2017 — Aug 25-30, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey, Southwestern TX, esp Houston vicinity — >89
[Blanchard Note: Highlighting in yellow denotes not including in our tally. Highlighted in green denotes not counted in official tally, but included in ours.]
Guyana ( 1) Aug 17, village of Jawalla, Rgn 7. Female, 29; her house collapsed on her.[1]
United States (>89)
— >89 Blanchard based on TX Gov. report of 88 deaths as of Oct 16; 1 TN.
—>88 Texas.
— 1 Tennessee.
Texas (>88)
— >88 62 Direct and 26 Indirect. (Not included are 5 “Possible” hurricane-related deaths.)[2]
— 88 Texas Tribune (Afiune). “State says Harvey’s death toll has reached 88.” 10-13-2017.[3]
— 83 Blanchard based on TX Gov. report of 82 deaths as of Sep 14, and Sep 15 death.
— >82 Thomson Reuters. “Hurricane Harvey: Reports of 82 Texas deaths…” 9-14-2017.[4]
— 79 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
— 76 Wikipedia. “Hurricane Harvey.” 10-5-2017 edit.
Tennessee ( 1)
–1 Memphis, I-40, Aug 31. Motorist, hits tractor-trailer head-on; heavy rain related.[5]
Texas Summary of Deaths by County
Aransas County: ( 1)
Fort Bend County ( 3)
Galveston County: ( 6)
Hardin County: ( 1)
Harris County: ( 39)
Jasper County ( 2)
Jefferson County ( 3)
Montgomery County: ( 5)
Newton County ( 2)
Nueces County ( 1)
Orange County ( 11)
San Jacinto County ( 3)
Victoria County ( 1)
Walker County ( 1)
Total=79
Texas Breakout of Fatalities by County and locality
Aransas County: ( 1)
–1 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–1 Rockport, Aug 25/26. House fire during storm, male. CNN. “Houston area…” 8-27-2017.[6]
Fort Bend County ( 3)
–3 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–2 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–2 Simonton area, Pool Hill Road, Aug 30. Drownings; couple drove pickup into high water.[7]
–1 Body found Sep 12, sand dune, recently flooded area. Male, 63, with early onset dementia.[8]
Galveston County: ( 6)
–6 Austin American-Statesman, TX. “Death toll rises in wake of Harvey’s…” 8-29-2017.[9]
–6 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–6 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below. (Dickinson is 2-3.)
–3 Dickinson. Washington Post (Lowery & Selk). “Harvey’s death toll rises…” 8-29-2017.[10]
–1 Aug 27. Drowning during rescue attempt; male, 54.[11]
–1 Aug 27. Drowning; male, 83.[12]
–1 Sep 3. “…man [64]…who had cellulitis died after getting sepsis from floodwaters.”[13]
–1 La Marque. Homeless man, 52; flooded parking lot, holding onto shopping cart corral.[14]
–1 League City, Aug 27. Drowning; male, 59.[15]
–1 Santa Fe. Aug 26/27, female, 69 at home; oxygen tank failed when electricity was lost.[16]
–1 Texas City nursing home. Female, 80, unable to get dialysis due to storm and flooding.[17]
Hardin County: ( 1)
–1 Silsbee. Body found Sep 7 floating facedown in 3 feet of water in his trailer; male, 67.[18]
Harris County: (39 Harris County {36 Houston})
–39 Harris County. Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
–38 Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries…arc.” 9-16-2017.[19]
–36 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–28 San Antonio Express-News. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit…” 9-1-2017.[20]
–36 Houston. Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
–33 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–1 Aug 26, SW ~Buffalo Bayou. Drowning; female, 76, drove into water; tried to walk out.[21]
–2? Aug 27, I-10 ~Lathrop St.[22] Drowning; female and child in a submerged vehicle.[23]
–1 Aug 27, I-45, No. Harris Co. Drowning; police officer trapped in car in high water.[24]
–6 Aug 27, NE area. Drowning; van in water; grandparents, 4 grandchildren <16.[25]
–Manuel Saldivar, 84.[26]
–Belia Saldivar, 81.
–Daisy Saldivar, 6.
–Xavier Saldivar, 8.
–Dominic Saldivar, 14.
–Devy Saldivar, 16.
–1 Aug 27, North Wayside Dr. (3500 block). Male, 48, drives into high water.[27]
–1 Aug 27, South Houston. Drowning; male, 64; his clock repair business on College.[28]
–1 Aug 28, East Houston, Arkansas St. Body of male, 67 found after water receded.[29]
–1 Aug 28. Drowning; male, 45; left vehicle, fell into floodwater; died at hospital.[30]
–1 Aug 28, LBJ Hosp. Female, 73, found floating in floodwater; initially resuscitated.[31]
–1 Aug 28, Omni Hotel in the Galleria, female employee, 48, after hotel flooded.[32]
–4 Aug 28, Wallisville Rd./Normandy St. intersec. ~Greens Bayou. Males, electrocution.[33]
–1 Aug 29. Baytown. Male, 66, found dead, 4 feet of water after leaving his residence.[34]
–1 Aug 29. Bear Creek 1 subdivision ~Hwy 6 and Clay Road. Male, 25, electrocution.[35]
–2 Aug 29, Cypress Creek. Male vol. rescuers; boat crashed/capsized/went under bridge.[36]
–1 Aug 29. East Freeway vic. Male, 42; body found in parking lot after water receded.[37]
–1 Aug 29, Eastex Freeway grassy area, body of male, 54, found.[38]
–1 Aug 29, Hardy Toll Rd. Heart disease/pneumonia; male, 82, on evacuation bus.[39]
–1 Aug 29, Katy Park area drainage ditch. Drowning; body of male, 26, found.[40]
–1 Aug 29, Meyerwood rd. Female, 89, found floating in 4 feet of water in a home.[41]
–1 Aug 30, Airline Drive (4900 block). Drowning; male, 62, collapsed in floodwater.[42]
–1 Aug 30, Woodforest Boulevard Body of female, 32, found, after water receded.[43]
–1 Aug 30. Boy, 8, following asthma attack, and inability to get emergency care.[44]
–1 Aug 31, Claiborne (7400 block). Male, 65, found floating in water residential st.[45]
–1 Aug 31, Greens Bayou/Houston Ship Channel area, body of male, 24, found.[46]
–1 Aug 31, Houston Ship Channel (within). Body recovered; male, 58.[47]
–1 Sep 3, Memorial area, west Houston. Drowning; body of male, 71, found in home.[48]
–1 Sep 7 (body found), Memorial Area, Pines Condominiums; drowning, female, 71.[49]
–1 Sep 15, Kingwood. Flash-eating bacteria; female, 77, after falling into floodwater.[50]
–1 Friendswood area. Retired coach, 58, died in flooding; body recovered by boat Aug 31.[51]
–1 Humble, NE Harris Co., Aug 29. Female, 38, recovering from surgery, needed emer. care.[52]
–1 Pasadena, Aug 29. Male, 49, trying to drive home; body recovered in a retention pond.[53]
Jasper County (2)
–3 KJAS.com, Jasper, TX. “The local Harvey death toll continues to rise.” 9-7-2017.[54]
–2 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–2 Aug 29, FM 777, Alvin area. High wind; tree falls on truck.[55] Male, 51, female, 43.[56]
Jefferson County (3)
–4 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–3 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–1 Beaumont, Aug 29. Female, 41, drowns; drove into water; swept away after getting out.[57]
–1? “ Aug 30. Woman’s body found floating near Guess Road and Old Voth Rd.[58]
–1 “ Aug 30, 8600 block Overhill Lane. Apparent drowning after leaving vehicle, male, 69.[59]
–1 Port Arthur. Sep 2. Body of female, 88, found on floor of bedroom (2 feet of water).[60]
Montgomery County: (5)
–5 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–5 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
–1 Conroe, Fish Creek, Aug 28. Male, 33, drove pickup around barricade into water; swept away.[61]
–1 FM 2854,[62] Aug 26. Male, 23, hit by multiple vehicles while walking along the road.[63]
–1 Porter, Aug 28. Tree falls onto mobile home on Louis Lane killing female, 60.[64]
–1 Spring, Aug 28. Drowning; male, 61 enters flood water; disappears; body found Aug 29.[65]
–1 Aug 29. Heart attack, woman; first-responders unable to respond, flooded streets in area.[66]
Newton County (2)
–2 Newton County Sheriff reports man and woman died in county “due to floodwaters.”[67]
–1 Deweyville, Aug 31. Drowning; male, 68, who left home to check on neighbor.[68]
–1 Newton area, Aug 30. Drowning; female, 61; vehicle, went into creek off TX 87.[69]
Nueces County (1)
–1 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.
