The cost from the damage of hurricane Harvey is estimated to be somewhere around $190 billion or more and it's been labeled as the worst natural disaster in the United States. Market analysts suggest that the tremendous amount of damage that this hurricane has caused is likely going to impact the decision of the Federal Reserve to move ahead with their next planned rate hike.
The storm is said to have shut down at least 12 refineries and two of them happen to be the biggest in the country. It's also led to the closing of ports and pipelines, and caused damage to water systems, and more. Thousands of people have lost all of their belongings and they are living in shelters at this time. Insurance companies are going to be overwhelmed and it could be many years before people see any reimbursement for the assets that they've lost. Retailers are estimated to lose around $1 billion in sales.
Weather forecasters seemed to be highly efficient in their warning of the storm, but there is much criticism over how local officials in Texas handled the situation; mixed messages over the orders that people were given.
Those who had the means to, did take the opportunity to get out of town before the storm got worse. For others who were sick, pregnant, didn't have the funds or means etc, they weren't left with many options. And there have been thousands of volunteers flooding in from neighboring areas, looking to help in any way that they can.
Business Response
Home Depot was one of the businesses who had jumped into action as soon as they heard the storm warning and they immediately established a temporary hurricane command center in Atlanta to help in whatever way that they could. Managers at the store were instructed to move things like chainsaws, generators, and plywood etc, to the front of the store. They also sent out hundreds of trucks that were loaded with supplies, to various stores in the Texas area that were expected to be hit by the hurricane.
Throughout the duration of the hurricane, Home Depot was sending their trucks out that were stocked with a variety of equipment and recovery products, to help those who were in need. Home Depot crafted their own emergency disaster response plan and that plan was activated when they received the warning about Harvey. They've been working on this plan, perfecting it through trial and error, over many years and the objective with that plan is to ensure that they can continue delivering needed goods to areas that might be affected.
They couldn't very well rely on the government to tell them what to do, how to get the goods to where they need to be, because those agencies are overwhelmed with their own responsibilities at the moment in trying to help those in the areas affected by the storm. The response plan that Home Depot took the time to create has already proven valuable and it might inspire other businesses to take note of it and then develop their own disaster response-plan for such a scenario; if they haven't done so already.
Home Depot insists that with each natural disaster like this that hits, it affords them the chance to exercise their emergency disaster plan and they say that over time they've only gotten better and faster at responding when these events occur.
Another company that jumped into action was TekDry and they provide cellphone drying services that can help to repair phones if they get damaged by water.
The company jumped into gear by sending one of their trucks on a 15 hour drive to help those in Texas and start bringing phones back for people there who need them. The company is now offering free services to those in the affected areas throughout Texas and they've set up mobile charging stations as well in the area.
Delivering Pizza Via Kayak
Pizza Hut wasn't about to let the storm stop them from getting pizza to those who were hungry, so they took to delivering the pizzas on a kayak. After Pizza Hut heard that there were people in the area who were hungry and having to go without food, they responded by cooking over 120 pizzas to give out to those in need.
They said as long as they don't run out of ingredients, they plan to continue making pizzas and trying to get them to those in need.
Walmart is another corporation that has been quick to respond to the disaster, by sending out 1,000 trucks full of supplies to help those in the area; including purchasing roughly 2,000 kayaks to help those in need.
And Home Depot, TekDry, Walmart, and Pizza Hut aren't the only ones, there are many companies that are getting involved in trying to help those in need and it's inspiring to witness this sort of human action.
