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106-533: The first of this type of amusement ride was built by J.P. Newburg in 1884 down the side of a hill at Watchtower Park in Rock Island, Illinois . The ride traveled along a 500-foot (150 m) greased wooden track, skipping across the Rock River at the bottom. It was then pulled back to the ramp by an onboard ride attendant. Newburg took this unique ride concept next to Chicago, where more flumes were built and

212-522: A 131-foot (40 m) drop at a 45' angle that would propel the boat to speeds approaching 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Pilgrims Plunge opened for the 2009 season and was featured on a segment of the Travel Channel 's Extreme series. It was renamed Giraffica for the 2013 season and removed in April 2014 due to downtime and reliability issues. Rock Island, Illinois Rock Island

318-505: A 90% confidence interval of $ 90–160 billion. The scope of flooding in areas with low National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participation lends to the large uncertainty in the damage total. This ranks Harvey as the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the country alongside Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, accounting for inflation and cost increases since 2005, the National Hurricane Center considers Harvey

424-508: A Dios , Olancho , and Yoro departments . About 8 inches (200 mm) of precipitation was expected along the coast, while inland areas were forecast to receive 2.76 to 3.15 in (70 to 80 mm) of rain. As the remnants of Harvey approached Mexico, the Civil Protection Secretary of the state of Campeche issued a blue alert, indicating minimal danger. When Harvey redeveloped at 15:00 UTC on August 23,

530-482: A closed-circuit track. Most modern shoot-the-chute rides usually consist of (though not limited to) an oval-shaped layout or a figure-eight layout. Many shoot-the-chute installations also have an observation platform or bridge so that spectators, in addition to riders, can get wet from the splash created by the boats. Intamin took the shoot-the-chute concept to extremes with the opening of its first Mega Splash, Perilous Plunge at Knott's Berry Farm . At its opening, it

636-518: A combined $ 1 million into the hurricane relief fund, while also opening BBVA Compass Stadium to accept donated supplies for processing and distribution. Athletic events were rescheduled as far away as Kentucky , where the storm's remnants were expected to cause heavy rains on September 1, interfering with Friday night high school football . More than 50 high schools in the state moved games that had been scheduled for Friday to either Thursday or Saturday. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner imposed

742-465: A female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.97. The city's population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

848-652: A fortuitous place first for settlement and then for steamboat traffic, bridges, and railroads. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (RI) was founded here in 1851, known informally as the Rock Island Line ; over the next century, the railroad grew to serve fourteen states but ended in bankruptcy in 1980. As part of later nineteenth-century development, two first-class hotels: the Harper House (built by Ben Harper and opened in February 1871) and

954-667: A fuel depot in Speightstown was flooded. Winds from Harvey ripped the roof off a church. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , nine homes were flooded and four others experienced wind damage. Also, a tree fell on a school, damaging the building. Blocked drains in Port Elizabeth resulted in more than 15 businesses being flooded. A total of 15 people were housed in shelters after the storm. Strong winds and heavy rainfall also affected Suriname and Guyana . In

1060-409: A fundraiser to help Texas residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Because of an anonymous donor willing to match $ 2 for every $ 1 raised up to a total of $ 100,000, Peter Huntsman also agreed to match donations up to $ 100,000. The combined total of $ 200,000 was met by August 31, 2017. Following this, their new goal was $ 1 million. Singapore dispatched Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters from

1166-575: A heavier bridge, a monument exists on Arsenal Island marking the Illinois side. On the Iowa side, the bridge was located near where 4th and Federal streets intersect with River Drive. The Lock and Dam No. 15 and the Government Bridge are located just southwest of the site of the first bridge. The Government Bridge , completed in 1896, is notable for having two sets of railroad tracks above

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1272-552: A large number of Superfund -designed brownfield sites that contain a wide variety of toxins and carcinogens. Two Superfund sites in Corpus Christi were flooded. In the months after the hurricane struck, some hospitals in Texas saw a spike in birth rates, with a 17% increase in birth rates being reported at Corpus Christi Medical Center. A similar, larger baby boom also occurred after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 . Due to

1378-510: A mandatory curfew on August 29 from midnight to 5 a.m. local time until further notice. He cited looting as the primary reason for the curfew. On August 29, President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump , and U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz toured damage in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area . President Trump made a formal request for $ 5.95 billion in federal funding on August 31 for affected areas,

1484-449: A new surface low. Late on August 23, the remnants of Harvey regenerated into a tropical cyclone and re-attained tropical storm intensity by 18:00 UTC. Initial reorganization was slow; however, within a highly favorable environment, the system soon underwent rapid intensification as an eye developed and its central pressure quickly fell. After becoming a hurricane on August 24, Harvey continued to quickly strengthen over

1590-509: A slightly weakened state. Harvey became the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005 . Once Harvey moved inland, it began to weaken rapidly as its speed slowed dramatically to a crawl, and Harvey weakened to a tropical storm on August 26. For about two days the storm stalled just inland, dropping very heavy rainfall and causing catastrophic flash flooding. Harvey's center drifted back towards

