Some roads around the port are also impassable, disrupting the path of transportation to and from the port.
Southeast Texas-based Port of Houston made the following statement on its Facebook page on 28 August: “All Port Houston facilities will remain closed on Tuesday, August 29th due to the continued threat of inclement weather.
“We will be continuing to monitor the developing weather conditions to determine whether operations can safely resume on Wednesday.”
Precautions in place
On 25 August, the port posted that Barbours Cut and Bayport Container Terminals would close that day at noon in anticipation of the hurricane.
Port Corpus Christi on the southwest coast of Texas also remains closed.
On Twitter, Port Corpus Christi said it was in the process of an emergency meeting to decide what course of action to take next.
As the hurricane was drawing near on 24 August, the port stated on its website that it had actioned Port Condition 2 (Tropical Hazards expected within 24 hours) in accordance with its 2017 Hurricane Readiness Plan (HRP).
It said as part of Port Condition 2, port police and security personnel were required to continue assisting the harbour master with vessels seeking safe harbour and monitor vessels that have been approved to moor at port facilities.
Security
Maintenance crews’ emergency and storm related work orders are priority, stated the port. Crews will not be allowed to perform any other additional work and will continue securing port facilities and buildings including include all oil docks, cargo docks, guard shacks and the Security Command Centre.
John LaRue, executive director at Port Corpus Christi, said: ““The geographical location of Port Corpus Christi and its facilities along the Texas Coast makes having a hurricane readiness plan imperative for safety, commerce, and resiliency.”
Hurricane Harvey’s wrath in Houston has begun to turn inland as the rain spreads to other Gulf States; Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Arkansas.
The hurricane turned tropical storm has caused unprecedented flooding in Texas, with rainwater believed to be 25 inches deep in some parts of the southeast.