Pics:
Reuters / NOAA NOAA via qz.com/1062300/hurricane-harvey-what-is-the-path-and-when-will-it-hit/
Erich Schlegel / Getty Images via nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/how-many-billions-damage-will-harvey-cost-s-anyone-s-n797521
Getty Images / Scott Olson via ibtimes.com/hurricane-harvey-floodwaters-contain-alligators-fire-ants-disease-2583989
Shayda Habib via chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Sugar-Land-Pizza-Hut-workers-deliver-food-to-12162025.php
Sources:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hurricane-harvey-could-cost-190-billion-be-worst-ever-us-natural-disaster-says-accuweather-2017-08-31
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/08/31/hurricane-harvey-cell-phone-drying-company-drove-1-000-miles-rescue-wet-phones/620445001/
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/08/harvey-economic-impacts/538353/
http://fortune.com/2017/08/31/home-depot-hurricane-harvey-damage-impact/
https://www.lewisvilletexan.com/news/news/local-news/prices-up-some-gas-stations-running-low-due-to-harvey-impacts/
http://home.bt.com/news/news-extra/pizza-hut-is-delivering-food-to-hurricane-harvey-victims-by-kayak-11364208387344
http://www.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Restaurants-chefs-rally-to-help-feed-those-12159650.php
http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/hurricanes/former-st-petersburg-chef-feeds-thousands-affected-by-hurricane-harvey-in/2335451
http://5newsonline.com/2017/08/29/walmart-helps-victims-of-hurricane-harvey/
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/hurricane-harvey-disaster-relief-how-to-donate-volunteer-w500267
A year ago we had most of Louisiana flood and many people are still displaced and had to relocate to Texas. I feel terrible that some of these people have now lost everything three times since Hurricane Katrina hit.
It's scary what nature could do to earth... sad and let's have hope soon people over there will get more help!
More smoke and mirrors from the Fed. They talk about raising rates but if anything they may end up lowering them for another round of quantitative easing. The Houston metro area contributes 3% of the country's GDP. I have a hard time believing that the Fed would do anything right now to put a brake on the economy, which is what a rate hike would be.
people aren't truly realizing it but this sort of thing will continue happening and even getting worse because the climate change impa
It's very cool to know who jumped in to help. Thanks for this information! Cheers and happy blogging!
This catastrophe is horrible. Very sad . People left without home
It is really heart warming to see these big corporations coming to help in the hour of need,thank you for sharing this with us!!
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I noticed that our President is pledging a million dollars of his personal money to help with this: Trump Pledges $1 Million to Harvey Relief. I appreciate the way so many of us are stepping up to help the brothers and sisters of our Greater family.
This claim seems inaccurate. Here in Austin, Texas, we felt the outer arms of the hurricane. We endured violent storms, and three power outages, and a water shutoff. The population of these big Texas cities is huge, and there are countless people homeless at the moment, but the loss of lives is small. Economically, yes, maybe this is the most expensive. Physically, regarding human lives (this is the important part, right?), the The Wikipedia List Of Disasters shows that there are others much worse.
The damage from harvey is estimated to be more than the damage from both katrina and sandy combined. The suggestion that it's the worst natural disaster comes via AccuWeather . And yes there are many people giving $ to relief efforts, or their time etc, it's nice to see.:)
This is a sad time for those impacted by Harvey. Hurricane Katrina hit that area in 2005 and I am sure there are many who have not truly recovered. This can also be a time to see the love and kind spirit of others as they lend a hand to the hurting. God's healing ministry can be at work in Texas and lives can be touched. We have Hurricane Irma who may hit the east coast of the USA in about a week. What is mother nature communicating? I do not know but be prepared folks. Great post.
Nature can be beautiful and perplexing but it also has its blemishes. It hurts me when I see these Hurricanes occur and I wish those who are alive all the best and for those who have passed, rest in peace
You did not say weather or not Home Depot and Wal Mart are doing this for free.
Or are they just profiting off of the disaster?
Isn't there some federal program that compensates them for their participation?
I would be curious to find that out, before I go patting them on the back for being good citizens and doing what is right.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
Be well.
Take part in Disney's Day of Giving: To support people impacted by Hurricane Harvey, call 1-855-999-GIVE, donate at www.RedCross.org/ABC or text "HARVEY" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
I have family in and around Houston. Luckily, everyone is safe. If I weren't broke, with a rusty truck, and all the way up here in North West Texas, I'd be down there helping with the rescue. It's truly heartbreaking not to be able to go there and help, or really help in any way. :(
Very thorough article. Thank you for sharing!
These disasters are not created by nature rather they are the results of our actions which we perform. We have damaged the ozone layer, cutting down the forests, finishing the natural habitats of animals and digging the earth to deeper and deeper making it hollow, water level we have dropped to a great extent. Still, nature forgives us and always try to give us but when the water becomes over our head, no option is left and we have to face thses calamities.