Hurricane Harvey came in pretty strong as a category 4 storm to leave a major impact on Texas as the biggest storm in history to ever hit the state. Over 11 trillion gallons of water have fallen on the state, and it’s not over. More rain will be expected to hit the area and the neighboring state of Louisiana.
Some areas have already received 30 inches of rain, but Harvey may re-strengthen so residents can expect to face 15 to 25 more inches of rain through Friday, causing the flooding situation to become much worse. If you are helping with the rescue and relief effort, thank you for your hard work and time. Don’t drive towards affected areas unprepared, know what to expect.
Helping With Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
First of all, Texas and Louisiana have both declared states of emergency, and as a result, a few driver regulations have been suspended, including hours of service. You can put in the time you need to help those in need. However, be safe, Don’t drive tired, remember to take breaks.
Drivers exempted from hours of service and other regulations include anyone traveling into or out of the state to transport supplies, people, or equipment, and those providing any emergency assistance to those affected by Harvey.
Routing to the affected areas may be tricky. Tons of roads are closed due to flooding, including 350 areas in Houston alone, so you may need to bust out a map to figure out where you’re going. Your GPS may not provide reliable information about which roads are closed or unusable.
Even though relief loads may offer more pay, there are a few things to consider before heading out. You and other trucks might be waiting around at relief sites for a very long time because people may not know what to tell you to do or where you need to go.
Driving to these areas could be dangerous. You will need to be prepared with bottled water and packaged food for yourself. You will also need your own bathroom supplies, because there may not be a good place to stop and go for a long time. Be sure to keep your fuel topped off, because you may not have access to fuel later.
Speaking of fuel, expect prices to rise all across the nation. Texas’s crude refinery that can produce 1 million barrels a day has been shut down. Gas has already shot up by 10 cents, but that number could triple.
Flood zones are wet, and the extra rain will make it worse, so take supplies to keep yourself warm and dry. Bring a raincoat, rubber boots or bibs, with a poncho, and insulate underneath. Also, be sure to have a flashlight, batteries, matches, and other emergency items with you as well.
Don’t test the limits of your truck, avoid driving through flood water. Just turn around, don’t drown. Luckily there have been rescuers nearby to help pull stranded truckers out of their cabs to get them to safety so far.
Our Hearts Go Out To Texas And Louisiana
We are praying for those in Texas. If you’re helping with the relief effort thank you for your time and determination. Stay safe out there. If you need to take refuge head to the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, where GATS (The Great American Trucking Show) was held. All those fleeing flood zones and disaster areas can seek shelter there.
Please share any information about the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in the comment section below and for more trucking blogs visit ExpressTruckTax.com.