HURRICANE HARVEY DR 4332 Harvey first made landfall over San Jose Island and then near Rockport, in south-central Texas, late Aug. 25 as a Category 4 hurricane, threatening millions of residents with 130-mph winds, heavy rains, and a massive storm surge that swamped coastal areas. Harvey made landfall three times in six days. Causing about $125 billion in damage, Hurricane Harvey ranks as the second-most costly hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 1900. Adjusting for inflation, only $160-billion Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused more damage than Harvey. The storm dumped more than 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas, making Harvey the wettest Atlantic hurricane ever measured. Some parts of Houston received more than 50 inches of rainfall — so much that the National Weather Service had to update the colors it uses on its weather charts to properly account for it. With one-third of Houston completely flooded, the weight of the water also sank the city temporarily by two centimeters (almost an inch), according to a California geophysicist.

1. THE TEXAS CITY DISASTER
PRESENTED BY :Iskender Aidana

2. Introduction
 The Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that
occurred April 16, 1947 in the Port of Texas City, Texas.
It was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history,
and one of history's Largest Non-Nuclear Explosions.
 How it all started?
• Texas City was a seaport located 10 miles north of
Galveston on Galveston Bay and included a large
industrial complex of warehouses, with two large
chemical plants, three large oil refineries, oil tank farms
and dock area for both general cargo and petroleum
products . It had a population of approximately 20,000.

3.  On April 16, three World War II Liberty ships (mass-
produced transports) were in port. They were given to the
government of France as war recovery aid and was being
loaded with 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in
100-pound paper bags.
 The ship was assigned to the French Line to assist in the
rebuilding of Europe
 Ammonium nitrate is a common fertilizer and was also
the chemical used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
 The SS High Flyer was in the next berth and it had been
loaded with 1,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and
2,000 tons of sulfur, both in 100-pound paper bags, and
was undergoing repairs.
 Ship and dock crews did not seem to be aware of the
combustible, reactive, and explosive properties of the
cargo of either ship.
How it all
started?

4. FirstExplosion:
S.S
GRANDCAMP
 The S.S. GRANDCAMP ship had previously loaded
considerable oil field machinery, drill stems, it halted
on Texas port just for ammonium nitrate.
 On April 16, 1947, around 8:00 a.m. smoke was spotted
in the cargo hold of the SS Grandcamp. Sources states
that a discarded cigarette was the ignition source.
 The ship's captain ordered the hatches sealed and
steam to be pumped into the hold to extinguish the
fire, because he was concerned that water from fire
streams would ruin the cargo.
 This was unlikely to be effective, as ammonium
nitrate(N2H4O3) produces its own oxygen(by breaking
down), thus neutralizing the extinguishing properties
of steam.

5. The S.S. GRANDCAMP

6. Second
Explosion:S.S
HIGHFLYER
 At the time of the explosion of the S.S. GRANDCAMP
it was berthed in the Main Slip alongside Warehouse
(Pier) "A". A cargo of knocked-down boxcars was being
loaded. The ships turbines were down for repair
making it impossible for the ship to move without the
aid of tugs.
 The first explosion ignited ammonium nitrate in the
nearby cargo ship High Flyer. The crews spent hours
attempting to cut the High Flyer free from her anchor
and other obstacles, without success.

7. S.S HIGHFLYER

8. CASUALTIES
 More than 5,000 people were injured, with 1,784
admitted to 21 area hospitals .The exact casualties will
probably never be known as many bodies were blown to
pieces, but about 433 bodies have been recovered, of
which about 371 have been identified.
 About 135 were still missing. The injured numbered in
the hundreds, the best available figure is 2,00 to 3,000,
many of whom were school children injured by flying
glass and falling partitions, and ceilings.

9. RECOMMENDATIONS
 Anyone dealing with or handling ammonium nitrate
should be fully advised of the hazardous nature of the
chemical and fully instructed as to the proper methods
of storage and handling.
 The proper labeling of the containers is of utmost
importance.
 The label should be red in color with the words
"Hazardous Chemicals" :Ammonium Nitrate" - "Handle
With Care" prominently displayed with any other
notations in small type, preferably of some other color.