HURRICANE HARVEY

The popular Packery Channel, which still bears the damage of Hurricane Harvey, is on its way to being shored up against the next storm.

The council voted unanimously not to pursue an independent investigation.

A new five-story senior living center will take its place.

A Houston man is spreading joy with his pet rescued from the floodwaters of hurricane Harvey.

A Houston-area non-profit organization that started in the middle of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 said it donated approximately $17,000 in funeral expenses for victims of Friday night’s tragedy at Astroworld Festival.

Nearly 60% of Houston households say they’re falling behind on basic expenses like rent, car payments, medical bills and food.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, just before Hurricane Harvey arrived, disconnected dozens of air quality monitors in the Houston area.

Aransas County's suffered after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the pandemic only worsened its losses. There's hope a workforce center will turn things around.

<b>Question: </b>What’s going on with the unsafe construction in northeast Houston?

In the Allen Field neighborhood in Northeast Harris County, home after home along Darjean Street are now part of the mandatory flood buyout program.

The former director accused the Turner administration of favoring an affordable housing developer in a process to secure $15 million in federal disaster recovery funding meant to replace housing lost during Hurricane Harvey.

SURFSIDE BEACH, Texas (AP) — Tropical Storm Nicholas slowed to a crawl over southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana Tuesday after blowing ashore as a hurricane, knocking out power to a half-mill[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

Millions along the Texas Gulf Coast are being battered by torrential rain and ferocious wind.

HOUSTON (AP) — Tropical Storm Nicholas hit the Texas coast early Tuesday as a hurricane...

Hurricane Nicholas made landfall along the Texas coast Tuesday, bringing the threat of up to 20 inches of rainfall to the same area hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and storm-battered Louisiana.

Tropical Storm Nicholas has weakened to a tropical depression as it slowed to a crawl over southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana as its heavy rains continued to drench the area, maintaining a flood threat.

Tropical Storm Nicholas has weakened to a tropical depression as it slowed to a crawl over southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana as its heavy rains continued to drench the area, maintaining a flood threat.

HOUSTON (AP) — Tropical Storm Nicholas gathered strength Monday and threatened to blow ashore in Texas as a hurricane that could bring up to 20 inches of rain to parts of the Gulf Coast, including the[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

Tropical Storm Nicholas strengthened as it headed for the Gulf Coast on Sunday, threatening heavy rain and floods in coastal areas of Texas, Mexico and Louisiana.

Texas braces for Tropical Storm Nicholas, which could bring up to 20 inches of rain to parts of the Gulf Coast. (Sept. 13)

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday he would deploy emergency resources to Louisiana to aid in Hurricane Ida recovery efforts.

Jeff Lindner, the Harris County meteorologist who became famous for his enduring presence through trouble during Hurricane Harvey, spoke with KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton about Tropical Storm Ida.

Just four years ago, Hurricane Harvey left Houston underwater.

On the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the Harris County Flood Control District announced that all projects that are part of a multi-billion-dollar post Harvey bond program have begun.

In a weather preparation event, Jeff Lindner, the Harris County meteorologist who became famous for his enduring presence through trouble during Hurricane Harvey, spoke with our KPRC 2 meteorologists Frank Billingsley and Justin Stapleton about what’s brewing in the tropics. They also discussed how to keep informed whenever flooding rain is in the forecast in the future.

Two years ago, people up and down the Texas coast were bracing for what would become one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States.

Two years later and in some ways, Texas is still reeling from the historic and catastrophic Hurricane Harvey.

The Texas General Land Office opened an affordable housing complex in Rockport to replace homes that were destroyed in 2017 by Hurricane Harvey.

Residents raised concerns after receiving "downgraded" homes from the GLO's homeowner assistance program.

The new $2 million dollar Fulton Fishing Pier has attracted anglers from all over Texas.

Fulton Fishing Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. The pier has now been rebuilt and is open.

