Jazmin Li
Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, caused catastrophic flooding in Houston, Texas, in 2017. The hurricane dumped more than 4 feet of rain in some parts of the city, causing severe flooding and leading to the closure of Houston's airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. The Houston Airport System activated its emergency operations center to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, while also dealing with flight cancellations, stranded passengers, and flooded runways and roads. The storm's impact on the airports and the city was significant, with some airport employees also experiencing total losses due to flooding in their personal residences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Hurricane Harvey | 27 August 2017 |
| Airports flooded | George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, Ellington Airport |
| Airports closed | George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport |
| Humanitarian flights operating from | Bush Airport, Ellington Airport |
| Military flights operating from | Ellington Airport |
| Number of days Houston Airport System was in "emergency mode" | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Houston Airport System went into emergency mode
Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, caused catastrophic flooding in Houston, Texas, in 2017. The Houston Airport System went into "emergency mode" to ensure the safety and security of passengers and employees, as well as to maintain the airport's infrastructure.
The airport's emergency operations center (EOC) was activated and staffed with essential Tier 1 employees who worked around the clock. All flights were cancelled in and out of the airport, and the roadways surrounding the airports were also closed due to water accumulation and ponding. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), located in a portion of the hurricane's path that suffered some of the heaviest rains, was particularly affected. The airport's administration manager, Sarah Freddie, was charged with coordinating and keeping track of the total number of people stranded at the airport.
Bush Intercontinental Airport, the largest commercial airport in Houston, was also shut down to passenger flights for the first time ever. The airport remained open for military and humanitarian flights, with mobile command centers and medical tents set up to treat people impacted by the hurricane.
Ellington Airport played a critical role in supporting military flight operations and facilitating rescue and relief efforts. The staff at Ellington worked tirelessly to remove debris from roadways and taxiways, ensuring smooth operations for military aircraft and rescue teams.
The Houston Airport System's response to Hurricane Harvey demonstrated the resilience and dedication of its employees, who worked together to keep the airports afloat during this challenging time.
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Bush Airport, Houston's largest, was shut down
Bush Airport, Houston's largest airport, was shut down to passenger flights for the first time in its history during Hurricane Harvey. The airport was forced to close due to the dangerous weather conditions, which saw more than 4 feet of rain in some parts of Houston. The hurricane caused catastrophic flooding, with roads near the airport becoming impassable and the airfield at Bush Airport flooding.
The closure of Bush Airport, also known as George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, impacted thousands of flights and passengers. Airlines were forced to cancel flights, leaving some passengers and employees stranded at the airport. The airport's emergency operations center (EOC) was activated, and essential Tier 1 employees worked around the clock to ensure the safety and security of those still at the airport.
Despite the closure to commercial flights, Bush Airport remained open for military and humanitarian operations. The airport became a lifeline for the region, serving as a temporary home to air assets for federal agencies, including the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA. Medical supplies were routed through the airport, and injured civilians were evacuated to relief hospitals in bordering states.
Bush Airport's general manager, Ted Kitchens, reflected on the unprecedented nature of the disaster and praised the professionalism and creativity of the IAH staff in overcoming operational challenges during the storm. The airport gradually resumed limited flight operations as floodwaters receded, with full service expected to return by the weekend.
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Roads near the airport became impassable
Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, caused catastrophic flooding in Houston, Texas, in 2017. The hurricane dumped more than 4 feet of rain in some parts of the city, with some areas receiving more than 50 inches of rain in just four days. This led to widespread flooding, including at Houston's airports and the surrounding roads.
As the storm stalled over Southeast Texas, the Houston Airport System went into "emergency mode" to ensure the safety and security of passengers and employees, as well as to maintain the airport's infrastructure. All flights were cancelled, and the roadways surrounding the airports, including William P. Hobby Airport, were closed due to water accumulation and ponding.
