Recovery

The storm battered much of southeast Texas last week, and officials still are surveying many of the worst-flooded areas. It’s not clear if the region had enough damage for Gov. Greg Abbott to request FEMA assistance.

A spokeswoman for the island’s Emergency Management Agency said that there were no immediate reports of damage following the quake. The National Weather Service in San Juan also said there’s no risk of a tsunami.

Charley brought the strongest winds. Frances officially devolved to tropical storm status in Polk County, while Jeanne was still at Category 1 strength, but both slow-moving Frances and Jeanne brought much rain.

Ohio lawmakers are expected to consider new legislation that would speed up the process of devaluing damaged or destroyed properties, which could significantly reduce next year’s tax obligations.

Because it was so intense and slow-moving, and because it so narrowly missed Palm Beach County, Dorian forced Floridians to face the possibility of massive destruction, despite the state's decades-long efforts in mitigation.

Puerto Rico’s decade-long recession, years of austerity programs, federal programs unprepared to deal with the idiosyncratic island, corruption fears and excessive oversight are all creating obstacles.

"Rain is falling faster than we can drain," Doug Canant, district engineer for Jefferson County Drainage District 6, said in a statement to county officials during Thursday's frantic response to the unfolding disaster.

What separates Disaster Tourism from journalism is that the former is more concerned with providing an experience rather than educating the public. The disconnect is a lack of understanding with regards to both timing and situational awareness.

Tropical Storm Imelda was downgraded after it made landfall near Freeport and continued to batter Houston and southeast Texas with heavy rainfall. The storm is near Beaumont, according to the National Weather Service.

Slipping into devastation ignorance could be unintentional, but easy for many people in Ohio’s Miami Valley who weren’t directly affected — simply because they do not see the destruction every day as others do.

Among the lessons learned in Panama City from the storm is the inadequacy of the widely accepted guidance that people need to have water, food and other resources to sustain themselves for three days after a hurricane.

If the federal and state governments don’t pay for the Hurricane Dorian-related expenses, Chatham County, Ga., taxpayers could end up holding the bag for significant costs brought about by hurricane preparations.

The new investment — on top of the roughly $6 million already committed by USAID and the Department of Defense — comes amid a frantic humanitarian effort to evacuate thousands and provide clean drinking water, food and medicine.

Americans often spring into action after a disaster, sending food, clothing and all manner of items thinking it will help. But often, those items aren’t what’s needed, and experts caution the public about what to donate.

In the end, the story of Erick Auguste, and how is left arm was severed by plywood, is the story of tragedy and resiliency, a storm's savagery and how family and strangers came together to save one man's life.