This Primer, published by the Network for Public Health Law on Friday, September 8, 2017,  provides a visual snapshot and a timeline on state and federal emergency declarations in response to Hurricane Harvey and Irma. 

On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Texas. On August 26, Harvey was downgraded to a Tropical Storm and on August 30 it made landfall in Louisiana. Harvey’s impact has been torrential, with some areas receiving over 50 inches of rain. As of September 7, at least 70 deaths were attributed to Harvey and tens of thousands of people were forced to seek temporary shelter.

On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma, a category 5 hurricane, swept through the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, killing at least 7 people. Downgraded to a category 4 on September 8, Irma is fast approaching the southeastern U.S. and is expected to hit Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

For more information about this set of PowerPoint slides, go to https://www.networkforphl.org/resources_collection/2017/09/08/925/primer_emergency_legal_preparedness_-_hurricanes_harvey_and_irma/?utm_source=Network+Report+9-14-17&utm_campaign=Network+report+9-14-17&utm_medium=email&utm_content=326.