Views of the Neighborhood – A Peek at the Damage

~ John W. Howell

I made a point that I was not going to show pictures of the destruction of Hurricane Harvey since I felt it to be an invasion of individual privacy. I still believe that but there are some photos that can be shown which will give you a further idea of the damage of the Hurricane. These were taken yesterday during a rainstorm but will give you an idea. Most of these businesses are going to return.

Port Aransas

These buildings have been taken down to the studs.

This is now a shell, ready for renovation

The little store on the left was severely damaged but the bike shop is open.

The damage to the store with the shark was almost total. The shark remained pretty much intact.

This used to be a liquor store and a sno cone stand

Workers repairing the roof of the Islander in the rain

The sea-captain stands alone. His partner is off on a trip.

Even the national chains took a hit. CVS just installed a trailer for prescriptions. Notice the arrow on the parking lot. The wind literally stripped it.

Here is what remains of a gas station and Pizza Hut. They are fixing the building. Not sure on the gas station.

Here is what is left of what we called Mount Debris. It was the holding place for all the debris in town. It was about fifty feet high and more than a football field long It is getting smaller by the day.

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

53 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – A Peek at the Damage”

  2. Viewing the damage during the rainstorm evokes solemn respect. The progress and the hints of new life say a lot about the resilience of the residents. The sea-captain photo is almost Biblical – one will be taken and the other left. Thank you for sharing, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I’m happy you shared these photos, John. The before and after is a good way to demonstrate that there’s always hope. That’s pretty incredible about the paint in the CVS parking lot. Happy Sunday!

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  12. It wasn’t that long ago I was writing about the destruction we suffered from Hurricane Ike. Now, a decade has passed, and someone who didn’t know the history would have to look hard to find evidence of a world-class storm raging through: topped trees, raised houses, and so on. Even Bolivar Peninsula is back in business, after being left in approximately the same condition as that painted arrow in front of the mobile CVS.

    Knowing that restoration is possible doesn’t make getting there any easier, but for the old timers, it’s part of the corporate wisdom that helps them go on. Once you’ve seen a few of these, your coping muscles toughen up. Or so I think.

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  13. So many familiar places gone or damaged! We have not been over there since the storm. Thanks for the update. Glad Mount Debris is shrinking as it seems the saddest of all. The sun is coming out here today after the needed rain yesterday.

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  17. Thanks for the tour, John. I’m glad that Mount Debris is gradually disappearing – a painful reminder of all that was lost.

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  19. With all the hard work that goes into running a business, especially a small family owned business, seeing the destruction is heartbreaking. People are, by and large, a resilient lot. I’m looking forward to seeing the photos a year after the hurricane. I believe these businesses will be thriving.

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  20. I’m glad you included the photo of the debris mountain — I can only imagine how huge it looked months ago. I know it seems like progress is slow, but it’s plain that progress is taking place. The last time I was in Gulfport, I was surprised that more hadn’t progressed after Katrina. These things take time and we can only hope next hurricane season is kindler and gentler!

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  24. And here in the UK, we complain if it’s too cold or too hot, John. Your pictures are proof of just how strong the human race can be when we face disasters like the one that hit your part of the world. Slow, but steady progress.

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