–? Corpus Christi area, Aug 26. Drowning; male, 82, whose back yard borders Nueces River.[70]
–1 Port Aransas, Sand Castle, found Sep 2. Male, 57, found dead in a residence.[71]
Orange County (11)
–11 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
–11 Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries…arc.” 9-16-2017.[72]
–10 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.[73]
–10 Beaumont Enterprise. “Orange Co. opens temporary morgue for Harvey victims.” 9-6-2017
— 9 Beaumont Enterprise (Teitz). “SE Texas death toll rises to 17 reported deaths.” 9-4-2017.[74]
Breakout of Orange County Hurricane-Related Fatalities by Locality:
–1 Cole Creek, west of FM 1136. Apparent drowning; male, 54, attempting rescue.[75]
–1 Nederland, went missing Aug 30, body found Sep 1. Male, 77, “from the floodwaters.”[76]
–1 Orange, Aug 25, Cross Lane home; unidentified infant; no details released.[77]
–1 Orange, Aug 28, 700 block Levingston Street. Unidentified infant. No details.[78]
–1 Orange, Aug 29. “Storm-related.”[79] Female, 82.[80]
–1 Orange, Aug 30. Hospice patient; female, 87.[81]
–1 Orange, Aug 31. “Storm-related.”[82] Female, 73.[83]
–2 Orange, 1800 block of 24th st., Aug 29. Electrocution; two males, one 19.[84]
–1 Vidor, Spruce Street. Male, 75, at home during Harvey; no details provided.[85]
–1 Vidor, Aug 31,[86] I-10 & Church street. Male, 55, found Sep 6, after water receded.[87]
–4 Elderly; deaths were “possibly related to a power outage, according to officials.[88]
San Jacinto County (3)
–3 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–1 Hwy 59, Aug 27. Male, 64, drove into floodwaters drowned. [San Jacinto Co. Sheriff’s Office].[89]
–1 Highway 150, Aug 27. Drowning; baby girl, 3-months-old, swept from father’s arms.[90]
–1 Precinct 3, Aug 28. Drowning; male, 69, swept away herding cattle away from floodwater.[91]
Victoria County (1)
–1 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–1 Sep 5. Electrocution; male, 22, from TN working as electric power lineman.[92]
Walker County (1)
–1 Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
–1 Rural road, San Jacinto River. Drowning; female, 83; vehicle “was caught in floodwaters.”[93]
Summary of Cause of Death Breakouts (78)
Disease ( 3)
Drowning (51)
Electrocution ( 8)
Fire ( 1)
Power Outage ( 5)
Unavailability of Emergency Medical Care Due to Storm or Floodwater ( 4)
Wind/Tree Falls ( 3)
Other or Not Noted ( 6)
Total 78
Breakout of Fatalities by Cause of Death (81)
Disease ( 3)
–1 Galveston County, Dickinson, Sep 3. Sepsis, contact with floodwater; male, 64, had cellulitis
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Hardy Toll Rd., Aug 29, Heart disease/pneumonia; male, 82; evacuation bus.
–1 Harris Co., Kingwood, Sep 15. Flash-eating bacteria; female, 77, after falling into water.[94]
Drowning (51)
–2 Fort Bend Co., Simonton area, Pool Hill Rd., Aug 30. Couple drove pickup into high water.
–1 Fort Bend Co. Body found Sep 12, sand dune, recently flooded. Male, 63, early onset dementia.
–1 Galveston County, Dickinson, Aug 27. Drowning during rescue attempt; male, 54.
–1 Galveston County, Dickinson, Aug 27. Drowning; male, 83.
–1 Galveston County, League City, Aug 27. Drowning; male, 59.
–1 Harden Co., Silsbee. Body found Sep 7 facedown in 3 feet of water in his trailer; male, 67.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 26, ~Buffalo Bayou. Female, 76, drove into water; tried to walk out.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 27, I-45, Drowning; police officer trapped in car in high water.
–6 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 27, NE area. Drowning; van in water; grandparents, grandchildren.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 27, North Wayside Dr. Male, 48, drives into high water.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, College St., Aug 27. Male, 64; in his clock repair business.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 28. Drowning; male, 45; left vehicle, fell into floodwater.
–1 Harris Co., East Houston, Arkansas St., Aug 28. Body of male, 67, found after water receded
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 28. Female, 73, found floating in floodwater after initial rescue.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Omni Hotel, Aug 28. Female employee, 48, after hotel flooded.
–2 Harris Co., Houston, Cypress Creek. Aug 29, Male rescuers/boat crash/capsized/went under bridge.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, East Fwy. vic., Aug 29. Male, 42; found in parking lot after water receded.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Eastex Freeway grassy area, Aug 29. Drowned body of male, 54, found
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Katy Park area drainage ditch, Aug 29. Body of male, 26, found.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Meyerwood Rd. Aug 29. Female, 89, found floating 4 ft water in home.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 29. Male, 66, found dead in 4 ft of water after leaving residence.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Airline Drive (4900 block), Aug 30. Male, 62, collapsed in floodwater.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Woodforest Blvd., Aug 30, Female, 32, found after water receded.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Claiborne (7400 block). Aug 31. Male, 65, found floating in water.
–1 Harris Co., Greens Bayou/Houston Ship Channel area, Aug 31. Body of male, 24, found.
–1 Harris Co., Houston Ship Channel (within), Aug 31. Body recovered; male, 58.
–1 Harris Co., Houston (west), Memorial area, Sep 3. Body of male, 71, found in water; home.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Memorial Area, Pines Condominiums, Sep 7 (body found). Female, 71.
–1 Harris Co., Friendswood area. Male, 58, died in flooding; body recovered by boat Aug 31.
–1 Harris Co., Pasadena, Aug 29. Male, 49, trying to drive home; body found in retention pond.
–1 Jefferson Co., Beaumont, Aug 29. Female, 41; drove into water; swept away after getting out
–1 Jefferson Co., Beaumont, Overhill Lane, Aug 30, Apparent drowning; left vehicle, male, 69.
–1 Jefferson Co., Port Arthur. Sep 2. Female, 88, found on floor of bedroom (2 feet of water).
–1 Montgomery Co., Conroe, Fish Creek, Aug 28. Male, 33, drove pickup around barricade into water.
–1 Montgomery Co., Spring, Aug 28. Male, 61, enters flood water; disappears; found Aug 29.
–1 Newton County, Deweyville, Aug 31. Male, 68, left home to check on neighbor.
–1 Newton Co., Newton area, Aug 30. Female, 61; vehicle, went into creek off TX 87.
–1 Orange Co., Cole Creek, west of FM 1136. Apparent drowning; male, 54, attempting rescue.
–1 Orange Co., Nederland, went missing Aug 30. Found dead Sep 1 “from the floodwaters.”
–1 Orange Co., Vidor, Aug 31, I-10 & Church street. Male, 55, found Sep 6, after water receded
–1 San Jacinto Co., Hwy 59, Aug 27. Male, 64, drove into floodwaters drowned. [Sheriff]
–1 San Jacinto Co., Hwy 150, Aug 27. Baby girl, 3-months-old, swept from father’s arms.
–1 San Jacinto Co., Precinct 3, Aug 28. Male, 69, swept away herding cattle from floodwater.
–1 Walker Co., Rural road, San Jacinto River. Female, 83; vehicle caught in floodwaters.
Electrocution ( 8)
–4 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 28, Wallisville Rd./Normandy St. ~Greens Bayou. Male rescuers.
–1 Harris Co., Houston, Aug 29. Bear Creek 1 subdivision ~Hwy 6 and Clay Road. Male, 25.
–2 Orange Co., Orange, 1800 block of 24th st., Aug 29. Electrocution; two males, one 19.
–1 Victoria Co., Sep 5. Electrocution; male, 22, from TN working as electric power lineman.
Fire ( 1)
–1 Rockport, Aransas County, Aug 25/26. House fire during storm, male.
Power Outage ( 5)
–1 Galveston Co., Santa Fe. Aug 26/27, female, 69; oxygen tank failed when electricity was lost
–1 Orange County. Unidentified No. 1 of 4. “Possibly related to a power outage…officials.”
–1 Orange County. Unidentified No. 2 of 4. “Possibly related to a power outage…officials.”
–1 Orange County. Unidentified No. 3 of 4. “Possibly related to a power outage…officials.”
–1 Orange County. Unidentified No. 4 of 4. “Possibly related to a power outage…officials.”
Unavailability of Emergency Medical Care Due to Storm or Floodwater ( 4)
–1 Galveston Co., Texas City nursing home. Female, 80, dialysis not available; storm/flooding.
–1 Harris Co., Houston. Aug 30. Boy, 8, after asthma attack, and inability to get emergency care
–1 Harris Co., Humble, Aug 29. Female, 38, recovering from surgery, needed emer. medical care.
–1 Montgomery Co., Aug 29. Heart attack, woman; first-responders unable to respond, flooded streets.
Wind (Tree Falls) ( 3)
–2 Jasper Co., FM 777, Alvin area, Aug 29, High wind; tree falls on truck; male, 51, female, 43.
–1 Montgomery Co., Porter, Louis Lane, Aug 28. Tree falls on mobile home killing female, 60.
Other or Not Noted ( 6)
–1 Montgomery Co., FM 2854, Aug 26. Male, 23, hit by vehicles while walking along road.[95]
–1 Nueces Co., Port Aransas, Sand Castle, found Sep 2. Male, 57, found dead in a residence.
–1 Orange, Aug 25, Cross Lane home; unidentified infant; no details released.[96]
–1 Orange, Aug 28, 700 block Levingston Street. Unidentified infant. No details.[97]
–1 Orange County, Vidor, Spruce Street. Male, 75. (No cause of death noted.)
