Houston Ship Channel weather impact: A closer look at Vessel Traffic Center, US Coast Guard operations to keep money flowing

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It's no secret that Houston and Southeast Texas are known for crazy weather. Severe thunderstorms can bring flooding rains and hurricane-force winds, and of course, then there are hurricanes themselves. Harris County is vulnerable, especially to billion-dollar disasters , and it also happens to be home to several industries that are extremely weather dependent.

The Port of Houston is the largest container port along the Gulf Coast. Every year, barges sail up and down the Houston Ship Channel, accounting for over a trillion dollars in economic value. Break that down to a day, and that's about $3 billion. Only on 13, meteorologist Elyse Smith got a closer look at the trillion-dollar industry that fuels our local economy and how the weather impacts the big busines