State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

While Harvey's Floodwaters Have Receded, the Health Risks Linger

Route Fifty: Millions of residents in Hurricane Harvey’s flood recovery zone in southeastern Texas continue to face uncertain health threats from bacteria and toxins stirred up and left behind by the storm. Polluted standing water festers and sediment spreads indoors and outdoors, over living room furniture and kitchen counters and across front yards and playgrounds.

Reports from the region, including Houston, underline growing frustration in pinning down the nature and gravity of the threat.

As has been widely reported, untreated sewage spread far and wide across the region as Harvey’s record-shattering rains flooded low-lying areas and overwhelmed sewers and other water treatment infrastructure.

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