–1 Vidor, Spruce Street. Male, 75, at home during Harvey; no details provided.
Breakout of Fatalities by County and Name of Victim
Aransas County
- Adams, Arthur Curtis, 39
Fort Bend County
- Rogers, Donald, 65
- Rogers, Rochelle, 58
- Simmon, James, 63
Galveston County
- Avila, Mary, 80
- Brown, Clevelon, 64
- Hurley, Patrick, 59
- Murphy, Bobby, 54
- Parsutt, Bonnie, 69
- Pellerin, Peter, 83
Hardin County:
- Coyle, Scott.
Harris County
- Acevedo, Victor Manuel, 67
- Burns, Samuel Lawrence. 62
- Callihan, Travis, 45
- Carreon, Tomas Jr., 25 — or Tomas Carreon-Esquival.
- Delgado, Noah, 8.
- Dills-Dailey, Cassandra, 38 (Harris County, not Houston)
- Dowell, Joseph Dwayne, 43
- Ellis, Wilma Ratcliff, 73
- Guillen, Alonso, 31
- Haines, Robert Arthur, 71
- James, Charles Ray, 65
- Jordan, Ruben Clifford, 58
- Juarez, Benito Cavavazos, 42
- Montalbano, Calvin Oran, 54
- Montgomery, Cathy Harling, 71
- Naranjo, Efrain Angel, 26
- Osorno, Colby Henry, 24
- Pasek, Andrew, 25
- Perez, Jorge Raul, 33
- Perez, Sgt. Steve A., 60
- Qasem, Batool, 76
- Renick, Jill, 48
- Rodriquez, Gustavo Hernandez, 40
- Saldivar, Manuel Quintanilla Jr., 84
- Saldivar, Belia Rojas, 81
- Saldivar, Daisy, 6
- Saldivar, Devorah “Devy,” 16
- Saldivar, Dominic, 14
- Saldivar, Xavier Adam, 8
- Salazar, Martin, 49
- Sanchez, Gary Wayne, 58
- Stanley, Agnes, 89
- Sung, Alexander Kwoksum, 64
- Tucker, Michael, 66
- Vizuet, Benjamin, 33
- Rubio-Vizuet, Yahir
- Williams, Keisha Monique, 32
- Zaring, Ronald, 82
Jasper County
- Barnes, Ginger, 43
- Barnes, Russell, 51
Jefferson County
- Lacobie, Dorothy “Dot,” 88
- Simmons, Roy, 69.
- Sulcer, Collette, 41
Montgomery County
- Esquivel, Remington, 23
- Feuerstein, Joshua Aedan, 33
- Gorman, James Conrad Sr., 61
- Lisa Marie Jones, 60
- Unidentified woman
Nueces County
- Head, Ronald Darrell
Newton County
- Sneed, Richard, 68.
- Thomas, Clementine, 61
Orange County
- Brunett, Clifford Allan, 75
- Caddy, Jimail, 19.
- DeBlance, Gene, 55
- Ebanks, Una Celestine, 82
- Gerity, Francis, 87
- Lewis, Timothy Michael, Jr., age not noted
- Marburger, Sheila, 73.
- McGraw, Lee Roy, 54
- Riley, Michael “Mickey,” 77
- Unidentified infant, 700 block of Levingston Street.
San Jacinto County
- Capers, James Lynn “Jimmy,” 69
- Jones, Ziya, 3-months-old
- Leutert, George Henry, 64
Victoria County
- Brain, Lachlan Morgan, 22
Walker County
- Crooks, Ola Mae, 82
Narrative Information
Aug 27, NYT: “….At least five deaths and more than a dozen injuries were reported by Sunday morning in the aftermath of Harvey, the hurricane that tore across the Gulf Coast of Texas on Friday [Aug 25]….” (New York Times. “Harvey Brings Catastrophic Floods to Houston; at Least Five Reported Dead.” 8-27-2017, 12:13 PM.)
Aug 30: “Houston (AP). At least 21 people are confirmed dead in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, but Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences spokeswoman Tricia says 17 additional deaths are being investigated to determine if they’re storm related. She says authorities expect to find more bodies in homes and cars as the waters from Harvey begin to recede. A woman whose body was found floating in floodwaters near a residential area in southeast Texas is believed to be at least the 21st person to have died in Harvey’s path….”(Associated Press. “More than 20 confirmed dead in wake of Hurricane Harvey.” KWTX 10, Waco, 8-30-2017.)
Sep 14, Wall Street Journal: “With no clear state or federal guidelines, county-level medical examiners have broad discretion in deciding what constitutes a storm-related death.
“Following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma’s lethal rampages across the southeast U.S., county-level medical examiners are plugging away at the grim task of counting the dead—a sometimes thorny responsibility with no clear state or federal guidelines.
“At least 105 people in Texas and Florida died as a result of the two storms, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and an Associated Press tally from local medical examiners and emergency management officials, although it could take months for states to confirm official storm-related death tolls. Both states grant county medical examiners broad discretion in deciding what constitutes a storm-related death, and determinations can vary from county to county.
“There are also no federal standards to guide medical examiners in their designations, said a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Some deaths, such as those caused by flooding or falling debris during a hurricane, are easy to stamp as storm-related, said Joshua Stephany, chief medical examiner for Florida’s District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office, which serves the state’s Orange and Osceola counties. Other deaths, such as a fatal heart attack at a shelter, are considerably more complicated. “Those are the gray-area ones,” said Mr. Stephany, who led the team of pathologists that conducted autopsies of the 49 people killed in last summer’s Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
“If the victim’s shelter was overcrowded, without electricity and lacking in food and clothing, the Medical Examiner’s office would be more inclined to add the victim to the storm’s death toll, Mr. Stephany said. ‘If they already have poor baseline health, and they’re already kind of frail, does the stress of the hurricane push them over, or would they have died anyway?” he said. “Right now, we’re erring on the side that if their baseline health is already bad enough, then it’s probably not hurricane-related.’
“Hurricane Harvey has been linked to at least 80 fatalities in Texas, where medical examiners report hurricane deaths to the Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Division of Emergency Management, said a spokesman for Mr. Abbott.
“The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, which provides medical examiner services for Houston, considers a death storm-related only “if it occurs as a direct consequence of environmental factors related to the storm or flood,” said spokeswoman Tricia Bentley.
“Thirty-four of the state’s deaths occurred in Harris County, according to the most recent report from the institute. All were related to flooding…. ‘Each local jurisdiction must determine the definition that will provide the most meaning and consistency within their jurisdiction,’ Ms. Bentley said.” (Wall Street Journal/Quint Forgey. “Storm-Related Deaths Can Be Difficult to Determine.” 9-14-2017.)
