On August 25, 2017 Hurricane Harvey moved onshore near Port Aransas, Texas, eventually overwhelming areas of Houston with between 41-60 inches of rain (Houston Health Department [HHD], 2017). As a category 4 storm, with wind speeds as high as 130 mph, Harvey broke several rainfall records across the state and ended the prolonged period of twelve years in which no major hurricanes had made landfall in the United States (Mersereau, 2017). Harvey ambled at a leisurely pace through Houston and resulted in devastating flooding that destroyed homes and required the evacuation of approximately 37,000 Houstonians to over 78 shelter facilities across the affected area (HHD, 2017). Through concerted efforts, the American Red Cross and the HHD established the shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) and delivered or coordinated social services, medical and mental health services, disease surveillance and food/sanitary inspection services for the duration of the need for the shelter (HHD, 2017).
Objective: To provide recommendations for future preparedness response efforts based on an assessment of the Post-Hurricane Harvey After-Action Report (AAR).