Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Houston Van Rental Processes Harvey Disaster

Dallas Kay, manager at Airport Van Rental’s Houston location, reports the latest updates about the rental location and its employees.

by Staff
August 31, 2017
Houston Van Rental Processes Harvey Disaster

This photo was taken at a hotel near Houston International Airport by Executive Editor Chris Brown's wife Silvia Krasuk.


2 min to read


This photo was taken at a hotel near Houston International Airport by Executive Editor Chris Brown's wife Silvia Krasuk.


In a series of updates on Hurricane Harvey, Yaz Irani, founder and CEO of Airport Van Rental (AVR), has been checking in with Dallas Kay, his manager at the company’s location in Houston, for up-to-date news on the Houston area.

As of Thursday, Kay was able to make it to the AVR location near Houston International Airport. “I did not see any water in the building or any traces of it,” he says. “I was able to start up a few vans, and they started up fine. Internet is still down and only one phone works.”

Ad Loading...

A piece of a car door was found outside AVR's Houston location. Photo courtesy of Airport Van Rental

On the way to the AVR location, Kay passed 250 to 300 cars floating in water along the side of the freeway.

“When I passed entrance ways of subdivisions, you see people on boats and then all you see is water,” says Kay. “There’s dozens of military vehicles and helicopters in the air. Dozens and dozens of people on boats are still searching for people. It’s good news that help is here.”

Employee Sharde Buchanen was able to receive word that a rescue team made it to her mother’s house and was able to pull her family out and get them to safety, according to Kay.

As of Friday, Kay and a few of his team members planned to go into the office. "I'll be washing cars trying to prepare for opening next week," he says. "I'm also checking fleet inventory and making sure we are getting most of the due backs closed."

Currently, the city of Houston is under a mandatory curfew between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The airports have reopened but are only operating at limited capacity.

More Rental Operations

50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Rental Length Declines Slightly in Q1 2026, Enterprise Reports

LOR overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Photo of CEO Krešimir Dobrilović against a gray modernist crooked-tile mural display.

Carwiz Opens Car Rental Service In Panama

A Carwiz partner in Puerto Rico is taking on the Panama franchise with operations in the nation's largest airport.

Read More →
A world map with Flexways logo and new locations headline.

Flexways Opens 10 Locations Among Franchise, Affiliate Rental Networks

The integrated business model combines each operator’s local expertise with international standards to boost sales.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of a suitcase, passport, and smartphone.

Traveler Customer Satisfaction Up This Year Data Study Shows

The study looks at customer analytics to size up performance in car rentals, rideshare, airlines, lodging, and OTAs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...