Sources
ABC 7 News, KABC, Houston (Brandi Hitt). “Hurricane Harvey: Major Texas levee breached; residents urged to ‘get out now’.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-29-2017 at: http://abc7.com/death-toll-climbs-to-7-in-texas-as-harvey-flooding-continues/2354257/
ABC 13/KTRK, Houston (Kevin Quinn). “Boy suffering asthma attack during flooding dies.” 9-2-2017. Accessed 9-3-2017 at: http://abc13.com/boy-suffering-asthma-attack-during-flooding-dies/2366137/
American Statesman, Austin (Nolan Hicks and W. Gardner Selby). “Houston: Flooding along key city bayou hits ‘catastrophic’ levels.” 6 a.m., Aug 27 update, Aug 28, 2017, 4:27 a.m. Accessed 8-28-2017 at: http://www.statesman.com/weather/hurricanes/houston-flooding-along-key-city-bayou-hits-catastrophic-levels/prtx1Xazhy56VkDci4jLZN/
American-Statesman, Austin (Nolan Hicks, W. Gardner Selby, Tony Plohetski, Katie Hall). “Houston-area swimmer presumed to be dead, raising death toll to 15, officials say.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-29-2017 at: http://www.statesman.com/news/breaking-news/houston-area-swimmer-presumed-dead-raising-death-toll-officials-say/V73GhtZ2NC3re1XuutJrHN/
Associated Press. “1 confirmed dead, 12-14 injured after Harvey slams southeast Texas.” ABC 7 News. 8-26-2017. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: http://abc7news.com/weather/1-confirmed-dead-at-least-12-injured-after-harveys-landfall/2345227/
Associated Press. “A look at the depth of Harvey’s devastation.” Houston Chronicle, 8-31-2017. Accessed 8-31-2017 at: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/texas/article/AP-PHOTOS-A-look-at-the-depth-of-Harvey-s-12163910.php
Associated Press. “Death toll from Harvey rises to at least 18 as Harris County, Texas, forensic office reports three more fatalities.” Washington Post, 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/death-toll-from-harvey-rises-to-at-least-18-as-harris-county-texas-forensic-office-reports-three-more-fatalities/2017/08/29/1747a478-8d31-11e7-9c53-6a169beb0953_story.html?utm_term=.9150116ea4ef
Associated Press. “Floodwaters drop across much of Houston; Hurricane Harvey death toll at 20.” Fox 8 Cleveland, 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://fox8.com/2017/08/30/floodwaters-drop-across-much-of-houston-hurricane-harvey-death-toll-at-20/
Associated Press. “Harvey brings destruction through Alabama to Tennessee.” AL.com, 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-29-2017 at: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/09/harvey_brings_destruction_thro.html
Associated Press. “Harvey-related death toll climbs to 20, official confirms.” Denver Post, 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/30/hurricane-harvey-death-toll-rises/
Associated Press. “More than 20 confirmed dead in wake of Hurricane Harvey.” KWTX 10, Waco, 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/At-least-20-confirmed-dead-in-wake-of-Hurricane-Harvey-442257193.html
Associated Press (Paul J. Weber and Claudia Lauer). “Relatively low Harvey death toll is ‘astounding’ to experts.” Washington Post, 9-6-2017. Accessed 9-7-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/relatively-low-harvey-death-toll-is-astounding-to-experts/2017/09/06/a5260f52-9347-11e7-8482-8dc9a7af29f9_story.html?utm_term=.abc67ee73b5a
Associated Press. “Shivering toddler found clinging to drowned mom in Texas.” ABC News, 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/harvey-horror-shivering-tot-found-clinging-drowned-mom-49506787
Associated Press. “The Latest: Harvey Death toll rises to 25.” Washington Post, 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/the-latest-leonardo-dicaprio-foundation-donates-1-million/2017/08/30/990fc706-8de0-11e7-9c53-6a169beb0953_story.html?utm_term=.97227c810a4f
Associated Press. “The Latest: Harvey Inland, Losing Tropical Characteristics.” U.S. News & World Report, 8-31-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/tennessee/articles/2017-08-31/the-latest-driver-killed-in-interstate-crash-as-harvey-hits
Associated Press. “What’s Happening: Harvey Deaths Rise; Victims Face Struggles.” New York Times, 9-3-2017. Accessed 9-3-2017 at: https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/09/03/us/ap-us-harvey-whats-happening.html?mcubz=0
Austin American-Statesman, TX. “Death toll rises in wake of Harvey’s record-smashing 50-inch deluge.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/state–regional/death-toll-rises-wake-harvey-record-smashing-inch-deluge/UgBtsIoqsjsCvkTMQ1N86N/
Austin American-Statesman (W. Gardner-Selby). “How many people did Hurricane Harvey kill? Counting Isn’t easy.” 8-31-2017. Accessed 8-31-2017 at: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/breaking-news/how-many-people-did-hurricane-harvey-kill-counting-isn-easy/OBDNbIboRoVFXDhGCgDT5K/
Beaumont Enterprise, TX (Morgan Gstalter). “4 local deaths linked to Harvey.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-31-2017 at: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/4-local-deaths-linked-to-Harvey-12162285.php
Beaumont Enterprise (Morgan Gstalter), TX. “Death of Vietnam vet from Silsbee linked to Harvey.” 9-28-2017. Accessed 11-16-2017 at: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Death-of-Vietnam-vet-from-Silsbee-linked-to-Harvey-12237569.php
Beaumont Enterprise (Morgan Gstalter, Paul J. Weber, Claudia Lauer), TX. “Orange Co. opens temporary morgue for Harvey victims.” 9-6-2017. Accessed 9-7-2017 at: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Orange-Co-opens-temporary-morgue-for-Harvey-12178540.php
Beaumont Enterprise (Liz Teitz). “SE Texas death toll rises to 17 reported deaths.” 9-4-2017. Accessed 9-4-2017 at: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/weather/article/SE-Texas-death-toll-rises-to-16-reported-deaths-12166834.php
Beaumont Enterprise, TX (Morgan Gstalter). “Third body found in Beaumont flood waters.” 9-1-2017 update. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/weather/article/Third-body-found-in-Beaumont-flood-waters-12166834.php
CDEMA News (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency). 8-18-2017. Accessed 9-29-2017 at: http://www.cdema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1721:guyana-emergency-situation-at-jawalla-village-region-7-&catid=35:press-releases
Chron.com (Keri Blakinger). “Body of baby ripped from father’s arms in flood found in muddy puddle 100 yards from parents’ truck.” 9-5-2017. Accessed 9-6-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Body-of-baby-ripped-from-father-s-arms-in-flood-12175231.php
Chron.com (Cindy George) Houston. “Four deaths recorded Saturday attributed to Harvey.” 9-2-2017. Accessed 9-3-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four-deaths-recorded-Saturday-attributed-to-Harvey-12169912.php
Chron.com (Cindy George), Houston. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-4-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-morgue-pushed-to-limit-as-Harvey-12168466.php
Chron.com (Cindy George and Todd Ackerman), Houston. “Kingwood woman confirmed as Harvey death from flesh-eating bacteria. Woman infected in flood-ravaged home.” 9-26-2017. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Kingwood-woman-confirmed-as-Harvey-death-from-12230105.php
Chron.com (Cindy George, Margaret Kadifa, Lindsay Ellis, Keri Blakinger). “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017. Accessed 9-6-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Harvey-Aftermath-Houston-police-officer-dies-19-12159139.php?ipid=hpctp#photo-14053540
Click2Houston.com. “Couple dies after driving through Simonton floodwaters.” 8-30-2017, updated 8-31-2017. Accessed 9-17-2017 at: https://www.click2houston.com/news/couple-dies-after-driving-through-simonton-floodwaters
CNN (Holly Yan, Nicole Chavez, Ray Sanchez). “Harvey aftermath: Texas governor says ‘worst is not yet over’.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/30/us/harvey-texas-louisiana/index.html
CNN (Ray Sanchez, Nichole Chavez, Steve Almasy, Doug Criss). “Houston area copes with flooding as Harvey delivers pounding rainfall.” 8-27-2017, 7:37 AM ET. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/26/us/hurricane-harvey-landfall/index.html
Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Tim Acosta)/USA Today Network. “Hurricane Harvey’s first U.S. victim stayed behind to help others.” 9-6-2017. Accessed 9-6-2017 at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/09/06/first-hurricane-harvey-victim-identified/636111001/
Fox News. “Family of six counted among the dead as Harvey death toll rises to 14.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-29-2017 at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/29/family-six-counted-among-dead-as-harvey-death-toll-rises-to-14.html
Fox News. “Harvey’s death toll climbs in Texas; at least 23 killed.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/30/harvey-makes-2nd-landfall-just-west-cameron-louisiana.html
Houston Chronicle (Keri Blakinger). “6 more Hurricane Harvey victims identified. Beaumont Enterprise, 9-7-2017. Accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Six-dead-from-Hurricane-Harvey-in-Galveston-12179659.php
Houston Chronicle (Cindy George, Brooke A. Lewis). “Additional victims of Hurricane Harvey identified. 9-8-2017. Accessed 9-10-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Additional-victims-of-Hurricane-Harvey-identified-12181752.php
Houston Chronicle (Cindy George). “Authorities confirm a third west Houston drowning from Harvey.” 9-12-2017. Accessed 9-13-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Authorities-confirm-a-third-west-Houston-drowning-12192947.php
Houston Chronicle (Lindsay Ellis and Andrew Kragie). “Authorities look into reports that 6 family members drowned in Houston flooding. 8-28-2017, 4:37 PM. Accessed 8-28-2017 at: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Authorities-look-into-reports-that-6-family-12080594.php
Houston Chronicle (Shelby Webb, John D. Harden, St. John Barned-Smith, Dug Begley, Susan Carroll. “Death toll reportedly reaches 5 as Harvey spawns massive flooding in Houston area.” 8-27-2017. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Harvey-impacts-Texas-Latest-tropical-weather-11953474.php?ipid=chronhpholdreccos
Houston Chronicle (Keri Blakinger) “Flooding from Harvey leaves at least 6 dead in Galveston.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 9-2-2017 at: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/At-least-6-dead-in-Galveston-County-from-12155105.php?cmpid=premartcl
Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Accessed 9-17-2017 at: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harvey-s-human-toll-Each-victim-s-tale-carries-12203760.php
Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017, 9-17-2017 update. Accessed 9-18-2017 at: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harvey-s-human-toll-Each-victim-s-tale-carries-12203760.php
Houston Chronicle online (Jacob McAdams). “Hurricane Harvey claims life of SJC sheriff’s uncle.” 8-28-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/eastex/news/article/Hurricane-Harvey-claims-life-of-SJC-sheriff-s-12115874.php
Houston Chronicle. “Hurricane Harvey: Those Who Died…Image 17 of 19,” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena/news/article/Storm-claims-life-of-Pasadena-city-employee-on-12167494.php#photo-14030532
Houston Chronicle/Margaret Kadifa. “Missing Omni spa manager’s body found at hotel after flood.” 9-7-2017. Accessed 9-7-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Omni-spa-manager-s-body-found-at-hotel-12180344.php
Houston Chronicle (Cindy George, Margaret Kadifa, Lindsay Ellis, Keri Blakinger). “Storm deaths: Harvey claims lives of more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Harvey-Aftermath-Houston-police-officer-dies-19-12159139.php
Houston Chronicle (Cindy George, Margaret Kadifa, Lindsay Ellis, Keri Blakinger). “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017. Accessed 9-13-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Harvey-Aftermath-Houston-police-officer-dies-19-12159139.php
Houston Chronicle (Cindy George, Margaret Kadifa, Lindsay Ellis). “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey tops 50.” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-2-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Harvey-Aftermath-Houston-police-officer-dies-19-12159139.php
Houston Chronicle (Cindy George, Margaret Kadifa, Lindsay Ellis). “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-4-2017. Accessed 9-4-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Harvey-Aftermath-Houston-police-officer-dies-19-12159139.php
Houston Press (Zach Despart). “Former Houston Press Editor, Missing After Harvey, Found Dead in For Bend County.” 9-13-2017. Accessed 9-14-2017 at: http://www.houstonpress.com/news/former-houston-press-editor-missing-after-harvey-found-dead-9788049
KABC, Los Angeles. “Texas mom dies in Harvey floods as her child clung to her body; death toll rises to 9.” 9-29-2017. Accessed 8-29-2017 at: http://abc7.com/texas-mom-dies-in-harvey-floods-as-her-child-clung-to-her-body/2356502/
KFDM, Beaumont (Brandon Scott). “Two killed after tree falls onto pickup truck in Jasper County.” Accessed 9-13-2017 at: http://kfdm.com/news/local/two-killed-after-tree-falls-onto-pickup-truck-in-jasper-county
KHOU, Houston. “At least 8 dead in Houston area from Harvey flooding, winds.” 8-28-2017, 4:20 PM CDT. Accessed 8-28-2017 at: http://www.khou.com/weather/harvey/houston-area-deaths-from-tropical-storm-harvey/468653709
KHOU, Houston. “At least 22 killed in flooding, winds from Harvey.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://www.kgw.com/weather/houston-area-deaths-from-tropical-storm-harvey/468914391
KHOU, Houston. “Live Blog: St. Luke’s Hospital in NW Houston evacuated.” 8-28-2017, 1:05 PM CDT. Accessed 8-28-2017 at: http://www.khou.com/weather/hurricanes/hurricane-harvey/hurricane-harvey-blog-what-you-need-to-know/467436849
KHOU, Houston. “Man found dead in La Marque Walmart parking lot.” 8-27-2017, 11:57 AM CDT. Accessed 8-29-2017 at: http://www.khou.com/news/local/man-found-dead-in-la-marque-walmart-parking-lot-/468168813
KHOU, Houston. “The victims of Hurricane Harvey.” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-2-2017 at: http://www.khou.com/weather/harvey/houston-area-deaths-from-tropical-storm-harvey/468653709
KJAS.com, Jasper, TX. “The local Harvey death toll continues to rise.” 9-7-2017. Accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_6f79cc12-9410-11e7-b717-e328ef0ecd71.html
KTRK, Houston (Steven Romo). “Family warns about unseen dangers after son is electrocuted in flood waters.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: http://abc13.com/warning-about-flood-dangers-after-man-is-electrocuted/2358976/
Los Angeles Times (Matt Pearce and Jenny Jarvie). “Houston is battered by ‘unprecedented’ storm; flooding is widespread with more to come.” 8-27-2017, 10:15 AM. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-tropical-storm-harvey-20170827-story.html
NBC 5 News Dallas-Fort Worth (Frank Heinz). “Sleeping Woman Killed When Massive Oak Tree Falls Onto Mobile Home.” 8-28-2017. Accessed 8-28-2017 at: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Sleeping-Woman-Killed-When-Massive-Oak-Tree-Falls-Onto-Mobile-Home-442040303.html
New York Daily News (Dan Good). “Five reported dead as Harvey floodwaters rise; emergency crews race to rescue people stranded in homes, cars.” 8-17-2017, 11:33 AM. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/harvey-death-toll-rise-residents-urged-stand-roof-article-1.3446395
New York Post (Tamar Lapin). “Ex-newspaper editor who went missing after Harvey found dead.” 9-14-2017. Accessed 9-14-2017 at: http://nypost.com/2017/09/14/ex-newspaper-editor-who-went-missing-after-harvey-found-dead/
New York Post (Tamar Lapin). “Harvey death toll rises to 50 as residents begin long recovery.” 9-4-2017. Accessed 9-3-2017 at: http://nypost.com/2017/09/03/harvey-death-toll-rises-to-50-as-residents-begin-long-recovery/
New York Post (Ruth Brown). “Hurricane Harvey death toll climbs to at least 5.” 8-27-2017. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: http://nypost.com/2017/08/27/hurricane-harvey-claims-second-life-as-floodwaters-rise/
New York Times. “Harvey Brings Catastrophic Floods to Houston; at Least Five Reported Dead.” 8-27-2017, 12:13 PM. Accessed 8-27-2017 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/27/us/harvey-texas-storm.html
New York Times. “Harvey Live Updates: New Reports of Fire and Smoke at Chemical Plant. 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/us/harvey-texas-flooding.html?mcubz=0
New York Times (Julie Bosman). “Stories Emerge of Harvey’s Victims as Death Toll Rises.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/us/harvey-death-toll.html
New York Times. “With Death Toll at 30, Storm Makes 2nd Landfall.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/us/hurricane-harvey-storm-flooding.html
Pasadena Citizen (a division of the Houston Chronicle). “Storm claims life of Pasadena city employee on his way home from work.” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena/news/article/Storm-claims-life-of-Pasadena-city-employee-on-12167494.php
Reuters. “Harvey soaks Louisiana as Houston is paralyzed by flooding.” CNBC.com, 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/30/harvey-to-make-landfall-again-texas-death-toll-mounts-from-record-floods.html
San Antonio Express-News. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey Death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-2-2017 at: http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Harris-County-morgue-pushed-to-limit-as-Harvey-12168524.php
Texas Department of State Health Services (Mary Castillo, Public Information Coordinator, DSHS Office of General Counsel). Email of 10-16-2017 to Wayne Blanchard entitled “RE: Hurricane Harvey Fatalities and Casualty in Texas.”
Texas Tribune (Giulia Afiune). “State says Harvey’s death toll has reached 88.” 10-13-2017. Accessed 10-14-2017 at: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/10/13/harveys-death-toll-reaches-93-people/
The Guardian. “Houston residents begin ‘massive’ cleanup as Harvey death toll hits 45. 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/01/hurricane-harvey-death-toll-rises-houston-residents-return
Thomson Reuters. “Hurricane Harvey: Reports of 82 Texas deaths, but state still investigating.” CBC News, Canada, 9-14-2017. Accessed 9-14-2017 at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hurricane-harvey-death-toll-1.4290318
Thomson Reuters. “Search for survivors moves forward in Texas as Harvey heads north.” 8-31-2017. Accessed 8-31-2017 at: https://www.aol.com/article/weather/2017/08/31/search-for-survivors-moves-forward-in-texas-as-harvey-heads-north/23190398/
Time. “Hurricane Harvey’s Death Toll Rises to at Least 70, The Deaths Span 13 Counties Across Texas.” 9-6-2017. Accessed 9-7-2017 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7bj2W6SXWQ
Wall Street Journal (Quint Forgey). “Storm-Related Deaths Can Be Difficult to Determine.” 9-14-2017. Accessed 9-14-2017 at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-counts-as-a-storm-related-death-it-can-depend-1505416887
Washington Post (Wesley Lowery and Avi Selk). “Harvey’s death toll rises amid stories of harrowing attempts to escape rising waters.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/harveys-death-toll-rises-amid-stories-of-harrowing-attempts-to-escape-rising-waters/2017/08/29/192ce972-8cfc-11e7-8df5-c2e5cf46c1e2_story.html?utm_term=.bfa950bd2c4a
Washington Post (Todd C. Frankel, Avi Selk, David A. Fahrenthold). “Residents warned to ‘get out or die’ as Harvey unleashes new waves of punishing rains and flooding.” 8-30-2017. Accessed 8-30-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/30/harvey-again-makes-landfall-this-time-as-a-tropical-storm-near-cameron-la/?utm_term=.cdb541ef38a5
Washington Post (Kevin Sullivan and Tim Craig). “Two volunteer rescuers killed in Harvey floodwaters after bringing families to safety. 8-30-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/30/two-volunteer-rescuers-killed-in-harvey-floodwaters-after-bringing-families-to-safety/?utm_term=.ed71cf34ef49
Wikipedia. “Hurricane Harvey.” 9-29-2017 edit. Accessed 9-29-2017 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Harvey
WKRN.com, Nashville. “Tennessee man dies while working in Texas for Harvey relief.” 9-5-2017. Accessed 9-6-2017 at: http://wkrn.com/2017/09/05/tennessee-man-killed-while-working-in-texas-for-harvey-relief/
WNYT.com, Albany, NY. “Desperate search for Harvey missing, funerals begin for dead.” 9-1-2017. Accessed 9-1-2017 at: http://wnyt.com/news/grim-reality-in-the-aftermath-of-hurricane-harvey-more-dead/4591013/
WTVD, Houston. “Harvey Latest: Houston police officer drowns in flood water.” 8-29-2017. Accessed 8-29-2017 at: http://abc11.com/weather/harvey-latest-houston-police-officer-drowns-in-flood-water/2337957/
[1] CDEMA News (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency). 8-18-2017.
[2] 10-16-2017 email to Blanchard from Mary Castillo, Public Information Coordinator, Office of General Counsel, Texas Dept. of State Health Services, (response to Blanchard information request). Email notes that direct deaths were from drowning and tree-related trauma, and that indirect deaths referred to “Medical Exacerbation, Electrocution, Motor Vehicle Traffic, Flood Water acquired infection, Fire/burn.” The five “possible” hurricane related deaths were “Firearm and Not specified.”