The Houston Housing Authority now has the money to rebuild the affordable senior living facility but the opening date will come too late for some.

The Houston Housing Authority now has the money to rebuild the affordable senior living facility but the opening date will come too late for some.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will speak at an inquiry about the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) “initial denial and inequitable allocation of congressional appropriated mitigation dollars from Hurricane Harvey to the City of Houston.”

Residents of the East Aldine neighborhood of Houston are tired of their homes flooding...

Congressman Al Green warned that unless Houston and Harris County received a “fair share,” the U.S. Houston and Urban Development Department would not provide Texas any funds at all.

Houston area representatives gathered Thursday to call upon the Texas General Land Office to ensure the worst-hit areas by Hurricane Harvey in the city and Harris County will receive the funds allocated by Congress.

Bush's announcement comes after an outcry from Houston and Harris County leaders who...

Bush's announcement comes after an outcry from Houston and Harris County leaders who requested $1.3 billion in federal funds for Harvey relief but were left off a list of recipients the General Land Office released.

The county had originally asked for more than $1 billion. Instead, it got nothing.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner went after Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush Wednesday with a letter expressing their “profound disappointment” with how Bush’s General Land Office blocked Houston and Harris County from receiving even one cent of the latest round of federal...

On Wednesday's show: Why Houston and Harris County received none of the $1.3 billion in recent Hurricane Harvey relief from the federal government, the week in politics, and Houston's oldest hospital gets a makeover.

The often politically polarized commissioners court voted unanimously to denounce the decision by the General Land Office to deny Harris County any of the $1.3 billion in mitigation funds.

Earmarks were banished from Congress over a decade ago, but the funding for lawmakers' pet projects is marking a sudden return.

Roughly four years after Hurricane Harvey, some area leaders are upset with the plans to distribute federal flood mitigation funds.

Houston and Harris County were denied funding over other Texas communities despite requesting $1.3 billion for ongoing relief efforts. Local officials are asking the federal government to intervene.

"The deck was stacked against us from the get-go." That was Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's assessment at a Friday press conference in which she protested the criteria used to determine what counties and cities would get what share of the federal funds set aside as the Hurricane Harvey Mitigation Funds.

After nearly four years of repairs, the center is reopening its doors with new exhibits Saturday for the first time since Hurricane Harvey.

Texas’ renter protections surrounding flood risk disclosure could become among the strongest in the nation.

A Fiesta Mart located in east Houston, which has been closed for more than three years, is set to reopen.

The research shows just how far Houston’s flooding problems go.

Houston Newsmakers: Ballot Integrity or suppression?

On Easter Sunday, The Centrum welcomed its first doors to the congregation of Cypress Creek Christian Church.

The Cypress Creek Christian Community Center owns the 23,000 square-foot facility. Senior Minister Frogge recently announced The Centrum would reopen on April 4, despite construction not being complete. The Cypress County Christian Church will be hosting the congregation for Easter Sunday. To prevent future damages, church officials invested more than $300,000 of the budget for construction into flood-resistant systems. Featured Image Credit: Cypress Creek Christian Community Center

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas officials on Thursday raised the death toll from February’s winter storm and blackouts to at least 111 people — nearly doubling the state’s initial tally following one of the worst power outages in U.S. history. Many homes went without power or drinkable water for days after subfreezing temperatures, failing power plants and record demand for heat pushed Texas’ electric grid to the breaking point. Texas officials earlier this month put the initial tally of deaths at 57 but warned it would increase. The toll now officially exceeds Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which was blamed for 68 deaths in Texas. River's family is among those who have filed a lawsuit against the state's embattled electric grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

The majority of the Texas deaths are associated with hypothermia, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The toll now officially exceeds that of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which was blamed for 68 deaths in Texas. Among them was Gilbert Rivera, 60, who told relatives after the power went out in his garage apartment that he was cold but staying bundled up. AdRivera’s family is among dozens who have filed lawsuits against electricity providers and the state’s embattled power grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Next week, the Texas House is expected to vote on a package in response to the storm, including efforts to winterize power plants.

