an affected area? If you are safe, and are able to, share your story by email to hurricane@nytimes.com. And here are ways you can contribute to relief efforts. | • Are you in an affected area? If you are safe, and are able to, share your story by email to hurricane@nytimes.com. And here are ways you can contribute to relief efforts. |
| Chemicals exploded at a flood-ravaged plant northeast of Houston early Thursday, the authorities said, and more blasts were expected. | Chemicals exploded at a flood-ravaged plant northeast of Houston early Thursday, the authorities said, and more blasts were expected. |
| More than a dozen Harris County deputies went to the hospital after inhaling fumes when the explosions occurred about 2 a.m. at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter. | More than a dozen Harris County deputies went to the hospital after inhaling fumes when the explosions occurred about 2 a.m. at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter. |
| Later, the office tweeted that company officials believed that the smoke inhaled by the deputies was “a nontoxic irritant.” | Later, the office tweeted that company officials believed that the smoke inhaled by the deputies was “a nontoxic irritant.” |
| A spokesman for the Harris County Fire Marshal’s office said that several “pops” were heard coming from the plant, followed by smoke that rose 30 or 40 feet in the air. | A spokesman for the Harris County Fire Marshal’s office said that several “pops” were heard coming from the plant, followed by smoke that rose 30 or 40 feet in the air. |
| “It is not anything toxic, it is not anything that we feel is a danger to the community at all,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez of Harris County said Thursday. | “It is not anything toxic, it is not anything that we feel is a danger to the community at all,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez of Harris County said Thursday. |
| The chemicals, organic peroxides, become unstable as they warm. Floodwaters from Harvey cut power to the plant, and backup generators designed to keep refrigeration units operating were flooded as well. The company said that water was six feet deep at the plant. | The chemicals, organic peroxides, become unstable as they warm. Floodwaters from Harvey cut power to the plant, and backup generators designed to keep refrigeration units operating were flooded as well. The company said that water was six feet deep at the plant. |
| “We want local residents to be aware that the product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains,” Arkema said. | “We want local residents to be aware that the product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains,” Arkema said. |
| The company had already ordered all workers to leave the damaged plant, and Harris County ordered the evacuation of residents within a 1.5-mile radius. | The company had already ordered all workers to leave the damaged plant, and Harris County ordered the evacuation of residents within a 1.5-mile radius. |
| Organic peroxides are used in making plastic and other materials. When the chemicals warm, they start to decompose, which creates more heat and can quickly lead to a rapid, explosive reaction. Some organic peroxides also produce flammable vapors as they decompose. | |
| Arkema said the plant had been without power since Sunday. With a storage warehouse warming up, the crew transferred the chemicals to the diesel-powered refrigerated trailers, some of which apparently warmed to the point where the chemicals exploded. | Arkema said the plant had been without power since Sunday. With a storage warehouse warming up, the crew transferred the chemicals to the diesel-powered refrigerated trailers, some of which apparently warmed to the point where the chemicals exploded. |
| There was no running water in Beaumont. Mr. Long, in his morning update, said that it was a particular area of concern for FEMA, which would look to distribute water in the area. | There was no running water in Beaumont. Mr. Long, in his morning update, said that it was a particular area of concern for FEMA, which would look to distribute water in the area. |
| Our reporter Rick Rojas, is in Beaumont, his hometown. Read more about his journey home here. | Our reporter Rick Rojas, is in Beaumont, his hometown. Read more about his journey home here. |
| At the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston’s main shelter, evacuees have been learning of deaths from social media and from watching news reports on an enormous projection screen. | At the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston’s main shelter, evacuees have been learning of deaths from social media and from watching news reports on an enormous projection screen. |
| “Part of me wants to just break down crying because it’s so much despair,” said Billy Cartwright, a construction worker who has been staying at the convention center since Monday. “I feel pretty grateful, but part of me’s pretty sad. It’s pretty bad.” | “Part of me wants to just break down crying because it’s so much despair,” said Billy Cartwright, a construction worker who has been staying at the convention center since Monday. “I feel pretty grateful, but part of me’s pretty sad. It’s pretty bad.” |
| Mr. Cartwright, 44, said he believed he had lost all of his possessions to the flood. | Mr. Cartwright, 44, said he believed he had lost all of his possessions to the flood. |