[3] Writes: “Hurricane Harvey took the lives of at least 88 Texans, according to preliminary numbers released Friday morning by the Department of State Health Services.” Further notes that 62 were directly related to the hurricane (wind, water), and “26 deaths were caused by ‘unsafe or unhealthy conditions’ related to the loss or disruption of services such as utilities, transportation and medical care. The state health agency found deaths caused by medical conditions, electrocution, traffic accidents, flood water-related infections, fires and burns.” Further: “Deaths from natural causes are considered indirectly related to Harvey if physical or mental stress caused by the storm exacerbated ‘pre-existing medical conditions and contributed to death,’ the agency said.” Also: The agency said another five deaths could be related to Harvey, but there’s still not enough information to prove a connection. The final death count for Harvey isn’t expected to be released until next year.”
[4] “More than 80 people were likely killed in Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey…Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on Thursday [Sep 14]. ‘We have a report in that there are 82 deaths,’ Abbott told a news conference…”
[5] AP. “The Latest: Harvey Inland, Losing Tropical Characteristics.” U.S. News & World Report, 8-31-2017: “The Shelby County Office of Preparedness said a driver was killed in a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer on Thursday on I-40 in Memphis. The crash occurred as Harvey dumped heavy rain on Memphis…The emergency management office said in a news release that law enforcement officials believe the bad weather contributed to the crash.” On Sep 1, AP: “Authorities said Harvey’s remnants contributed to the death of a motorist in a head-on crash…with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 40 in Memphis.” (AP. “Harvey brings destruction through [AL] to [TN].” AL.com, 9-1-2017.)
[6] “The first fatality was reported in the hard-hit coastal city of Rockport, where the person died in a house fire during the storm, Aransas County Judge Burt Mills said Saturday afternoon. ‘We didn’t know about it until today,’ he said.” Gender attribution from NY Post. “Hurricane Harvey death toll climbs to at least 5.” 8-27-2017. Victim identified as Arthur Curtis Adams, 39, who had stayed behind to help board up homes in the area when his wife and son evacuated to San Antonio. (Corpus Christi Caller-Times/USA Today Network.. “Hurricane Harvey’s first U.S. victim stayed behind to help others.” 9-6-2017.) Another source writes “Authorities received word of the fire but couldn’t dispatch a crew due to the pounding storm.” (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.) Thus, an indirect death due to inability of emergency services to reach victim.
[7] KHOU, Houston. “At least 22 killed in flooding, winds from Harvey.” 8-30-2017. Victims identified as Donald Ray Rogers, 65 and Spenceria Rochelle Rogers, 58. Were reportedly trying to drive to a relative’s house. Another report notes that the pair, who lived in Katy, were checking on the welfare of “family members in Simonton [Fort Bend County] when they drove into high water, authorities said.” (Click2Houston.com. “Couple dies after driving through Simonton floodwaters.” 8-30-2017, updated 8-31-2017.) A Houston Chronicle article on Sep 16 which lists fatalities by county, has the Rogers couple deaths in Harris County, not in Fort Bend. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.) However, this article writes they drove “into floodwaters in Fulshear that would prove too deep and fast-moving to escape” Fulshear is in Fort Bend County. While Katy, their home town, falls within three counties (Harris, Fort Bend, and Walter), we place the county of death as Fort Bend County, not Harris, in that whether the deaths occurred in Simonton or Fulshear, those locations are in Fort Bend County.
[8] Houston Press (Zach Despart). “Former Houston Press Editor, Missing After Harvey, Found Dead in For Bend County.” 9-13-2017. Victim identified as James B. Simmon. Went missing Aug 30. (New York Post, Tamar Lapin. “Ex-newspaper editor who went missing after Harvey found dead.” 9-14-2017.) Another source, which includes Simmons as a Hurricane Harvey death, writes that “he walked away from his Montrose home in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey….Two seeks alter, on Sept. 12, Simmon’s body was found in a Fort Bend County sand pit some 20 miles from his home. He appeared to have drowned, his ex-wife Jamie Kaelin said.” (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[9] Also: Houston Chronicle (K. Blakinger) “Flooding from Harvey leaves at least 6 dead in Galveston.” 8-29-2017.
[10] Cites the Dickinson Police Department and notes the deaths were as of afternoon of August 29.
[11] Houston Chronicle (K. Blakinger). “6 more Hurricane Harvey victims identified. Beaumont Enterprise, 9-7-2017. Victim identified as Bobby Murphy who “Drowned during ill-fated rescue efforts in Dickinson.”
[12] Houston Chronicle (K. Blakinger). “6 more Hurricane Harvey victims identified. Beaumont Enterprise, 9-7-2017. Victim identified as Peter Pellerien.
[13] Chron.com, Houston. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017; Houston Chronicle. “6 more Hurricane Harvey victims identified. Beaumont Enterprise, 9-7-2017. Victim identified as Clevelon Brown.
[14] KHOU, Houston. “Man found dead in La Marque Walmart parking lot.” 8-27-2017, 11:57 AM CDT. “Police say it is not clear at this time whether or not the man drowned or died from health conditions.” Highlighted in yellow to denote not included in our tally. Another source cites the Galveston County Medical Examiner that the death of Timothy Nolan, wasn’t storm-related — ‘He did not drown’.” (Austin American-Statesman. “How many people did Hurricane Harvey kill? Counting Isn’t easy.” 8-31-2017.)
[15] Houston Chronicle (Keri. Blakinger). “6 more Hurricane Harvey victims identified. Beaumont Enterprise, 9-7-2017. Victim identified as Patrick Hurley.
[16] Houston Chronicle (Keri Blakinger). “6 more Hurricane Harvey victims identified. Beaumont Enterprise, 9-7-2017. Victim identified by Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office as Bonnie Parsutt. Her body was recovered Aug 27. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll…tops 50.” 9-1-2017.) According to Houston Chronicle, family members sought to get her to stay with them in Texas City, “But Parsutt thought it safer to stay with her next-door neighbor who had the generator she hoped could maintain her air supply even if power cut off. But after the storm knocked out electricity in Santa Fe, flooding took out the generator….” (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[17] Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Victim identified as Mary Avila. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.)
[18] Victim identified as Scott Coyle, 67. Beaumont Enterprise (Morgan Gstalter), TX. “Death of Vietnam vet from Silsbee linked to Harvey.” 9-28-2017. We thank Eric Blake of NOAA for alerting us via an 11-15-2017 email that the Hardin County Judge had confirmed a flood fatality of a 67-year-old male on the southside of Lumberton. We assume a directional error was made in that Silsbee is just to the north of Lumberton.
[19] Names of 42 fatalities are noted, but in our footnote to the deaths of the Rogers couple in the Fort Bend County breakout we explain why we include in that county, not Harris County. Additionally, the Houston Chronicle includes the deaths of Ginger and Russell Barnes within its Harris County breakout, while we explain why we include in Jasper County, in a footnote to their deaths in our Jasper County breakout.
[20] “As of 9 p.m. Friday [Sep 1] the institute [Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences] had confirmed 28 storm-related deaths in Harris County — all but one from drowning in floodwaters.” A later account notes that in addition to 28 identified dead, there were three more victims…yet to be identified and the Medical Examiner’s office is investigating one additional death to decide whether it was caused by Hurricane Harvey.” (KHOU, Houston. “The victims of Hurricane Harvey.” 9-1-2017.)
[21] LA Times. “Houston is battered by ‘unprecedented’ storm; flooding is widespread with more to come.” 8-27-2017, writing “In Houston, officials said police Saturday night found the body of a woman in the southwest of the city. She is believed to have been trapped as she drove into high water and tried to get out of her vehicle.” Identification of Buffalo Bayou location from: Houston Chronicle. “Death toll reportedly reaches 5…” 8-27-2017. A KHOU report citing the AP notes she was “on Warrenton near S. Gaston in southwest Houston. She was found by neighbors about 30 yards away from her vehicle.” Houston Chronicle identified the victim as Batool Qasem. (“Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey tops 50.” 9-1-2017.)
[22] Identification of location from: Houston Chronicle. “Death toll reportedly reaches 5…” 8-27-2017.
[23] We highlight in yellow to show that while we have seen this report, we are not including in our tally because we have not been able to confirm. The following is what we saw: “Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared an unconfirmed report that a female and child may have died in a submerged vehicle.” (NY Daily News. “Five reported dead as Harvey floodwaters rise…” 8-17-2017, 11:33 AM.) An American Statesman article also notes these deaths “on Interstate 10” citing the Houston Chronicle. (American Statesman, Austin. “Houston: Flooding along key city bayou hits ‘catastrophic’ levels.” Aug 28, 2017, 4:27 a.m.)
[24] WTVD, Houston. “Harvey Latest: Houston police officer drowns in flood water.” 8-29-2017. Notes that Sgt. Steve Perez, 34-year depart. veteran, drowned when patrol car went into water while reporting to work; made wrong turn. Later reporting is that he entered an underpass at Beltway 8 and Hardy Toll Road and was trapped. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-4-2017.)