1696-492: A storm surge watch became in effect from Port Mansfield to High Island. Additional watches and warnings were posted in these areas at 09:00 UTC on August 24, with a hurricane warning from Port Mansfield to Matagorda ; a tropical storm warning from Matagorda to High Island; a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande; a storm surge warning from Port Mansfield to San Luis Pass; and

1802-474: A storm surge watch from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande. As the hurricane neared landfall on August 24, an extreme wind warning —indicating an immediate threat of 115–145 mph (185–235 km/h) winds—was issued for areas expected to be impacted by the eyewall; this included parts of Aransas , Calhoun , Nueces , Refugio , and San Patricio counties. The watches and warnings were adjusted accordingly after Harvey moved inland and began weakening, with

1908-477: A temporary reprieve as a result of Harvey, as his legal team was based in Harris County, an area heavily affected by the hurricane. By August 30, corporations across the nation collectively donated more than $ 72 million to relief efforts, with 42 companies donating at least $ 1 million. Professional athletic teams, their players, and managers provided large donations to assist victims of

2014-560: A tropical storm as it stalled near the coastline, dropping torrential and unprecedented amounts of rainfall over Texas. On August 28, the storm emerged back over the Gulf of Mexico, strengthening slightly before making a fifth and final landfall in Louisiana on August 29. As Harvey drifted inland, it quickly weakened again as it became an extratropical cyclone on September 1, before dissipating two days later. In addition to

2120-583: A tropical storm watch was posted for Dominica , while a tropical storm warning became in effect in Barbados , Martinique , Saint Lucia , and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines . All watches and warnings were discontinued by late on August 18, as the storm continued westward into the Caribbean. In Honduras, a green alert was issued for the Atlántida , Islas de la Bahía , Colón , Cortés , Gracias

2226-515: A tropical wave north of Colombia , late on August 19. The remnants were monitored for regeneration as it continued west-northwestward across the Caribbean and the Yucatán Peninsula , before redeveloping over the Bay of Campeche on August 23. Harvey then began to rapidly intensify on August 24, regaining tropical storm status and becoming a hurricane later that day. While

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2332-629: Is a city in and the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois , United States. The population was 37,108 at the 2020 census . Located at the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers , it is one of the Quad Cities along with neighboring Moline and East Moline in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa . The Quad Cities had a population of 384,324 in 2020. The city

2438-634: Is currently home to 13 public schools, with one high school, two junior high schools, nine elementary schools, and one alternative education center. Several private schools also serve Rock Island, including Jordan Catholic Elementary School and Alleman Catholic High School . Villa de Chantal Catholic school closed in 1978, and the building was destroyed by fire in 2005. Schools that were closed and demolished include Franklin Junior High School, Central Junior High School, Lincoln Elementary School, and Audubon Elementary School. Rock Island, Illinois

2544-523: Is home to Rock Island Arsenal , the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the US, which employs 6,000 people. The original Rock Island, from which the city name is derived, is now called Arsenal Island . The original portion of what is now known as Rock Island was called Farnhamsburg – after the original two homes were built by Colonel George Davenport and Russell Farnham in 1826. Davenport and Farnham were business partners, trading with

2650-680: Is the site of the Quad City Hindu Temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated chiefly to the deity Venkateswara . The temple opened in 2007. Prior to its construction, Hindu worshippers had to travel to St. Louis or Peoria to participate in Hindu festivals and worship. The first football game in what was to become the National Football League was played at Rock Island's Douglas Field in September, 1920. It

2756-709: The Great Depression , is the largest roller dam in the world. The dam is designed for navigation, not flood control. During flood season, the rollers are raised, unleashing the full flow of the water. On the south side of the city, overlooked by the Black Hawk State Historic Site , are auto and railroad crossings of the Rock River to Milan, Illinois . This set of bridges also crosses the historic Hennepin Canal and Sears Dam (this

2862-621: The Gulf of Mexico declined in the wake of Harvey by approximately 21% — the output dropped to 378,633 barrels per day from the original 1.75 million barrels of oil produced each day. The Eagle Ford Rock Formation (shale oil and gas) in southern Texas reduced production by 300,000 to 500,000 bpd , according to the Texas Railroad Commission . Many energy-related ports and terminals closed, delaying about fourteen crude oil tankers. About 2.25 million bpd of refining capacity

2968-506: The Houston metropolitan area and Southeast Texas ; this made the storm the costliest natural disaster recorded in Texas at the time. It was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005, ending a record 12-year span in which no hurricanes made landfall at the intensity of a major hurricane throughout the country. In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 inches (1,000 mm) of rain as

3074-573: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), $ 3 billion in "insured windstorm and other storm-related property losses"; and about $ 4.75 billion in insured flood losses of private and commercial vehicles. By January 1, 2018, payouts from the NFIP reached $ 7.6 billion against total estimated losses of $ 8.5–9.5 billion. Economists Michael Hicks and Mark Burton at Ball State University estimated damage in

