On August 25, Hurricane Harvey tore through Port Aransas, Texas, bringing 130 mph winds and a 9' tidal surge. I had been corresponding with Rick Pratt, the director of Port Aransas Museum and a boat builder at Farley Boat Works, an extension of the museum. He emailed me on September 1, a week after the Category 4 hurricane. Here's Rick's description of the damage:
The devastation of Port A is incredible; the fact that no one died is even more so. [One Port Aransas resident who had stayed to ride out the storm was found dead on September 3. That has been the only reported fatality in Port Aransas. —Ed.] This is a storm far worse than Celia or the 1919 storm, which were on record as our worst.
Our house came through with very little damage due to skilled building, good maintenance, and a careful selection of building site. We chose a spot high in the dunes and then built a low-profile house. It worked. Then add the major ingredient: luck. Neighbors all around us took a lot of damage. Much of my next-door neighbor’s house is now in my pond.
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Thank you Rick and Chris for this sad report and a glimmer of hope that Farley Boat Works and The PlyWooden Boat Festival will arise from the mud and mosquitoes.
A plea, especially to all Texas “messers”: Click on the link mentioned above and send a donation to Farley Boat Works. They and Duckworks are the best things that have happened for small boat building in our state. Help keep it alive!