Guys, be careful in the cleaning up process. CNN is reporting that a sample of the contaminated water showed, among other findings, e-coli 8,000 times higher than the acceptable level. Don't mean to scare folks, just stay away from the water if at all possible.
The boatmen retrieving peoples stuff in my neighborhood said a sewer line had broken in the flooded area and was bellowing black water.
Seconding about being careful with the flooded water and clean up. IN addition to bacteria and mold foodwaters also have oils and heavy metals. When I was NOLA 5 months after Katrina I was told to be careful with the dust and residue left over when the flood waters had receded. When demoing drywall, carpet and insulation you should be wearing a respirator or at least a face mask and gloves.
I'm getting ready to go to my collection event and the current plan will be to go to BBVA Compass Stadium which sounds like it's a distrubution site. I'll be checking though as I'm driving down.
My time is going to be very limited in Houston but if I can help out while I'm there let me know. I am driving a Ford 250 truck towing a 6x12 trailer so can help move supplies if needed.
Here's a offer for free data recovery on phones and HD effected during Harvey; https://www.drivesaversdatarecovery...-data-recovery-of-wet-phones-and-hard-drives/
Anyone else having experience with a no show no answer insurance adjuster yet? My wife was on top of the claim while we were still stuck in the flooded house to get ahead of things. We have bankers for flood insurance. It's showing our claim is already closed and that we signed off. We have his confirmation in writing. Bankers is closed till Tuesday and I guess they contracted the work out. I can only imagine what it will be like trying to reschedule now.
In Oklahoma with a trailer of donated toiletries. Am going to the Austin Disaster Relief Network first and top off the trailer with material from there to bring to Houston.
To get through this we're going to need lots of news montages & dumpster bags. They have these at home depot: The news montages should start with sad music over images of destruction & trauma, crying wet faces, then changes to uplifting music, lots of carrying people around & handing out styrofoam plates at shelters, always among opposing genders/races/ages etc. News montages to inspire/motivate, and those disposable roadside dumpster bags, for the debris.
I saw that segment. They also claimed these unprecedented fecal levels can cause the flesh eating bacteria! Don't know much about that one, but sounds scary. Hope mentioning that threat was more for effect.
Hey man, sorry I'm not in Texas I hope someone there responds to you. I know @DaDakota , @tinman and some other posters are from austin
I love how cities and counties are putting this info out after days of piling thousands of tons of debris on curbs. No one is going to have the time, energy or emotional fortitude to sort through their own stinking pile of rotting and dangerous debris.
This clean-up has just begun, there are thousands of houses you can't even get to yet. I don't suppose they wont pick up the previously piled unsorted mess, it just makes it more efficient going forward. And I would recommend any number of local funds before the Red Cross/