3180-854: The National Women's Soccer League rescheduled their August 27 match against the North Carolina Courage to a later date. Both teams moved their training camps to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (near Dallas) while preparing for their next matches; the Dash's match the following week, against the Seattle Reign , was played in Frisco, with all proceeds from ticket sales benefiting an American Red Cross relief fund for hurricane victims. The Dynamo and Major League Soccer also donated

3286-780: The New England Patriots pledged to match up to $ 1 million in donations to the Red Cross. Multiple Hollywood celebrities also pitched in, collectively donating more than $ 10 million, with Sandra Bullock providing the largest single donation of $ 1 million. Leonardo DiCaprio provided $ 1 million to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund through his foundation . President Donald Trump donated $ 1 million to 12 charities involved in relief efforts. Rachael Ray provided donations totaling $ 1 million to animal shelters across

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3392-774: The Republic of Singapore Air Force to areas affected by the hurricane for humanitarian operations, working alongside the Texas National Guard. Israel pledged $ 1 million in relief funds for restoration of non-state run communal infrastructure. Mexico sent volunteers from the Mexican Red Cross , firemen from Coahuila , and rescue teams from Guanajuato to Houston to assist in relief. Mexico later rescinded their commitment for aid after Hurricane Katia made landfall on Mexico's Gulf Coast, on September 9, 2017. Venezuela offered $ 5 million through

3498-753: The Texas Rangers from Minute Maid Park in Houston to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida ; ironically, just two weeks later, Hurricane Irma would force the stadium's regular tenants, the Tampa Bay Rays , to move three home games to Citi Field in New York City. In the aftermath, the Houston Astros began to wear patches which had the logo of the team with the word "Strong" on

3604-407: The poverty line , including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over. According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are: Construction began in April 2017 for a new Rock Island County courthouse. The $ 28 million project was completed in the fall of 2018, and the old courthouse was expected to be torn down upon completion of

3710-571: The $ 120 billion that it took to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina. According to weather analytics firm Planalytics , lost revenue to Houston area retailers and restaurants alone will be approximately $ 1 billion. The Houston area controls 4% of the spending power in the United States. In September 2017, the Insurance Council of Texas estimated the total insured losses from Hurricane Harvey at $ 19 billion. This figure represents $ 11 billion in flood losses insured by

3816-507: The 2010 census, Rock Island has a total area of 17.872 square miles (46.29 km ), of which 16.85 square miles (43.64 km ) (or 94.28%) is land and 1.022 square miles (2.65 km ) (5.72%) is water. In 2000 Census , there were 39,684 people, 16,148 households, and 9,543 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,492.0 inhabitants per square mile (962.2/km ). There were 17,542 housing units at an average density of 1,101.6 per square mile (425.3/km ). The racial makeup of

3922-505: The Caribbean. Hostile environmental conditions, namely wind shear , imparted weakening and caused Harvey to degenerate into a tropical wave by August 19. Though it lacked an organized surface low, the remnants of Harvey continued to produce significant convection as it traversed the Caribbean Sea and Yucatán Peninsula . The system reached the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico on August 23 and soon consolidated around

4028-646: The Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm watch in Tamaulipas from Boca De Catan to the mouth of the Rio Grande . The watch remained in effect until 21:00 UTC on August 25, after it became evident that the storm no longer posed a significant threat to that area. FEMA worked with the Coast Guard , Customs and Border Protection , and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to prepare for

4134-639: The Great Lakes Regional. Karters flock to Rock Island every year for the prestigious Rock Island Grand Prix on Labor Day weekend , which attracts competitors from across the United States and the world. With exception to 1997, when the annual race was canceled due to legal liability issues, the Rock Island Grand Prix has been held every year since 1994. Rock Island High School has won state championships in basketball, girls and boys track, softball, and wrestling. Additionally

4240-657: The Houston area. Moody's Analytics initially estimated the total economic cost of the storm at $ 81 billion to $ 108 billion or more; most of the economic losses are damage to homes and commercial property. Reinsurance company Aon Benfield estimated total economic losses at $ 100 billion, including $ 30 billion in insured damage, making Harvey the costliest disaster in 2017 by their calculations. USA Today reported an AccuWeather estimate of $ 190 billion, released August 31. On September 3, Texas state governor Greg Abbott estimated that damages will be between $ 150 billion and $ 180 billion, surpassing

4346-568: The Houston metropolitan area alone at $ 198.63 billion. Preliminary reporting from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration set a more concrete total at $ 125 billion, making Harvey the 2nd costliest tropical cyclone on record, behind Hurricane Katrina with 2017 costs of $ 161 billion (after adjusting for inflation). A significant portion of the storm's damages are uninsured losses. Regular homeowner insurance policies generally exclude coverage for flooding, as

