Hurricane Harvey (2017)
This was a devastating Category 4 hurricane. Harvey caused catastrophic flooding in Houston, Texas, and surrounding areas, resulting in dozens of fatalities and extensive property damage. It’s surprising to learn that with just a Category 4, how much damage was done. This is why scientists are worried about the potential for a Category 6.
According to the Comptroller, “Harvey damaged or destroyed more than 178,400 Texas homes and inflicted an estimated $669 million in damage to public property such as government buildings, roads, bridges, water facilities, and electric utilities.” The storm lingered for several days, causing horrendous damage thanks to the wind and six-foot surges (Comptroller).