Hard Rain and Hard Lessons

Houston has been wet since birth. It's the fourth-biggest city in the US, boasting one of the world's largest medical centers, oil refineries, a stupendous livestock show and rodeo, highbrow culture, vibrant economic growth, and speakers of 145 languages. The consolidated metropolitan statistical area surrounding Houston and extending to Galveston is larger than the state of New Jersey. Harvey is a devastating reminder to Houston that nature will have its due. Harvey's damage was selective. It's a minor event for the $19 trillion US economy, since most of the economic activity that was interrupted will be made up later. It was a light hit for insurers, because few underwrite flood insurance and the wind damage they do cover was minimal; insurers' stock prices barely fell. Nationally, insurers favor tighter building codes and fewer homes in vulnerable locations. Homebuilders and developers want to keep houses as inexpensive as possible. Climate change could also explain why Harvey hovered over Houston, dropping rain on it for days instead of moving on.