Texas officials on Thursday, March, 25, 2021 raised the death toll from February's winter storm and blackouts to at least 111 people nearly doubling the state's initial tally following one of the worst power outages in U.S. history. (AP Photo/LM Otero File)AUSTIN, Texas – Texas officials on Thursday raised the death toll from February's winter storm and blackouts to at least 111 people — nearly doubling the state's initial tally following one of the worst power outages in U.S. history. The majority of the Texas deaths are associated with hypothermia, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The toll now officially exceeds that of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which was blamed for 68 deaths in Texas. Among them was Gilbert Rivera, 60, who told relatives after the power went out in his garage apartment that he was cold but staying bundled up.

“I have to admit, I never dreamed I would be living this way, living in fear for my life”, Charles Allen said. “If we don’t get some kind of help, this roof is going to fall in,” said Staci Allen, Charles Allen’s wife. “It’s going to injure or kill us.”Too proud to ask for help himself, finally a relative of Charles Allen contacted Bill Spencer and the Spencer Solves It team. The hard-working crew began ripping the old roof off and putting a brand new roof on the Allens’ home. “You saved us from that.”As for Charles Allen, he said he is deeply moved.

Washington — President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Houston on Friday, in the wake of a winter storm that left millions of Texans without power, heat and running water. Mr. Biden already said he planned to travel to Texas once a visit would no longer be a "burden" to the recovery efforts. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president will meet with local leaders to discuss the winter storm, relief efforts and progress towards recovery. The winter storm also hampered vaccination efforts, as sites had to shut down. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that many Texas homeowners may apply for individual disaster assistance.

Washington — President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Houston on Friday, in the wake of a winter storm that left millions of Texans without power, heat and running water. Mr. Biden already said he planned to travel to Texas once a visit would no longer be a "burden" to the recovery efforts. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president will meet with local leaders to discuss the winter storm, relief efforts and progress towards recovery. The winter storm also hampered vaccination efforts, as sites had to shut down. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that many Texas homeowners may apply for individual disaster assistance.

Already devastated by COVID-19, the winter storm is another blow to Houston’s communities of color. “Minority communities are suffering,” Green said Monday, between loading up cars. In lower-income communities, older and more compromised homes struggled under the stress of a harsh winter storm. Many of Palay’s neighbors needed house repairs even before the winter storm hit, she said. Now, she sees similarities from her own background in how communities are helping each other in this most recent crisis.

Texans file insurance claims following winter storm that could surpass Hurricane Harvey losses As power and water return to Texans across the state, many residents now must turn to making repairs to their homes, which can cost thousands of dollars. Some estimates predict the costs from this winter storm could surpass the $19 billion of losses from Hurricane Harvey. Janet Shamlian reports.

He and wife Reagan are providing water bottles for those in need, after millions of Houstonians lacked clean water. This came as millions of Houstonians’ food spoiled during the power outages, and many grocery store shelves were empty. This is our fundraising campaign to benefit families without power, water, food and shelter in underserved Houston areas. We will be collaborating with @nacchelp, @astrosfoundation, @kidsmealshouston to provide food to families in need. ROBERT GRIFFIN IIIThe former Baylor quarterback and 2011 Heisman trophy winner donated 10,500 meals to the Houston food bank.

NEW CANEY – A family in New Caney is whole again after losing their dog days before Hurricane Harvey slammed into Houston. The family in New Caney almost gave up until a rescue group found her in Sugar land. A volunteer from another organization named, ‘Lost Dogs of Texas’ stepped in and used a special database to find Maddie’s owner. AdThe volunteer from Lost Dogs of Texas was able to contact Rachel’s mother and Maddie was finally reunited with her family. Lost dogs of Texas said thousands of dogs are lost every year.