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4452-487: The Mississippi River was built between Arsenal Island and Davenport in 1856. Many steamboat pilots felt that the bridge had been intentionally positioned to make it hard for them to navigate, and this conflict reflected a larger rivalry: St. Louis and its steamboats against Chicago and its railroads. Two weeks after the bridge opened, the steamboat Effie Afton collided with the bridge, caught fire, and damaged

4558-438: The NFIP underwrites most flood insurance policies in the US. Although the purchase of flood insurance is obligatory for federally guaranteed mortgages for homes within the 100-year flood plain , enforcement of the requirement is difficult and many homes, even within the 100-year flood plain, lack flood insurance. In Harris County, Texas —which includes the city of Houston—only 15% of homes have flood insurance policies issued by

4664-567: The NFIP. Participation in the NFIP is higher, but still low, in neighboring Galveston (41%), Brazoria (26%), and Chambers Counties (21%). Homeowners sued authorities after reservoir releases damaged homes. On September 8, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 601, which among other spending actions designated $ 15 billion for Hurricane Harvey relief. The American Red Cross , Salvation Army , United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Relief, United States Equestrian Federation , Humane Society of

4770-663: The Quad Cities. District Station in downtown Rock Island serves as a hub of the system. Hurricane Harvey Effects  • Texas Hurricane Harvey was a devastating tropical cyclone that made landfall on Texas and Louisiana in August ;2017, causing catastrophic flooding and more than 100 deaths. It is tied with 2005 's Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record, inflicting $ 125 billion (2017 USD) in damage, primarily from catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding in

4876-478: The Rock Island House were built in town. The Rock Island Arsenal has manufactured military equipment and ordnance for the U.S. Army since the 1880s. The Rock Island Southern Railway was an interurban line that ran from Rock Island to Monmouth, Illinois , then onward to Galesburg, Illinois . It was built between 1906 and 1910. A portion of the trackage, from Rock Island to Preemption, Illinois ,

4982-445: The United States , Knights of Columbus , Samaritan's Purse , Catholic Charities USA , AmeriCares , BakerRipley , Operation BBQ relief, many celebrities, and many other charitable organizations provided help to the victims of the storm. Anarchists (including Antifa ) also provided relief. Business aviation played a part in the rescue efforts, providing support during the storm as well as relief flights bringing in suppliers in

5088-413: The United States, and even became the name of several amusement parks . While the original form of the ride is largely obsolete, modern log flume rides work on similar principles. On the earliest chute rides, the flat-bottomed boat was pulled up the ramp by cable, sometimes with a turnaround on a small turntable. In the ride at Sea Lion Park, the passengers arrived at the top by elevator . The bottom of

5194-528: The area were inundated with water. One indirect death occurred in Memphis due to a weather-related head-on collision of a car and a tractor trailer on Interstate 40 . Heavy rainfall in Nashville inundated a number of roads and flooded an apartment complex, resulting in the evacuation of 13 people. Overall, about 50 people in the city evacuated from flooded areas. An EF1 tornado also touched down in

5300-458: The bottom of the patch, as well as promoting the hashtag Houston Strong , prominently displaying them as the Astros won the 2017 World Series . Manager A. J. Hinch has stated in an interview that the team wasn't just playing for a title, but to help boost moral support for the city. The annual Texas Kickoff game that was to feature BYU and LSU to kick off the 2017 college football season

5406-565: The bridge. The owner of the Effie Afton sued the bridge company for damages, and the case, Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Co. , featured Abraham Lincoln as one of the lawyers who defended the railroad at trial in September, 1857. This test case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court , which ruled in favor of the railroad in 1862. Although the original bridge is long gone, having been replaced in 1866 with

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5512-710: The brunt of the storm. Four homes were demolished, while five other residences and two shops were damaged. Several public buildings were also damaged, including the community center, the village council buildings, the nursery, and public schools. A 29-year-old woman died after her house collapsed on her. The widespread and catastrophic effects of Hurricane Harvey resulted in one of the costliest natural disasters in United States history. An estimated 300,000 structures and 500,000 vehicles were damaged or destroyed in Texas alone. The storm also spawned 53 tornadoes across six states. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated total damage at $ 125 billion, with

5618-510: The car lanes. There are only two bridges in the world with this feature. Three other bridges span the river between Rock Island and Davenport. The Crescent Rail Bridge is a railroad-only bridge, completed in 1899. The Centennial Bridge was completed in 1940 for autos only. The newest bridge is the Interstate 280 bridge , completed in 1973. Lock and Dam No. 15, completed in 1934 as a federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during

5724-537: The center and along a warm front on September 1 as it moved further inland, indicating that the system transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone by 06:00 UTC that day. The remnants continued northeastwards before being absorbed into another extratropical system on September 3. Tropical cyclone warnings and watches for the Windward Islands were issued starting at 15:00 UTC on August 17, about six hours before Harvey developed. At that time,

