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Super Storm Harvey Update

[ August 30, 2017   //   ]

Port Houston: All Port Houston facilities remained closed on Wednesday, August 30th due to the weather impact across Houston. Port Houston officials continue to monitor weather conditions to determine when operations can safely resume. At this point no indications from the U.S. Coast Guard on when the Houston Ship Channel will reopen for vessel transits.

Port of Corpus Christi: In response to the impacts of Hurricane Harvey, the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) continues fully transitioned to Post Storm Recovery in accordance with the Port Hurricane Readiness Plan.

Port personnel are continuing to assess hurricane impacts with assessments indicating light to moderate damage and debris. The Port has begun to recall Tier 2 Essential Personnel to support the recovery operations. Power has been restored to most PCCA facilities. The PCCA EOC, Security Command Center and Harbor Master’s Office have maintained continuous 24 hour operations throughout this event. PCCA continues working toward achieving normal business operations by September 4th.

The Port of Corpus Christi continues coordinating with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard to expedite hydrographic channel surveys. Until such time, the USCG maintains Condition Zulu for all Port Corpus Christi channels including the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and La Quinta Ship Channel. As weather continues improving in our area, it is facilitating the conclusion of the channel survey operations that will dictate the date for the channels to be open.

Port Arthur: Motiva Enterprises, LLC,  a 50–50 joint venture between Shell Oil Company (the wholly owned American subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell) and Saudi Refining Inc., has started closing its Port Arthur refinery “in response to increasing local flood conditions.” The plant won’t open until flood waters recede.

Motiva had been steadily reducing production at the plant for days. Late Tuesday it was running at only 40% capacity. Mayor Derrick Freeman commented on Facebook that the “whole city is underwater right now.”

ExxonMobil shut down its oil refinery in Baytown, Texas on Sunday.

The Federal Aviation Administration continues to handle emergency and relief operations at a number of airports in the Hurricane Harvey area, including at Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental. The FAA is prepared to support the resumption of commercial service flights when airport authorities reopen the airports.  The FAA states that resuming normal airline operations will take time and airlines may not be operating a full flight schedule immediately after the airports reopen. Although airports may be listed as “open,” flooding on local roadways may limit access to airports as well as the employees who work for the airlines or at the airport.

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