[25] KHOU, Houston. “Live Blog: St. Luke’s Hospital in NW Houston evacuated.” 8-28-2017, 12:05 PM CDT. A 4:30 PM CDT 8-28-2017 post notes” “A family of six is believed to have died after drowning in a white van Sunday while trying to escape the floods…relatives tell KHOU 11 News….It happened while crossing a bridge on Green River Road in Greens Bayou.” (KHOU. “At least 8 dead in Houston area from Harvey flooding…” 8-28-2017. A Houston Chronicle report notes this incident is unconfirmed and being investigated by authorities. Notes that KHOU-TV reported interviewing the driver of the van, a great-uncle of the children, ages 6-17, who said that in addition to the four children their two great-grandparents drowned after “traveling on Green River Drive at Greens Bayou in east Houston when they encountered flooding on a bridge and were swept up in the current.” (Houston Chronicle/Lindsay Ellis and Andrew Kragie. “Authorities look into reports that 6 family members drowned in Houston flooding. 8-28-2017, 4:37 PM.)
[26] Fox News. “Family of six counted among the dead as Harvey death toll rises to 14.” 8-29-2017.
[27] Houston Chronicle. “Additional victims of Hurricane Harvey identified. 9-8-2017. Writes “Joseph Dowell headed to work in a downpour on Aug. 27. The 48-year-old did not want to disappoint the people who helped him land a job in the city’s Public Works Department. On the way, he hit high water on Wayside Drive and called his supervisor…The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences confirmed Thursday [Sep 7] that his body was found in a wooded area in the 3500 block of North Wayside Drive. His name had not been added, however, to the official count of storm-related fatalities.” Houston Chronicle of Sep 17 notes middle name as Dwayne.
[28] Austin American-Statesman, TX. “Death toll rises in wake of Harvey’s record-smashing 50-inch deluge.” 8-29-2017. Victim identified as Alexander Kwoksum Sung. College Avenue location from: Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-4-2017.
[29] Chron.com. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit…toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Manuel Acevedo.
[30] KHOU, Houston. “At least 22 killed in flooding…Harvey.” 8-30-2017. Victim identified as Travis Lynn Callihan.
[31] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll…tops 50.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Wilma Ratcliff Harris. Later the Houston Chronicle has the victim’s name as Wilma Ratcliff Ellis. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[32] Chron.com (Cindy George), Houston. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Missing woman identified as Jill Renick. Houston Chronicle reported on Sep 7 that Jill Renick’s body was found inside the hotel off of South Post Oak, “in a ceiling area above the lower level of the hotel.” (Houston Chronicle/Margaret Kadifa. “Missing Omni spa manager’s body found at hotel after flood.” 9-7-2017.)
[33] Washington Post. “Two volunteer rescuers killed in Harvey floodwaters after bringing families to safety. 8-30-2017. Four volunteer rescuers and two newsmen in boat lose control of boat in strong current; drift into water with downed power lines throwing off sparks; jump into water; four electrocuted; swept away. Relative identified the retrieved dead as Yahir Vizueth, 25 and Jorge Peres, 31. Missing are Benjamin Vizueth, 31, and family friend Gustavo Rodriquez-Hernandez, 40, who owned and operated the boat. Subsequent Houston Chronicle report notes the bodies of the two missing men were found Aug 31. (“Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey tops 50.” 9-1-2017.)
Later account names “Peres” victim as Jorge Raul Perez, 33. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.) A later Houston Chronicle has the boat owner/operator’s name as “Gustavo Hernandez Rodriquez”, aged 40. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Also notes spelling of “Benjamin Vizueth” differently — as Benjamin Vizuet and has his age as 33. Similarly “Yahir Vizueth” is noted at “Yahir Rubio-Vizuet.”)
[34] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll…tops 50.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Michael Tucker.
[35] KTRK, Houston. “Family warns about unseen dangers after son is electrocuted in flood waters.” 8-30-2017. Identifies victim as Andrew Pasek, 25, who had gone to his sister’s home to retrieve her cat which had left behind in the rush to evacuate. “Andrew stepped in the yard unaware that a landscape light electrified the water. He stumbled and grabbed the lamppost, using his last words to warn his friend to stay away…”
[36] Fox News. “Harvey’s death toll climbs in Texas; at least 23 killed.” 8-30-2017. Notes a third person from the craft was rescued from where he was clinging to a tree. Victims identified as Alonso Guillen, 31, from Lufkin, and Tomas Carreon Jr., 25. (Chron.com, Houston. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Another source has “Tomas Carreon Jr.” name as “Tomas Carreon-Esquival.” (Chron.com/Cindy George, Houston. “Four deaths recorded Saturday attributed to Harvey.” 9-2-2017.)
[37] WNYT.com, Albany, NY. “Desperate search for Harvey missing, funerals begin for dead.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Benito Juarez Cavazos. Notes “His death was being listed by police as a drowning or accident.” Another source notes name of victim as Benito Cavazos Juarez and the location at East Freeway and Holland Ave. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-4-2017.)
[38] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll…tops 50.” 9-1-2017. Named victim as Calvin Oran Montalbano.
[39] Austin American-Statesman. “How many people did Hurricane Harvey kill? Counting Isn’t easy.” 8-31-2017. Victim identified as Ronald Zaring. Another account notes that Mr. Zaring “died on a rescue bus on the way to a hospital from Friendswood Health Care Center in Friendswood, Texas.” (Houston Chronicle. “Hurricane Harvey: Those Who Died…Image 17 of 19,” 9-1-2017. Friendswood is within two counties — Harris and Galveston.) Hardy Toll Road identification is from: Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-4-2017. Another account has this death among Harris county Harvey deaths and notes additional detail that the Friendswood Health Care Center, from which he and others were evacuated had been flooded by water that “filled” the center. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[40] San Antonio Express-News. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit …” 9-1-2017. Victim ID’d as Efrain Angel. Another source has victim’s name as Efrain Angel Naranjo. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[41] KHOU, Houston. “At least 22 killed in flooding…Harvey.” 8-30-2017. Victim identified as Agnes Stanley.
[42] Chron.com. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Samuel Lawrence Burns, Sr. (Chron.com. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017.
[43] San Antonio Express-News. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey Death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Keisha Monique Williams.
[44] ABC 13, Houston (Kevin Quinn). “Boy suffering asthma attack during flooding dies.” 9-2-2017. Victim identified as Noah Delgado. Also: NY Post. “Harvey death toll rises to 50 as residents begin long recovery.” 9-4-2017. Houston Chronicle lists the boy as one of the Harris County Hurricane Harvey fatalities. (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[45] Chron.com (George). “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Charles Ray James in: Chron.com. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017.
[46] San Antonio Express-News. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit…” 9-1-2017. ID’d as Colby Henry Osorno.
[47] Houston Chronicle. “Additional victims of Hurricane Harvey identified. 9-8-2017. Writes that the body was found in the Houston Ship Channel and identified the victim as Gary Wayne Sanchez. Notes that “He is not among the institute’s [Forensic] confirmed storm-related fatalities because his cause and manner of death are pending…”
[48] Houston Chronicle. “Authorities confirm a third west Houston drowning from Harvey.” 9-12-2017. Notes retired stockbroker, Robert Arthur Haines was found in his “flooded residence” on Langwood on Sep 8.
[49] Houston Chronicle. “Authorities confirm a third west Houston drowning from Harvey.” 9-12-2017. Victim identified as Cathy Harling Montgomery in a “residence with flood damage.”
[50] Chron.com (Cindy George and Todd Ackerman), Houston. “Kingwood woman confirmed as Harvey death from flesh-eating bacteria. Woman infected in flood-ravaged home.” 9-26-2017. Victim identified as Nancy Reed, who died of “‘flood-necrotizing fasciitis’ complicating blunt trauma of an upper extremity via an accident, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
[51] KHOU. “At least 22 killed in flooding…” 8-30-2017. Victim identified as Ruben Jordan. Body recovery report from: Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey tops 50.” 9-1-2017. KHOU report notes body was “Found floating in tree in flood waters.” (KHOU, Houston. “The victims of Hurricane Harvey.” 9-1-2017.) Another source seems to suggest the death was a fatal heart attack and emergency responders could not reach the victims home in time. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017.) Part of Friendswood is in Harris County and part in Galveston. The Houston Chronicle, in its Sep 16 story on Harvey deaths by county, has Jordan’s death in the Harris County section, noting his body was recovered “Aug. 29 along a waterlogged roadway about a mile and a half north of his Friendswood home.” (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.) In that Harris County is the northern part of Friendswood and Galveston is southern, we follow the Houston Chronicle in including Jordan’s death in Harris Co.
[52] Chron.com. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017. Identifies victim as Casey Dailey and notes: “Dailey…was unable to access emergency care beyond her northeast Harris County home, which was surrounded by Harvey floodwaters. The mother of two was recovering from surgery and fell ill. She was rescued…transferred to an airboat and then a dump truck, but lost consciousness when the truck reached a road to load her into an ambulance. She was pronounced dead at a Humble, Texas hospital.” Name noted as Cassandra Dills-Dailey in: Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.
[53] Pasadena Citizen (a division of the Houston Chronicle). “Storm claims life of Pasadena city employee on his way home from work.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as Martin Salazar. Houston Chronicle (“Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey tops 50.” 9-1-2017) notes body was found on Preston Avenue in Pasadena in a ditch.
