Disasters

"In addition to widespread suffering and devastation, Hurricane Harvey has brought a plague of floating fire ants to the Houston region."

"Hundreds dead in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, while millions have been forced from their homes and 18,000 schools shut down across the region".

"Police and firefighters responding to an explosion at a flooded Arkema chemical plant in Texas would have known more about the facility’s risks under an updated chemical safety rule shelved by the Trump administration, critics contend."

"Gasoline futures surged on Wednesday to a two-year high while crude oil was down, as flooding and damage from Tropical Storm Harvey shut nearly a quarter of U.S. refinery capacity, curbing demand for crude while raising the risk of fuel shortages."

"Top U.S. EPA officials are calling efforts to link Hurricane Harvey and climate change 'misplaced' and politically motivated."

"President Trump could request a package of emergency funding to deal with the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey as soon as next week, a senior administration official said, reshuffling the political agenda as the White House scrambles to deal with devastation left by the storm."

"Scientists warn of more and expanding 'bull’s-eyes' as Americans build in parts of the country at ever greater risk because of climate change and severe weather."

"Officials in Houston are just beginning to grapple with the health and environmental risks that lurk in the waters dumped by Hurricane Harvey, a stew of toxic chemicals, sewage, debris and waste that still floods much of the city."

"Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday ordered an accelerated and “aggressive” review of Enbridge Energy operations and maintenance procedures after the company revealed that at least two areas on twin pipelines running under the Straits of Mackinac are missing enamel coating."

"In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, President Trump tweeted that the storm had brought a “once in 500 year flood” to Houston, and expressed support for relief efforts. His words suggested the kind of catastrophic event that hadn’t been seen in the area for five centuries. But parts of Houston saw “500-year flooding” just last year. And in 2001, Tropical Storm Allison also delivered severe flooding to the area."