Though the TCEQ currently has a list of requirements for below-ground storage tanks, above-ground storage tanks are exempt. Padgett also ran a simulation of a 500-year storm event to see how many storage tanks in the Houston area would fail. Padgett and other researchers are particularly concerned about older storage tanks that were built before the latest industry design standards. Once storage tanks spring a leak, toxic — and often flammable — chemicals spill out, endangering human health and the environment as well as posing a fire risk. The bill also calls for the TCEQ to address accident, fire and explosion safety for storage tanks.

Now a new study from Stanford University puts a number value on the portion of the increasing costs caused specifically by the rise in floods linked to climate change. That's important because, with the impacts of climate change continuing to mount, there's an urgency among scientists and economists to quantify how much climate change is costing us and how much it may cost us in the future. A series of studies after Harvey found that climate change resulted in the storm dumping up to 38% more rainfall than it otherwise would have. Together, these analyses revealed that climate change has contributed substantially to the growing cost of flooding in the U.S. That's because as the planet gets warmer, the impacts of climate change increase exponentially.

HOUSTON – J.J. Watt has done a number of incredible things for Houston and its residents as his current season with the Houston Texans comes to an end. Here are 11 of the most memorable moments from JJ Watt. Hurricane Harvey relief effortsWatt and his team raised over $40.1 million dollars for victims of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. You can read more on Watt’s Harvey recovery efforts here. Mimi, the 99-year-old JJ Watt superfanAsalee Poole, also known as “Mimi” made a wish on her 99th birthday that she wanted to meet JJ Watt someday, as she was a huge fan of him.

HOUSTON – More than three years have passed since Hurricane Harvey, but some people are still recovering from the storm’s devastating impact. The Fort Bend County Habitat for Humanity has opened its Harvey Repair Program. The program was made to help repair homes damaged by the storm by using funds from FEMA and insurance. The Harvey Repair Program is now open. The Fort Bend County Habitat for Humanity asks residents in need to fill out its Disaster Home Repair application and return it with the required supporting documentation to mike@fortbendhabitat.org.

I remember asking my then-prospective landlord if my now-Meyerland apartment flooded during Hurricane Harvey. Under Texas law, landlords are not required to tell their tenants if the place has flooded in the past. "It doesn't stop anybody from renting the place," Walle told Rice. He called out two of the state's major landlord lobbies to work with legislators on the issue. "Whether it’s the Houston Apartment Association or the Texas Apartment Association, I encourage them to be partners with us."

Basically, the currently lovely Buffalo Bayou, with its winding slough through tree-lined neighborhoods would become yet another drainage ditch and eyesore. Houston won't win any beauty contests with other major cities. Buffalo remains the free and wild slough that cuts a path directly through the heart of the city. Over the last 10 years, we have taken direct advantage of it by working with partners to develop Buffalo Bayou Park and continue to preserve Memorial Park and the Houston Arboretum. LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free.

“This whole thing is devastating, to have to live this way for so long,” Charles Allen said. “The whole roof could collapse and possibly kill one of us, or hurt the kids, or kill the kids,” Staci Allen said. “We just really need some help,” Charles Allen said. The Spencer Solves It team enlisted the help of the crew at The Roof Repair Squad, a company based in Katy. “Bill, whenever you approach us, we are always ready to help,” Roof Repair Squad president Jorge Bogran, told KPRC 2 reporter Bill Spencer.

Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas TribuneHOUSTON – Texas officials on Tuesday said the state’s environmental agency has added greater capacity to quickly monitor pollution across the state during storms and other disaster events, such as chemical fires. Toby Baker, the executive director of the TCEQ, said the agency’s effort to add mobile air monitoring capacity was in motion before the EPA OIG report, but acknowledged that Hurricane Harvey was a turning point for environmental regulators. “We learned some lessons with Hurricane Harvey,” Baker said. Tuesday’s announcement was held in Houston’s Manchester neighborhood at Hartman Park, next to Valero’s Houston Refinery, where a storage tank notoriously collapsed during Hurricane Harvey — one of the unmonitored pollution events during the storm. The extent of the emissions released by chemical plants, refineries and other industrial operators along the Gulf Coast during and after Hurricane Harvey is unknown due to the lag in air monitoring, according to the EPA report.

