Introduction

On September 14, 2017, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported that Hurricane Harvey had caused 82 deaths in Texas during August 25–August 30, 2017 (1), with property damage that could total $180 billion (2). Houston alone received 45 inches of rain from August 24 to September 1, 2017, and some parts of Texas received 60 inches or more. Dozens of inches of rain also fell on the cities of Port Arthur and Beaumont. Several local health departments experienced closures during the week of August 28 and resumed operations the week of September 5 under emergency conditions.