5830-516: The central part of the state. High wind knocked out power in Fuquay-Varina, Sanford, and Holly Springs, and large hail hit parts of Wake, Harnett, and Johnston counties. In Willow Spring, hail larger than softballs damaged homes and cars. Flash flooding hit Greenville further east. Tornadoes were also reported in Angier, Clayton, and Smithfield, but they were unconfirmed. Energy production in

5936-402: The city was 77.13% White , 17.17% African American , 0.28% Native American , 0.75% Asian , 0.07% Pacific Islander , 2.41% from other races , and 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.90% of the population. There were 16,148 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 14.2% had

6042-414: The city's drainage system could handle a heavy rainfall event, with only 105 of the 120 water pumps being operational and some power turbines being out of service. The city's public schools, as well as six universities and a medical school, closed on August 29. As Harvey began re-emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on August 28, the tropical storm warning in Texas from Mesquite Bay to High Island

6148-702: The country to assist with disaster relief efforts, while stating that no immigration enforcement operations would be conducted. Approximately 32,000 people were displaced in shelters across the state by August 31. The George R. Brown Convention Center , the state's largest shelter, reached capacity with 8,000 evacuees. The NRG Center opened as a large public shelter accordingly. More than 210,000 people registered with FEMA for disaster assistance. The Cajun Navy , an informal organization of volunteers with boats from Louisiana, deployed to Texas to assist in high-water rescues. The Houston Independent School District announced that all students on any of

6254-499: The deaths in Texas, 68 were from the direct effects of Harvey, the highest such number in the state since 1919. 22 weak tornadoes touched down throughout the state. An EF1 tornado near Fresno caused some minor injuries. Throughout Texas, approximately 336,000 people were left without electricity and tens of thousands required rescue. Throughout the state, 103 people died in storm-related incidents: 68 from its direct effects, including flooding, and 35 from indirect effects in

6360-406: The district's campuses would be eligible for free lunch throughout the 2017–18 school year. The Federal Department of Education eased financial aid rules and procedures for those affected by Harvey, giving schools the ability to waive paperwork requirements; loan borrowers were given more flexibility in managing their loan payments. A 36-year-old inmate sentenced to death for a 2003 murder was granted

6466-756: The early 20th century, The Pittsburg Plunge, is currently in operation at Kennywood amusement park in Pennsylvania. Water chutes were also a popular attraction in the United Kingdom in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, with large multi-chute examples built at Blackpool , the Bradford Exhibition, Earls Court Exhibition Centre , and Southport , all now demolished. Smaller single-chute versions are extant and operating at East Park, Kingston upon Hull , Peasholm Park, Scarborough , and Wicksteed Park, Kettering . A large single chute ride

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6572-405: The entire Gulf Coast of Texas from High Island northward. Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency for 30  counties on August 23, while mandatory evacuations were issued for Calhoun, Jackson , Refugio, San Patricio, and Victoria counties, as well as parts of Brazoria , and Matagorda counties. On August 26, Governor Abbott added an additional 20 counties to

6678-515: The extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season , Harvey developed from a tropical wave to the east of the Lesser Antilles , reaching tropical storm status on August 17. The storm crossed through the Windward Islands on the following day, making landfall on the southern end of Barbados and a second landfall on Saint Vincent . Upon entering the Caribbean, Harvey began to weaken due to moderate wind shear , and degenerated into

6784-503: The football and basketball programs are perennial powerhouses. Rock Island Public Schools Stadium has an artificial surface and has a seating capacity of over 15,000. Rock Island is the location of television station WHBF-TV . Until 1963, WHBF was one of only two television stations in the Quad Cities area. (The other is WOC-TV on the Iowa side of the river.) Rock Island was also the longtime former home of WHBF-TV's former sister radio stations, WHBF and WHBF-FM , although it does remain

6890-715: The former, high winds in the capital city of Paramaribo caused roof damage to the Presidential Palace and two homes, while the Torarica Hotel and Casino suffered structural impact. Additionally, four dwellings were deroofed in Commewijne and three others lost their roofs in Wanica ; in the latter, the Ministry of Social Affairs building was damaged by falling trees. In Guyana, the village of Jawalla bore

6996-509: The huge cost and extent of the damage it caused, Harvey caused at least 107 confirmed deaths: 1 in Guyana and 106 in the United States. Due to the extensive damage, the name "Harvey" was retired in April 2018 and will not be used for another Atlantic tropical cyclone. A westward-moving tropical wave emerged from Africa over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on August 12. A surface circulation slowly developed and convection consolidated around

7102-457: The hurricane's aftermath. By August 29, 2017 approximately 13,000 people had been rescued across the state while an estimated 30,000 were displaced. The refinery industry capacity was reduced, and oil and gas production was affected in the Gulf of Mexico and inland Texas. On Monday, the closure of oil refineries ahead of Hurricane Harvey created a fuel shortage. Panicked motorists waited in long lines. Consequently, gas stations through