But have no fear, one local dog named Bubbles and her human, Kylin Horton, are on a mission to raise awareness about both animal and domestic abuse. During that time, they had their first encounter with Bubbles who was saved from a horrible case of animal cruelty. When Kilyn Horton first met Bubbles, the dog was in bad shape, requiring four surgeries to repair damage from being abused and shot in the head. After adopting Bubbles, Horton started documenting Bubbles' progress on Instagram, as she had already captured the hearts of many people who wanted to see how she was faring. 100% of Bubbles toy proceeds go to supporting nonprofit organizations, including Houston Pets Alive and a domestic violence shelter.

DICKINSON, Texas – A Texas Ranger arrived at Dickinson City Hall on Monday with a subpoena for records. City Administrator Chris Heard met with him briefly but said he can’t talk about what they discussed. Friction between Heard and Hunter led to Hunter recently being place on paid leave after only two months on the job. “She brought up some concerns and we will just work through any issues that have arisen,” Heard said. A spokesman for the District Attorney’s office said he can neither confirm nor deny an investigation is underway.

The state took over the program this week and Torres and other residents who have applied for assistance say they’re worried that could lead to yet more delays. A third of the funding — nearly $428 million — went to a program for home repair and reconstruction. Harvey dumped up to 50 inches (1.3 meters) of rain on the Houston area following landfall on Aug. 25, 2017. In the Houston area, Harvey flooded more than 150,000 homes, with more than 16,000 residents identified as potentially needing repair help. In its own program, the land office has fixed more than 2,000 homes and has approved nearly 2,900 reimbursements statewide.

Acting Assistant Secretary John Gibbs writes, “The amendment also eliminates direct allocation funding to the city of Houston. The state said the city has only been able to address 163 homes since January of 2019. The General Land Office said the funds for Houstonians are not going anywhere, simply they are going to manage it moving forward. The state sent Mayor Turner a termination letter Monday evening informing them the contract shall terminate on Nov. 6, 2020. In the final sentence, the Deputy Land Commissioner for the GLO writes, “It is our hope that the City of Houston will engage with the GLO in future discussion concerning these matters.”

HOUSTON – A judge issued a directed verdict Thursday against the final defendant in the criminal case brought against Arkema related to the fire at the company’s Crosby plant during Hurricane Harvey. KPRC 2 legal analyst Brian Wice said the directed verdict was issued because there was insufficient evidence to bring the case to a jury. Comardelle was the only remaining defendant in the case after the charges against Arkema CEO Richard Rowe and Michael Keough, the company’s logistics officer, were dropped. Hardin said Arkema was the only company being investigated but never addressed the other companies on the Houston Ship Channel. Hardin said it was unprecedented for prosecutors to make it a crime and targeted Arkema for not anticipating Hurricane Harvey’s impact.

HOUSTON – The CEO of Arkema was dropped as a defendant Wednesday in the criminal case against the company in connection with the chemical release that happened during Hurricane Harvey. Prosecutors confirmed Richard Rowe was dropped from the case that accuses the company of and some employees of recklessly releasing chemicals into the air during a fire. The blaze happened after floodwaters inundated the Crosby plant and knocked out power to the cooling system used to keep certain chemicals stable. The news comes after prosecutors said they were seeking to drop charges that were filed against Michael Keough, the company’s logistics officer. Arkema has said that the fire was caused by an act of God and that plant officials did everything they reasonably could to prevent it.

This dry air is being drawn into Beta’s circulation, causing the storm to be very off-balance, or lopsided. The orange coloring to the left (west) shows dry air. Dry air is stable. Dry air intrusion will keep Beta from strengthening. Wind shear will continue to be somewhat of a problem for Beta as it works its way toward the Texas coast.