| “I try to think that when all of this passes, just like any other tragedy, America always bounces back,” he said. | “I try to think that when all of this passes, just like any other tragedy, America always bounces back,” he said. |
| When 120 m.p.h. winds lashed this beach town where Hurricane Harvey made landfall, they smashed some things and spared others. Houses were pushed off their foundations, and shacks next-door were spared. Big trees stood while small trees toppled. | When 120 m.p.h. winds lashed this beach town where Hurricane Harvey made landfall, they smashed some things and spared others. Houses were pushed off their foundations, and shacks next-door were spared. Big trees stood while small trees toppled. |
| At Spanky’s Liquor on the main street, the windows shattered, the walls collapsed. “The roof? It’s about 100 feet that way,” the owner, Tom Hamilton, said as he paused from sweeping the pieces and pointed toward a house with a boat capsized against the porch and a surfboard lodged in a tree. | At Spanky’s Liquor on the main street, the windows shattered, the walls collapsed. “The roof? It’s about 100 feet that way,” the owner, Tom Hamilton, said as he paused from sweeping the pieces and pointed toward a house with a boat capsized against the porch and a surfboard lodged in a tree. |
| But miraculously, nearly every bottle of liquor was still intact on the shelves, now standing under an open sky. | But miraculously, nearly every bottle of liquor was still intact on the shelves, now standing under an open sky. |
| On Wednesday — the first full day Mr. Hamilton had been allowed back to his store — a crew of employees packed boxes of bottles in the sun. | On Wednesday — the first full day Mr. Hamilton had been allowed back to his store — a crew of employees packed boxes of bottles in the sun. |
| Like many on the island, Mr. Hamilton and his staff were beginning the long, often quiet ordeal of loss and recovery. Christy Lambert pulled out her phone to find a photo of her home in Aransas Pass, just across the bay. There was nothing left but a single kitchen wall. Most of her possessions had blown away. | Like many on the island, Mr. Hamilton and his staff were beginning the long, often quiet ordeal of loss and recovery. Christy Lambert pulled out her phone to find a photo of her home in Aransas Pass, just across the bay. There was nothing left but a single kitchen wall. Most of her possessions had blown away. |
| “When I saw it, I cried, I cried for hours,” said Ms. Lambert, who fled the storm and returned Monday. | “When I saw it, I cried, I cried for hours,” said Ms. Lambert, who fled the storm and returned Monday. |
| “I don’t really have anything but a few things I packed and $40,” she said. “It’s going to be hard to come back from that, but as long as I can keep working, I’ll be O.K.” | “I don’t really have anything but a few things I packed and $40,” she said. “It’s going to be hard to come back from that, but as long as I can keep working, I’ll be O.K.” |
| When the Maharashtra floods hit Mumbai in 2005, Zubin Kuvadia was on his way home from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Matunga, a suburb of Mumbai, where he was studying chemical engineering. His apartment, in the suburb of Chembur, was about eight miles from campus, but the water, knee-deep already, had stopped trains and thrown buses off schedule. So he walked. | When the Maharashtra floods hit Mumbai in 2005, Zubin Kuvadia was on his way home from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Matunga, a suburb of Mumbai, where he was studying chemical engineering. His apartment, in the suburb of Chembur, was about eight miles from campus, but the water, knee-deep already, had stopped trains and thrown buses off schedule. So he walked. |
| For three hours, he waded through the deluge. The water had reached his waist by the time he got home. Mr. Kuvadia climbed the stairs to the second floor, where he, his parents, and first-floor neighbors would shelter for the next four days, eating bread by candlelight. | For three hours, he waded through the deluge. The water had reached his waist by the time he got home. Mr. Kuvadia climbed the stairs to the second floor, where he, his parents, and first-floor neighbors would shelter for the next four days, eating bread by candlelight. |
| Last weekend, Mr. Kuvadia looked out the window from his home in Pearland, Tex. — one of the cities hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey — to see an unnervingly familiar scene. “The water levels were a few inches away from the doorstep,” he said. “It was really harrowing.” | Last weekend, Mr. Kuvadia looked out the window from his home in Pearland, Tex. — one of the cities hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey — to see an unnervingly familiar scene. “The water levels were a few inches away from the doorstep,” he said. “It was really harrowing.” |
| Mr. Kuvadia, now a research scientist at Dow Chemical in Freeport, moved to the United States in 2007. As record rainfall pounds parts of Texas and Louisiana, floods are again unfolding in South Asia. Some of his friends are stranded in their offices in Mumbai. In the meantime, the water in Pearland has receded just enough for Mr. Kuvadia to go outside. | Mr. Kuvadia, now a research scientist at Dow Chemical in Freeport, moved to the United States in 2007. As record rainfall pounds parts of Texas and Louisiana, floods are again unfolding in South Asia. Some of his friends are stranded in their offices in Mumbai. In the meantime, the water in Pearland has receded just enough for Mr. Kuvadia to go outside. |