7208-675: The immediate aftermath. Volunteers from amateur radio 's emergency service wing, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service , provided communications in American Red Cross shelters in South Texas. Many corporations also contributed to relief efforts. Operation BBQ relief had the help from several local individuals and businesses kick off the support of providing meals for volunteers and victims. Smokers, pallets of wood, and another company came up with

7314-504: The licensed city of those stations. Also, National Public Radio member station WVIK is licensed to and located in Rock Island on the campus of Augustana College , and WGVV-LP, which is also licensed to the city of Rock Island. Rock Island is the home base for NOAA Weather Radio WXJ-73 , the Quad Cities' area NWR station, programmed by the National Weather Service in Davenport. Quad Cities MetroLINK provides bus service on numerous routes connecting Rock Island to destinations across

7420-414: The local Native Americans . The original city plat was filed on July 10, 1835, and was named Stephenson. It was renamed Rock Island in March 1841. The southern portion of Rock Island, including today's Watch Hill area, was originally known as Searstown. It was named after David B. Sears - who built the Sears Power Dam on the Rock River . Searstown was annexed by Rock Island in 1915. This area has been

7526-412: The low over the subsequent days; the system became a tropical depression on August 17. Maintaining its brisk westward motion, the system strengthened slightly and became a tropical storm later that day, at which time it was assigned the name Harvey . With maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (70 km/h), Harvey made landfalls in Barbados and St. Vincent on August 18 before entering

7632-554: The new building. However, resident opposition delayed the demolition, with the phrase "Save Our Courthouse" being used by opponents to the demolition. The old courthouse was demolished in April 2023. The majority of the city is served by the Rock Island–Milan School District with portions of the southwest area falling under the Rockridge School District. The Rock Island–Milan School District

7738-410: The next day, ultimately reaching peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane. Around 03:00 UTC on August 26, the hurricane made landfall at peak intensity on San Jose Island , just east of Rockport , with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and an atmospheric pressure of 937  mbar (27.7  inHg ). It made a second landfall on the Texas mainland, at Rockport, three hours later in

7844-471: The northeastern side of the city, damaging trees, homes, carports, and power lines. An additional EF0 tornado on the southeastern side of the city damaged trees, a carport, a warehouse, and a garage, while also flipping an 18-wheeler. Rain in Kentucky was blamed for a fatal car accident. On September 1, the outer bands of Harvey's remnants passed through North Carolina . Severe weather was reported across

7950-400: The pounds of pork to kick off the support effort. Operation BBQ relief vendors volunteering for the Houston flood relief estimates that they will serve at least 450,000 meals. On August 27, 2017, it was estimated that Operation BBQ relief will be expecting 25,000 to 30,000 meals a day. On August 27, 2017, KSL-TV , KSL Newsradio , FM100.3 , and 103.5 The Arrow created

8056-521: The public. It was demolished in March 2020. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana , built an even larger shoot-the-chute ride named Pilgrims Plunge. Designed and built by Intamin and dubbed a Hyper Splash, it was, at its opening, the world's tallest water ride, with a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Pilgrims Plunge featured a 135-foot open elevator lift leading to

8162-533: The ramp curved upwards, causing the boat to skip across the water until it came to a stop. The boat was guided to a landing by a boatman on board. The oldest ride of this type still in operation is the boat chute constructed in 1926 and 1927 located at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park in Rossville, Georgia , near Chattanooga, Tennessee . An operating modern reproduction of the Luna Park shoot-the-chute ride of

8268-492: The rides grew in popularity. Paul Boyton opened Paul Boyton's Water Chute, America's first modern amusement park, at 63rd and Drexel in Chicago , on July 4, 1894. Boyton's was the first amusement park to rely solely on mechanical attractions. Paul Boyton and Thomas Polk built another example in 1895 for Sea Lion Park at Coney Island . The ride was widely copied and "chute" rides were found at many amusement parks throughout

8374-537: The second-costliest. Harvey was the costliest natural disaster recorded in Texas at the time, until it was surpassed in February 2021 by a severe winter storm that crippled the state's power grid , which was estimated to have cost at least $ 195 billion (2021 USD) in damages in Texas. Nationwide, 107 people died in storm-related incidents: 103 in Texas, 2 in Arkansas, 1 in Tennessee, and 1 in Kentucky. Of

8480-417: The shutdown in refineries, gas prices did see an increase nationwide. However, the increase was not as extensive as Hurricane Katrina . Additionally, Harvey's impact coincided with Labor Day Weekend , which sees a traditional increase in gas prices due to the heavy travel for that weekend. Nonetheless, the spike brought the highest gas prices in two years. The flooding in Houston from the storm required

8586-549: The southeast, ultimately re-emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on August 28. Once offshore, the poorly organized system struggled against strong wind shear. Deep convection persisted north of the cyclone's center near the Houston metropolitan area along a stationary front , resulting in several days of record-breaking rain. Early on August 30, the former hurricane made its fifth and final landfall just west of Cameron, Louisiana , with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h). Associated convection with Harvey became focused north of