HOUSTON – Harris County prosecutors are seeking to drop some charges filed in connection with the fire and chemical release at the Arkema plant near Crosby during Hurricane Harvey. Both Arkema and Michael Keough, the company’s logistics official, were charged with assault of a public servant after prosecutors said two deputies suffered injuries because of the chemicals that were released. According to court documents, prosecutors believe they cannot prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt and have asked the court to drop those charges. Arkema has said that the fire was caused by an act of God and that plant officials did everything they reasonably could to prevent it. Attorneys representing the company have also accused Harris County prosecutors of withholding evidence.

HOUSTON – Houston’s Office of Sustainability is hosting a virtual Houston Climate Week, according to a release. The event will commemorate of the third anniversary of Hurricane Harvey and officially kickoff the implementation phase of the recently-released Houston Climate Action Plan. The Houston Climate Action Plan is a science-based, community-driven strategy for Houston to reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions, meet the Paris Agreement goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and lead a global energy transition, according to a release. “After COVID-19 cancelled our plans for an in-person Climate Action Plan launch in April, the idea of a virtual Houston Climate Week was born,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. Monday, August 2411 a.m. - Opening Session: Making Houston the Renewable Energy Capital of the World1 p.m. - Houston Climate Impact Assessment: What Does the Future Hold for Houston?

– Recovery Houston volunteers made their way to Lake Charles, Louisiana to help those who were hardest hit by Hurricane Laura. That event became the first chapter of the Recovery Houston organization, founded by Creech. Creech KPRC 2’s coverage of Recovery Houston was recognized by President Barack Obama as one of his most memorable humanitarian stories of 2017. When Hurricane Laura hit, Creech knew Recovery Houston had to get involved. “I woke up this morning feeling really good that I was able to help somebody,” Bradley Dennison, a Recovery Houston volunteer said.

But regardless where you’re located or what types of weather your region regularly experiences, it’s always best to remain vigilant. When it comes to hurricanes and big storms, there’s always so much talk about how to prepare the insides of our homes. Therefore, it’s always better to err on the side of caution, he added. “There’s nothing wrong with being too careful.”So, the next time a big storm’s coming to town, walk around the exterior of your house, your property or your yard. You could even turn this into a project, moving just a few belongings a day, leading up to the storm.

HOUSTON Rookie Cristian Javier threw well into the sixth inning, protecting a big lead and sending the Houston Astros over the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 Tuesday in the opener of a doubleheader created by the approach of Hurricane Laura. The Astros played a doubleheader against the Mets on Sept. 2, 2017, following Hurricane Harvey, which caused severe flooding in the Houston area. Javier (3-1) retired 13 of the first 15 batters before Jason Castro got an RBI single with one out in the fifth for the Angels first hit. Josh Reddick added an RBI single before Mayfields single. The Angels will be the home team for the first game of the twinbill, and the Astros will be the home team for the second game.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas Port Arthur's mayor on Monday issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Southeast Texas city before Tropical Storm Laura which forecasters say could strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane makes landfall. Laura was expected to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Port Arthur is about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) from the Louisiana border. Forecasters have said Laura could change course and make landfall near Houston. We are ready to deal with this situation as well," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday.

Storm of Suspicion "48 Hours" goes behind the scenes with investigators as they search for a mother of two who vanished just before Hurricane Harvey hit. Correspondent Maureen Maher investigates.

Texas parks start taking overnight camping reservations starting this week for summerOvernight camping on Mustang Island State Park has been closed since Hurricane Harvey devastated the park in 2017 but could be opened by early 2019 when an expanded online state-park reservation system that allows campers to reserve specific campsites is tentatively set to begin operation. TPWD previously announced parks would resume limited overnight camping beginning May 18, but parks were only honoring existing reservations to prevent overcrowding and continue social distancing. No one is more pleased than us to welcome more outdoor enthusiasts back into state parks as part of the continued reopening of Texas, said Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TOURING TEXAS: 16 magical state parks every Texan should visit at least onceSmither said even in this limited capacity, they're glad to get more Texans and their families safely back on the trails and in the campsites to enjoy all the many unique spaces and places that make Texas state parks so special. All guests will need to pre-purchase day passes and overnight reservations in advance through the Texas State Parks Reservation System, including including annual pass holders.