[54] We have highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally. Reports we have seen seem to include a Beaumont death in “Southeast Texas.” For example a KFDM article “Two killed after tree falls onto pickup truck in Jasper County,’ by Brandon Scott, notes two Jasper County deaths due to a tree fall on a truck then writes: “This marks the second and third weather related deaths KFDM/Fox 4 has confirmed in Southeast Texas since Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coastline Friday night….A woman’s body was found floating in Beaumont [Orange County] on Tuesday.”
[55] Beaumont Enterprise, TX (Morgan Gstalter). “4 local deaths linked to Harvey.” 8-30-2017.
[56] Beaumont Enterprise, TX (Morgan Gstalter). “4 local deaths linked to Harvey.” 8-30-2017. Victims identified as Russel and Ginger Barnes. Writes: “Two people were killed in Jasper County around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night when a tree fell on their truck traveling down FM 777.” The Houston Chronicle, in a Sep 16 article on the Harvey fatalities, by county, includes these deaths in Harris County, but we follow the Beaumont Enterprise account.
[57] KABC, Los Angeles. “Texas mom dies in Harvey floods as her child clung to her body…” 9-29-2017. Victim identified as Colette Sulcer. (AP. “Shivering toddler found clinging to drowned mom in Texas.” 8-30-2017.)
[58] The notation is based on: Beaumont Enterprise, TX. “4 local deaths linked to Harvey.” 8-30-2017. The location was in Beaumont’s North End, what the Mayor had issued a voluntary evacuation order earlier in the week (30th was a Wednesday). We highlight in yellow to denote we do not include in that (1) the Houston Chronicle of Sep 16 notes only three Jefferson County deaths, and (2) we have not been able to locate and verify a 4th Harvey-related death.
[59] Beaumont Enterprise, TX (Gstalter). “Third body found in Beaumont flood waters.” 9-1-2017 update. Article notes “It appears to be a storm related accidental death.” Another source writes: “Roy Simmons [69] was found in floodwaters in Beaumont on Aug. 30 after apparently being swept away in the strong current when he tried to leave his vehicle.” (Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.)
[60] Chron.com, Houston. “Four deaths recorded Saturday attributed to Harvey.” 9-2-2017. Victim identified as Dorothy Helen Lacobie by Port Arthur Justice of the Peace. Houston Chronicle (“Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries…tragic arc.” 9-16-2017), writes according to deputies she probably drowned the day before.
[61] AP. “Harvey-related death toll climbs to 20…” Denver Post, 8-30-2017. Cites Montgomery Co. sheriff for identification of victim as Joshua Feuerstein, who apparently tried to backup after realizing water was too deep, but vehicle swept into deeper water before witnesses, who swam to the truck, could reach him before he drowned. Another account notes: “On Monday night, Joshua Aedan Feuerstein, 33, of The Woodlands was caught in rapid floodwater on Fish Creek Thoroughfare near the Woodforest subdivision, according to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.” (San Antonio Express-News. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit…toll rises.” 9-1-2017.)
[62] FM is short for Farm to Market Road.
[63] Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Victim identified as Remington Esquivel. Later, the Chronicle writes: “Storm conditions are believed to have played a role in the crash.” (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.)
[64] NBC 5 News Dallas-Fort Worth (Frank Heinz). “Sleeping Woman Killed When Massive Oak Tree Falls Onto Mobile Home.” 8-28-2017. Victim identified as Lisa Marie Jones. (American-Statesman, Austin (Hicks, Selby, Plohetski, Hall). “Houston-area swimmer presumed to be dead, raising death toll to 15, officials say.” 8-29-2017.)
[65] American-Statesman, Austin. “Houston-area swimmer presumed to be dead, raising death toll to 15…” 8-29-2017. “A man is presumed to be dead in the Houston area after he tried to swim through flood waters Monday [Aug 28], according to Precinct 3 of the Montgomery County constable’s office [Montgomery County border’s Harris County to the north; Houston is in Harris]. The man who is estimated to have been between 60-70 years old, was seen swimming near Spring Trails Ridge and Grand Parkway, constable’s officials said. He entered the water around 11:30 p.m. People saw the man in distress and attempted to help him to no avail, constable’s officials said. ‘Due to the exceptionally fast-moving flood waters, rescue crews were unable to deploy,’ the constable’s office said in a statement.” Identification as location near Spring Park Ridge and the Grand Parkway in Spring, from: Chron.com, Houston. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017. Victim identified as James Gorman Sr. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.)
[66] Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.
[67] Chron.com (C. George), Houston. “Harris County morgue pushed to limit as Harvey death toll rises.” 9-1-2017.
[68] KJAX.com, Jasper, TC. “Body of Deweyville man found in high water.” 9-4-2017. Victim ID’d as Richard Sneed.
[69] Chron.com. “Storm deaths: Death toll…Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017. Victim identified as Clementine Thomas.
[70] Austin American-Statesman. “How many people did Hurricane Harvey kill? Counting isn’t easy.” 8-31-2017. Article cites the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s office, who indicted the death to be “water-related.” We have not been able to confirm via other reporting, and thus are skeptical.
[71] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 75.” 9-12-2017. Victim identified as Ronald Darrell Head. Article cites Port Aransas Mayor statement of Sep 2.
[72] Highlighted in yellow to denote not used — overtaken by Sep 26 Houston Chronicle report.
[73] Though ten Orange Co. deaths noted top of article, within Orange Co. breakout are descriptions of eleven deaths.
[74] Writes “Four of the deaths were elderly people and possibly related to a power outage, according to officials.”
[75] Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Identifies victim as Lee Roy McGraw and notes his body was recovered Sep 3.
[76] Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Identifies victim as Michael “Mickey” Riley. Presumably drowning if death was “from the floodwaters.”
[77] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
[78] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
[79] AP. “The Latest: Harvey Death toll rises to 25.” Washington Post, 8-30-2017. Cites Orange County Judge.
[80] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey…75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017. Victim ID’d as Una Celestine Ebanks.
[81] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017. Victim identified as Francis Gerity. “No details were released” by Orange City police.
[82] AP. “The Latest: Harvey Death toll rises to 25.” Washington Post, 8-30-2017. Cites Orange County Judge.
[83] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017. Victim identified as Sheila Jane Marburger.
[84] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017. Victims identified as Timothy Michael Lewis, Jr., age not noted and Jimail Caddy.
[85] Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Provides no detail, thus we speculate this was one of elderly whose deaths were elsewhere noted as related to power outage. Identifies victim as Clifford Allan Brunett.
[86] Date reported missing.
[87] Beaumont Enterprise, TX. “Orange Co. opens temporary morgue for Harvey victims.” 9-6-2017; Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017. Chronicle identified victim as Gene DeBlance, and quotes Vidor Police Chief to effect that he believed “DeBlance drove into high waters on Interstate 10, going east near Church Street. He escaped his vehicle but was swept away by strong currents.”
[88] Source: Chron.com. “Storm deaths: Death toll…Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-5-2017. Highlighted in yellow to denote not part of the tally.
[89] Chron.com (Keri Blakinger). “Body of baby ripped from father’s arms…” 9-5-2017. Victim identified as George Henry Leutert at: Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its…tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.
[90] Chron.com (Cindy George) Houston. “Four deaths recorded Saturday attributed to Harvey.” 9-2-2017. A later report, providing more detail notes: “The child’s parents, a Houston couple in their 20s, had fled their home due to flooding and were on their way to shelter at a friend’s house on Aug. 27 when rising waters forced them out of their pickup truck along Highway 150. They swam through 30- to 40-foot-deep water looking for safety, according to the sheriff’s office [San Jacinto County] – but lost their only child in the process. ‘The current was so fast, it ripped the baby out of their arms’ [firefighter]…The couple clung to tree branches for hours, waiting for help to come. Firefighters finally stumbled across the Houston parents while rescuing two men trapped in a pickup truck by the bulging waters of Winters Bayou.” (Chron.com (Keri Blakinger). “Body of baby ripped from father’s arms in flood found in muddy puddle 100 yards from parents’ truck.” 9-5-2017.) Victim identified as Ziya Jones by: Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.
[91] Houston Chronicle online (Jacob McAdams). “Hurricane Harvey claims life of SJC sheriff’s uncle.” 8-28-2017. Victim identified as Jimmy Capers. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Death toll from Harvey exceeds 60.” 9-4-2017. Age of 69 from: Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries…arc.” 9-16-2017.
[92] WKRN.com, Nashville. “Tennessee man dies while working in Texas for Harvey relief.” 9-5-2017. Victim identified as Lachlan [Morgan] Brain. Age of victim and specificity of electrocution from: Houston Chronicle. “Harvey’s human toll: Each victim’s tale carries its own tragic arc.” 9-16-2017.
[93] Victim identified as Ola Mae Crooks. (Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.)
[94] Victim died of “‘flood-necrotizing fasciitis’ complicating blunt trauma of an upper extremity via an accident…”
[95] Speculate this is included in reporting on storm-related deaths due to heavy rain and wind reduced visibility.
[96] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.
[97] Houston Chronicle. “Storm deaths: Harvey claims…more than 75 in Texas.” 9-26-2017.