8692-670: The state of emergency declaration. Furthermore, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated by the USGS on behalf of the Governor's Texas Emergency Management Council , including the Texas Division of Emergency Management , thus providing for humanitarian satellite coverage. In Louisiana , Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state. A mandatory evacuation

8798-603: The state were forced to close due to the rush. More than 20 percent of refining capacity was affected. More than 48,700 homes were affected by Harvey throughout the state, including over 1,000 that were completely destroyed and more than 17,000 that sustained major damage; approximately 32,000 sustained minor damage. Nearly 700 businesses were damaged as well. Yet the Texas Department of Public Safety stated more than 185,000 homes were damaged and 9,000 destroyed. The hurricane also caused many people to believe that in

8904-555: The state, about 500 people were rescued by August 28, while 269 people went to a shelter in southwest Louisiana, about 200 of whom were rescued from their homes. An EF2 tornado near Evangeline damaged four homes, one of which was destroyed. The tornado also damaged fences, a motorcycle, a pickup truck, and toppled three electrical poles. Rain-slicked roads were blamed for two fatal accidents in Arkansas . In Alabama , an unusually large, long-tracked EF2 tornado in

9010-473: The state-owned Citgo Petroleum , which operates a refinery in Corpus Christi. Houston officials stated that the Houston drinking water and sewer systems were intact; however, "hundreds of thousands of people across the 38 Texas counties affected by Hurricane Harvey use private wells, according to an estimate by Louisiana State University researchers, and those people must fend for themselves." Additionally, Harris County , which includes Houston, contains

9116-569: The storm and its aftermath. The agency placed disaster response teams on standby at emergency posts in Austin, Texas , and Baton Rouge, Louisiana . Upon the NHC resuming advisories for Harvey at 15:00 UTC on August 23, a hurricane watch was issued in Texas from Port Mansfield to San Luis Pass , while a tropical storm watch was posted from Port Mansfield south to the mouth of the Rio Grande and from San Luis Pass to High Island . Additionally,

9222-491: The storm moved generally northwest, Harvey's intensification phase stalled slightly overnight from August 24–25; however, Harvey soon resumed strengthening and quickly became a Category 4 hurricane later that day with peak 1-minute sustained winds of 130 mph. Hours later, Harvey made landfall at San José Island, Texas , at peak intensity, followed by another landfall at Holiday Beach at Category 3 intensity. Rapid weakening then ensued, and Harvey had downgraded to

9328-599: The storm. The Houston Astros pledged $ 4 million to relief along with all proceeds from their home game raffles. Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander also donated $ 4 million to the cause. A fundraiser established by Houston Texans defensive lineman J. J. Watt exceeded $ 37 million. For his efforts, Watt received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award . The Texas Rangers and Tennessee Titans both provided $ 1 million, while

9434-536: The system slowly meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing unprecedented flooding. With peak accumulations of 60.58 in (1,539 mm), in Nederland, Texas , Harvey was the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States . The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, which displaced more than 30,000 people and prompted more than 17,000 rescues. The eighth named storm , third hurricane, and first major hurricane of

9540-674: The traditional Governor's Cup National Football League preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans scheduled for August 31 to be moved from NRG Stadium in Houston to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas . The game was later canceled to allow the Houston Texans players to return to Houston after the storm. In addition, the Houston Astros were forced to move their August 29–31 series with

9646-542: The vast majority of which would go to FEMA. Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the state's entire National Guard for search and rescue, recovery, and clean up operations due to the devastating damage caused by the storm and resulting floods. Other states' National Guard's have offered assistance, with several having already been sent. Meanwhile, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement assigned approximately 150 employees from around

9752-723: The vicinity of Reform and Palmetto damaged two homes and destroyed a barn along SR 17 , while four people were hospitalized for their injuries. The same tornado also caused damage to trees and roofs in Lamar County near Kennedy and additional damage in Fayette County , causing two more injuries. Another EF2 tornado in Arab destroyed chicken houses and damaged homes and trees. In Tennessee , more than 19,000 people lost electricity in Memphis . Low-lying streets in

9858-528: The volume of the splash. A similar ride, Hydro, was later constructed at Oakwood Theme Park in Wales, UK. Perilous Plunge was removed from the park in 2012. Schlitterbahn in Corpus Christi, Texas , opened "Padre Plunge" in May 2017. This ride previously stood at Alabama Splash Adventure where it was known as "Buzzsaw Falls". It was damaged by Hurricane Harvey three months later and the ride permanently closed to

9964-404: The warning discontinued at 15:00 UTC on August 26. By 09:00 UTC on the following day, only a tropical storm warning and a storm surge warning remained in effect from Port O'Connor to Sargent . However, watches and warnings were re-issued as Harvey began to re-emerge into the Gulf of Mexico, and beginning at 15:00 UTC on August 28, a tropical storm warning was in effect for