HOUSTON – The Texas Workforce Commission is continuing to see an unprecedented number of unemployment claims. Edward Serna, the TWC executive director, said the number of claims in March surpassed Hurricane Harvey's 60,000 unemployment applications, which at the time was the highest number of unemployment claims the state had seen. This is incredible in the history of the state," Serna said. Serna said the commission has turned to the federal government for help with its unemployment fund. Workforce Solutions offices across the state are holding virtual job fairs and working on matching employers with job seekers.

HOUSTON – The Texas General Land Office is planning to eliminate the city of Houston's control of funding for Hurricane Harvey housing relief. In a letter sent to Mayor Sylvester Turner Wednesday, the GLO stated it was overhauling "all responsibility for administering disaster assistance to city residents." The GLO argues the city has done little with the recovering funds. The state has four years to allocate the funds to Houston residents, so there still is time. Turner said the city is taking all necessary legal steps to preserve the city’s right to administer the funds.

In 2017, the world got its first glimpse of the resilience of Houstonians when Hurricane Harvey deluged the region with rainfall. They witnessed neighbors helping neighbors and everyday residents handling an impossible situation with toughness and kindness. This is why the city and county have suspended city functions and recommended cancellation or postponement of large gatherings and even smaller, more intimate ones, for a few weeks. If you can avoid being breathed on by a sick person, you stand a much better chance of avoiding infection. If you want to be more proactive, buy gift cards from restaurants, which will suffer losses during this time.

BuildAid restores homes affected by Hurricane HarveyBuildAid, a HomeAid and Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) rebuild initiative for pre-qualified homeowners whose homes flooded because of Hurricane Harvey, is winding down operations in the first quarter of 2020. BuildAid was initiated just days after the storm passed on August 17, 2017 by David Weekley and the David Weekley Family Foundation (DWFF) with a donation of $1 million. BuildAids GHBA builder partners included David Weekley Homes, Partners in Building, Taylor Morrison, Chesmar Homes, and Trendmaker Homes. Clearly Hurricane Harvey affected nearly everyone who lived in the Houston area, said Tom Frank, vice president of operations for Partners in Building. HomeAid was honored to take part in such an ambitious, enterprising program after Harvey, said Carole Brady, executive director of HomeAid Houston.

Houston A massive water main break left parts of Houston looking like it did in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Suddenly, across Houston, homes, businesses and the sprawling Texas Medical Center had low water pressure or no water at all. A massive water main break is causing major flooding in east Houston, Texas, and water pressure problems all over the city. "I anticipate that you will have to boil water in the city of Houston for the next 24 hours if you are part of the Houston water system," said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. This evening, city officials insist the water supply is safe, but they are urging people to boil tap water for the next 24 hours.

Judge says downstream victims of Harvey have no right to 'perfect flood control'Water is released from the Barker Reservoir in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Houston. Water is released from the Barker Reservoir in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Houston. "This is frustrating and disappointing for those who were impacted," said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Photo: Ken Ellis/StaffSmith said plaintiffs did not have a right under Texas or federal law to perfect flood control.Lawyers for the downstream clients called the ruling bad news and said they were disappointed with the judges conclusions. Judge Smiths ruling is also contrary to other case precedents, either from the Supreme Court or the Court of Federal Claims, the lawyers from McGehee Chang, Landgraf, Feiler said.