The roads near the airport became impassable, eliminating access to off-site food options. This left both passengers and employees stranded at the airport. Sarah Freddie, the administration manager at Hobby Airport, was responsible for coordinating and keeping track of the total number of people stranded at the airport. She also had to ensure that everyone at the airport was comfortable and had access to food.
Robert Riedle, Director of Operations for 4 Families, which operates the restaurants at Hobby Airport, stepped in to supply food for the stranded passengers and employees. Riedle provided food from some of his restaurants, including Pappasitos, Pappadeaux, and Pappas Bar-B-Q. Even Freddie herself got into the kitchen to assist with food preparation.
The flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey had a significant impact on the Houston community, with many employees at the airport suffering total losses due to the flooding. The collaboration and teamwork demonstrated during this challenging time became a testament to the resilience of Houston and its airports.
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Thousands of flights were cancelled
Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, caused catastrophic flooding in Houston, Texas, in 2017. The storm dumped more than 4 feet of rain in some parts of the city, with some areas receiving upwards of 50 inches of rainfall in just four days. This led to widespread flight cancellations.
Houston's largest commercial airport, Bush Intercontinental Airport, was shut down to passenger flights for the first time in its history. The airport was closed to commercial operations but remained open for military and humanitarian flights, serving as a lifeline for the region. Bush Airport officials estimated that nearly 10.2 billion gallons of water poured down on the facility during the hurricane, equivalent to about 33 Houston Astrodomes.
William P. Hobby Airport, located in a portion of the hurricane's path that suffered some of the heaviest rains, also experienced significant flooding. The airfield was inundated, and roads surrounding the airport were impassable, stranding passengers and employees. Maintenance staff worked to repair leaks and keep the airport facilities operational, while custodial staff faced the challenging task of maintaining cleanliness in restrooms and other areas to ensure passenger comfort despite the uncertainties caused by the storm.
The impact of the storm extended beyond the airports themselves. Airlines with major operations in Houston, such as United Airlines, were forced to cancel hundreds of flights. United, for example, cancelled 462 flights on Monday, representing 19% of its total flights for that day. Other airlines, including Southwest, Delta, American, and JetBlue, also had to make significant adjustments to their schedules and offered guidance to passengers on changing their travel plans.
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Humanitarian and rescue missions continued
Houston's two major airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, were closed to the public following Hurricane Harvey. Bush Airport, the largest commercial airport in Houston, was shut down to passenger flights for the first time in its history. However, Houston airports remained open for humanitarian and rescue missions.
Bush Airport continued to receive humanitarian and military flights. A US Air Force C-17 aircraft landed at the airport and delivered supplies to those affected by the hurricane. The airport also hosted a FEMA mobile command centre and medical tents, where doctors treated people impacted by the storm.
William P. Hobby Airport was located in a portion of the hurricane's path that suffered some of the heaviest rains. The airport's administration manager, Sarah Freddie, coordinated and kept track of the total number of people at the airport, which included stranded passengers and employees. Maintenance staff worked to repair leaks from the heavy rain accumulation, while custodial staff kept the airport and restrooms clean to ensure passenger comfort.
Ellington Airport also played a critical role in supporting military flight operations during the hurricane. It served as the main airport in the Houston area for incoming aircraft providing search and rescue teams, supplies, and materials. Evacuees were brought to Ellington, where they were then transported to the George R. Brown Convention Center. The airport staff worked to ensure smooth facilitation of military operations, including clearing debris from roadways and reporting the status of open and closed roads and flooded runways to rescue teams.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Houston's airports worked tirelessly to support humanitarian and rescue missions. Despite the challenges of flooding and widespread flight cancellations, the dedication of airport staff and the collaboration of various organisations ensured that much-needed aid and assistance reached those affected by the storm.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all Houston airports were flooded during Harvey. This included George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, and Ellington Airport.
Yes, flights were cancelled at Houston airports during Harvey. Roads near the airport became impassable, and the Houston Airport System went into "emergency mode".
Yes, Houston airports remained open for humanitarian missions and first responder support during Harvey.