10070-529: The wild, only 10 individuals of Attwater's prairie chicken remained at most until Spring 2018, when it was discovered that there were about a dozen wild individuals left. Heavy rainfall extended eastward into Louisiana, with the state recording up to 14.88 in (378 mm) of precipitation near the town of Iowa . In the city of Lake Charles , flood waters reached 4 ft (1.2 m) in height in some areas, with homes inundated and hundreds of people forced to evacuate in one neighborhood alone. Throughout

10176-408: Was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 34,729, and the median income for a family was $ 45,127. Males had a median income of $ 32,815 versus $ 23,378 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,202. About 10.9% of families and 14.5% of the population were below

10282-477: Was built at the Battersea Park funfair - now demolished - and was an integral park of a chase sequence in the 1959 Dial 999 episode "Inside Job". The shoot-the-chute concept has evolved over time in the amusement park industry. All modern shoot-the-chute rides feature a guide track after the descent down the chute into the pool of water that allows the boats to return to the loading platform—completing

10388-650: Was extended eastward into Louisiana to the community of Cameron at 12:00 UTC, while a tropical storm watch was issued from Cameron to Intracoastal City . Winds left residents throughout Barbados without electricity, with a majority of outages occurring in Christ Church , Saint Joseph , Saint Lucy , and Saint Michael provinces. Flooding washed one house off its foundation, while water entered some houses, forcing some people to evacuate. Bridges in Saint Andrew and Saint Joseph were damaged. Additionally,

10494-684: Was hosted by the Rock Island Independents (1907–1926), who were a charter NFL franchise in 1920. The Rock Island Islanders were a minor league baseball team that played for 37 seasons between 1901 and 1948. The Islanders played at Douglas Park and were affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia A's . The Rock Island Legion Post 200 baseball team won the 4th State Championship in its history in 2011 in Galesburg, Illinois. Post 200 would finish 4th that year in

10600-678: Was moved to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans . The NCAA FBS football game between Houston and UTSA was postponed due to the aftermath of the storm. It was originally scheduled for September 2 at the Alamodome in San Antonio and was ultimately canceled. The Houston Dynamo rescheduled a planned Major League Soccer match against Sporting Kansas City on August 26 to October 11. The Houston Dash of

10706-537: Was named after the entrepreneur David B. Sears, who previously built the Sears Dam between Arsenal Island and Moline.) In 2007 a new bridge was completed between 3rd Street Moline/southeast Rock Island and Milan. It expedites the trip to Milan, the airport, and points south on U.S. Route 67 . Rock Island is located at 41°29′21″N 90°34′23″W  /  41.48917°N 90.57306°W  / 41.48917; -90.57306 (41.489083, -90.573154). According to

10812-657: Was offline for several days; that is about 12% of total US capacity, with refineries affected at Corpus Christi, and later Port Arthur and Beaumont , and Lake Charles, Louisiana . The price of Brent crude versus West Texas Intermediate crude oil achieved a split of U.S. $ 5. Two ExxonMobil refineries had to be shut down following related storm damage and releases of hazardous pollutants. Two oil storage tanks owned by Burlington Resources Oil and Gas collectively spilled 30,000 gallons of crude in DeWitt County . An additional 8,500 gallons of wastewater

10918-619: Was ordered in Cameron Parish for the cities of Big Lake, Cameron , Creole , Grand Chenier , Hackberry , Holly Beach , and Johnson Bayou . Additionally, a voluntary evacuation was ordered in Vermilion Parish for low-lying areas south of State Highway 14 . The Louisiana National Guard prepared about 500,000 sandbags and emergency boats and high-water-rescue vehicles were placed on standby should flooding occur. In New Orleans , there were concerns about whether or not

11024-570: Was shared with the CRI&;P line that served the coal mines in Cable, Illinois , and Sherrard, Illinois . The line finally folded in 1952. Due to its geography, Rock Island has a rich history of bridge building, including the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi (now gone), an unusual two-track railroad bridge, and the largest roller dam in the world. The first railroad bridge across

11130-680: Was spilled in the incidents. On August 30, the CEO of Arkema warned one of its chemical plants in Crosby, Texas , could explode or be subject to intense fire due to the loss of "critical refrigeration" of materials. All workers at the facility and residents within 1.5 mi (2.4 km) were evacuated. Eight of the plant's nine refrigeration units failed without power, enabling the stored chemicals to decompose and become combustible. Two explosions occurred around 2:00 a.m. on August 31; 21 emergency personnel were briefly hospitalized. Due to

11236-469: Was the tallest and steepest water flume ride in the world. Three seven-ton 24-passenger boats would climb a 121-foot (36.8 m) lift-hill, round a curve and descend a 115-foot (35 m) water chute at a 77.8-degree slope. Upon landing in the lagoon below, the boats created a 45-foot (13.7 m) high splash that drenched riders as well as spectators standing on an observation bridge overlooking the ride. The ride used an adjustable electromagnetic braking system to control

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