Storm Harvey Cost To Hit Thousands Of Uninsured In Houston

Gary Struzick retired five months ago as
Harris County's flood specialist.



He has spent this week rescuing his
neighbours from rising flood waters in
Harris County's biggest city of Houston.



If he understands what's happening in
Texas better than most, even he and his
wife Kay are casting anxious glances at the
water levels.



"I think we'll be okay but we are ready to
go if we have to," Gary said. Most of his
neighbours have already gone.




Because they live in an area now being
inundated by water from Houston's over
spilling Addicks and Barker reservoirs.



Even as the torrential rain has eased in
Houston, the waters pouring from the
reservoirs are prolonging the alarm here.



The anxiety is etched on the faces of
people who thought the worst had passed
but now face the greatest uncertainty.



They watch impromptu depth measures -
their post box or a stranded car's number
plate - for signs that the water is rising.




The reservoirs have never spilled over in
their decades of existence and experts
admit it is impossible to model where all
the water will go.



It is the reason why, five days after Harvey
first swept ashore, whole new areas are
undergoing emergency evacuations.



Gary is one member of what's become
known as the "volunteer navy", regular
people using their own private boats to
usher families to safety.



He rescued Dick Carroll and his wife Anne,
along with their cat Ben.



"We are so grateful to have a neighbour
like him," said Dick.



At some point, the operation in Houston
will switch from one of rescue to recovery.



Everyone here is dreading what will be
found when the floodwaters recede and
what the total human cost could be.



But even those who escape unscathed
face a different kind of cost.




It is estimated that 80% of those in the
flood zone are without flood insurance.


Source-Skynews