Contractor sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to stealing from Hurricane Harvey victimsBuilding contractor Benjamin Wood, 36, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $180K. Building contractor Benjamin Wood, 36, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $180K. Photo: Harris County District Attorney's Office Photo: Harris County District Attorney's Office Image 1 of / 22 Caption Close Contractor sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to stealing from Hurricane Harvey victims 1 / 22 Back to GalleryA building contractor has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $180,000 from 26 Hurricane Harvey victims. After Hurricane Harvey devastated a record number of residents along the Gulf Coast, we pledged to go after anyone who used the situation to hurt or defraud others, District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a release. After Harvey ravaged the area, Wood was able to dupe dozens of people into paying him for work he never did, according to the release.

HOUSTON – Beloved Texas grocery store chain, H-E-B is set to open its doors in Meyerland next week after the community was without an H-E-B store since 2017 following flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. The highly-anticipated two-story store in the Meyerland Plaza will open on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 4700 Beechnut Street. In October 2017, H-E-B closed the location at North Braeswood Boulevard and Chimney Rock Road after it incurred severe flood damage. The grocery store chain decided not to reopen that location. “We have always planned to continue our legacy in Meyerland and we can’t wait to open our doors next week to this very patient, resilient community.”

"Despite several conversations to arrange for written answers to our initial list of questions, we never received a response from the TCEQ," the report states. Responding to the findings, TCEQ Chairman Jon Niermann said the report reflected "numerous misunderstandings about the Hurricane Harvey response" in a letter sent to the inspector general Monday. In one example, the report says the EPA collected inadequate data after Harvey while screening for elevated air contamination using a mobile laboratory known as a trace atmospheric gas analyzer. Most toxic emissions after Harvey were due to tank failures at industrial plants and facilities shutting down and restarting, the report states. Emails obtained by the newspaper showed that environmental officials expressed worry about confusion and overlap with their own analysis.

Things that didn't exist in Houston 10 years agoHouston Strong as a rally cry for the city Following 2017's Hurricane Harvey and its devastation to Houston and its several surrounding communities, Houstonians rallied behind these words to lift the city's spirits. The Houston Astros went all in, putting a patch on their jerseys for the remainder of the season. Speaking of those Astros ... less Houston Strong as a rally cry for the city Following 2017's Hurricane Harvey and its devastation to Houston and its several surrounding communities, Houstonians rallied behind these words to lift the ... more Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 25 Caption Close Things that didn't exist in Houston 10 years ago 1 / 25 Back to GalleryA lot can change in 10 years, and Houston isnt immune. As the decade ends in the coming weeks, lets reflect on what Houston has today that wasnt here 10 years ago. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com

Humble Independent School District will receive the $25,401,611.75 grant to rebuild the structure that was originally built in 1978. Kingwood High School was closed for seven months following the hurricane with Kingwood’s 2,782 students commuting 30 minutes away to Summer Creek during that time. Kingwood High School was reopened in March 2018. Damage at Kingwood High SchoolThe building remained flooded for 11 days during and after Harvey, FEMA officials wrote in the grant summary. Floodwaters were 5.5 feet deep in the front of the building and 1.5 feet deep in the back.

She survived Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Harvey and breast cancer. At 59 years old, Annette Ryskala is what you’d call a survivor. For a time, after losing her job, Annette lived on the street, completely homeless. The team connected Annette with Randy Hartley, one of Bill’s Brigades most generous benefactors who helped the team on over 20 different projects. Hartley offered to pay her rent for a few months and pay for $2,000 towards her mountain of medical bills.

HOUSTON – As Houston heads into a new phase of recovery, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has announced a new chief recovery officer. Stephen Costello, an engineer and former Houston council member will take over the position from former Shell Oil President Marvin Odum, who led the recovery efforts for more than a year. In the next phase of recovery, the mayor's office said about $1.17 billion in disaster relief is expected to arrive in the upcoming weeks. Under the direction of Odum, a recovery team was formed and will work under the direction of Costello when he assumes the new role. Odum’s team coordinated the establishment of neighborhood restoration centers that brought one-stop disaster relief programs to flooding victims.