IMPACT OF HURRICANES ON WATER SYSTEMS: POST-DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Abstract

This research seeks to understand the vulnerabilities of water systems to disaster events by examining the impact of Hurricane Harvey on water security in the Golden Triangle, located in southeast Texas. The project utilized both primary and secondary data to create a narrative of the events in the Golden Triangle both during and post-Harvey, as well as how the water systems failed, recovered, and rebuilt. Secondary data was collected through the analysis of newspaper of the events surrounding Hurricane Harvey. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews with both community organizations and water operators of public water systems, to gain perspective of how water was affected from both an operational and community perspective. After analyzing the data, it displayed further evidence showcasing the importance of accessibility to aid, such as funding, had on the recovery of water systems following a disaster. The research also showed preliminary evidence of the importance of whether the water operators were public servants or private contractors in their accessibility to resources. This inequality in funding suggests a possible need to adapt to the municipalization of water systems. Overall, the project demonstrated how water systems are impacted following a disaster, and how Hurricane Harvey continues to affect the region, four years post-Harvey.