In a report just released this morning (July 19, 2017), we're learning just how challenging it can be to live in Houston.
The report details how many times the Harris County Emergency Operations Center was activated in the past year – ten times, in fact. And it explains why – everything from horrendous rain storms, to the threat of disease from mosquitoes, to the NCAA Final Four to the Super Bowl.
The information is part of the annual report from the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HCOHSEM).
Francisco Sanchez, public information officer for the department, joins us to discuss the highlights of the report and give us an overview of the challenges of the last year for his department.
The report also details how much such events cost the region. For example, the 2016 Tax Day Flood had an economic impact of $1.3-$1.9 billion.