This timeline highlights some memorable events as the devastating storm hit Jefferson County and southeastern Texas.

Tuesday,
Aug. 29, 2017

• Red Cross shelter opened at Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center; other people were brought to the Carl Parker Center on Lamar State College Port Arthur campus and Max Bowl in the city.

• Part of the city’s rescue team was fighting an apartment fire as water rescues were underway.

• Coast Guard rescues — in boats and helicopters, locals and non-locals brought boats and began water rescues, including those by the informal Cajun Navy and Cajun Army.

• Rescues went on in Mid-County with residents brought to area schools and churches.

Wednesday,
Aug. 30, 2017

• During overnight hours the civic center flooded. Evacuees there were brought to Thomas Jefferson Middle School; other evacuees would follow.

• Early morning, the city of Port Arthur, on its official Twitter account, asked for help from individuals with boats, saying they are needed for rescues.

• Floodwaters inundated several Port Arthur nursing homes. Volunteers with boats and others helped evacuate the residents, resulting in several lawsuits.

• An estimated 1,000 apartment units were damaged in the flooding as well as a majority of the city’s motels.

Thursday,
Aug. 31, 2017

• Floodwaters began to recede; many roads remained impassible.

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

• Jack Brooks Regional Airport was the scene of a mass evacuation. People were loaded on C-130 planes and sent to mega shelters in Dallas and San Antonio.

• About 3,000 people in Port Arthur were without power.

Saturday,
Sept. 2, 2017

• Houston hip-hop artist Trae the Truth and Houston resident and mixed martial arts fighter Derrick Lewis drove in from Houston in a high-profile vehicle filled with donations for affected residents. These were distributed at First Sixth Street Baptist Church on the city’s Westside.

• About 1,500 people in Port Arthur were without power.

Friday, Sept. 8, 2017

• Thomas Jefferson Middle School shelter still housed hundreds of people.

Tuesday,
Sept. 12, 2017

• Housing was becoming a desperate issue as apartment dwellers were given five days to vacate apartments, many of severely damaged by flooding.

• Hilton Kelley, executive director and founder of Community In-Power and Development Association Inc., an environmental non-profit organization, led an eviction protest at Port Arthur City Hall with about 10 residents.

• Plans were announced to house displaced residents on two floating barges; each could house up to 300 people.

Wednesday,
Sept. 13, 2017

• Computer servers went down after overwhelming response to the Immediate Assistance Program through American Red Cross. Aid was available through October.

Thursday,
Sept. 14, 2017

• Floating barges were canceled as it was announced the vessels could not pass Coast Guard inspection. The city continued seeking alternative temporary housing.

Friday,
Sept. 15, 2017

• The Texas Division of Emergency Management erected large tents at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center capable of holding all of the 250 people still staying at TJMS.

Monday,
Sept. 18, 2017

• School begins for students/teachers in Port Arthur Independent School District. Lucian Adams Elementary and the district offices remained closed due to damages.

Wednesday,
Sept. 20, 2017

• The city of Port Arthur had three debris collection sites: 60th Street, Jade Avenue and 19th Street.

Friday,
Sept. 22, 2017

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush visited the city and several housing developments.

Saturday,
Sept. 30, 2017

• Austin Disaster Relief Network visited thousands of local residents for food, water, clothing, household necessities, help with filing for assistance and prayer for spiritual needs at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Early October 2017

• Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or DSNAP, was made available to affected residents through the Texas Health and Human Services for those in need of food assistance. Tents were set up outside Central Mall to hold many who applied. Those people were led to a large room inside the mall where they went through the applicant process and, if eligible, received a benefits card on the spot.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration set up an office at Central Mall.

Thursday,
Oct. 20, 2017

• The tent shelter at the civic center closes. About 300 residents had been housed in the tents and were moved to transitional housing at local hotels and available apartment units.

Friday,
Oct. 27, 2017

• Port Arthur ISD showed decline in student enrollment.

Tuesday,
Oct. 31, 2017

• The city hosted a Halloween event in hopes of bring cheer to residents dealing with Harvey.

Monday,
Nov. 13, 2017

• A FEMA official met with Jefferson County Commissioners Court where he said contractors were nearing completion of inspections of rural homes.

Monday,
Dec. 4, 2017

• County commissioners didn’t allow blanket permits for FEMA recreational vehicles in areas below base flood elevation. Commissioners keep normal permitting process in place.

Thursday,
Jan. 4, 2018

• The Jefferson County Appraisal District asked residents for photos as proof of Harvey damage because appraisers cannot get access to the interior of flood damaged properties.

Thursday,
Jan. 25, 2018

• Houston Texan football star J.J. Watt visited Jireh World Church in Port Arthur to help with the distribution of food and supplies.

Thursday,
Feb. 8, 2018

• Mardi Gras Southeast Texas’s opening day had a $1 gate fee as a way for families to have fun without the worry of Harvey.

Wednesday,
Feb. 21, 2018

• 986 households in Jefferson County remained in FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program.

Monday,
March 5, 2018

• A group from North Dallas traveled to DeQueen Elementary School as part of its Kindness Project, bringing books and other items for students.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

• As of this date, 5,539 Jefferson County survivor families had utilized Transitional Sheltering Assistance program and 684 remained in the program.

Monday,
April 23, 2018

• Deadline set for Transitional Sheltering Assistance unless the governor requests a further extension.