Virus-weary Texas hit by Category 1 Hurricane Hanna

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS— Already battered by the coronavirus pandemic, southeast Texas faced a new but no less frightening foe Saturday as Hurricane Hanna slammed the coast with heavy rains and winds predicted to reach 175 km/h.

Hanna strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane Saturday, becoming the first hurricane to hit the southern coastal region of Texas since Hurricane Harvey struck the area in August 2017 and caused the worst rainstorm in U.S. history.

Hanna’s eye made landfall on Padre Island, about 100 km north of the U.S.-Mexico border, about 5 p.m. Saturday, with winds of 145 km/h. As the National Weather Service warned that the strong winds could peel roofs from homes, mangle trees and cause power failures, mayors and local officials turned from one crisis mode to another.

The cities and counties in the path of Hanna are some of the same communities that have seen a sudden spike in CO

VID-19 cases and hospitalizations as Texas has become one of the largest hot spots in the country. In a state that is no stranger to bad weather, the typical hurricane-prep ritual was altered by social distancing and face coverings, with fever checks required to enter officials’ news briefings and sandbag distribution provided by workers who covered their faces in masks and bandanas.

When natural disasters strike, swift and effective disaster response by local, state and federal officials has always been difficult. The pandemic has made it even harder.

“Hurricanes can be deadly events,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference Saturday afternoon.

“We cannot allow this hurricane to lead to a more catastrophically deadly event by stoking additional spread of COVID-19.”

Abbott said he was issuing a disaster declaration for 32 counties.

Hawaii also geared up on Saturday, to face Hurricane Douglas which threatened to pummel the islands with dangerous surf, strong winds and flash floods.

Powerful storms are familiar to many in Hawaii who have spent the past several summers preparing for tropical cyclones.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said officials anticipate rain, wind and storm surge on east-fasting shores.

“We know that it is weakening as it approaches, but it still will have significant impact on each island,” Ige said at a news conference.