Aquariums and Arks

Hurricane Harvey may have been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, but it is still the mightiest storm to have pummeled the coast of Texas for many years.  The rains are continuing to steadily fall, with several feet being expected in some parts of the state.  

It's normal for buildings to be wetter on the outside than the inside... though it becomes slightly disconcerting when the building in question is an aquarium.

Even more so than zoos, aquariums are highly vulnerable to hurricanes and other natural disasters.  With zoos, you can keep the animals penned up safely or moved into shelters or high ground and wait out the worst of the storm.  With aquariums, totally dependent on life-support systems, a power outage can mean death for the entire collection.  Ask Audubon...

So far, the Texas aquariums - Houston's Downtown Aquarium, Moody Gardens in Galveston, the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi - have all answered the role-call, reporting themselves, their animals, and their staffs to be staff.  

We'll continue to think of them - and the people of Texas - until the waters abate.