Photo: SC National Guard
In 2017 Hurricane Harvey caused 154,170 homes to flood in Houston and Harris County and just one year later voters approved a $2.5 billion bond to finance flood projects. The issues created by Harvey and what to do about the potential for future natural disasters that could be just as devastating were carried into the 86th Texas Legislature.
This session, Texas lawmakers passed legislation to create a new flood financing program and the first state flood plan with the goal of better preparing Texas cities and infrastructure for future flood events. In 2020, $793 million will be transferred from the Rainy Day Fund and become available for flood projects. The flood planning program will deliver a regional flood plan by 2023 and the first state flood plan by 2024.
Both the flood financing program and the state and regional flood planning process need input from stakeholders in communities who will be impacted. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is holding 13 flood outreach meetings during the month of August. These meetings are open to members of the community so that they may submit comments to ensure that the new programs meet the needs of Texans across the state.
To sign up for more information about the meetings and other flood information please visit TWDB’s website. The schedule and locations of the meetings are listed below:
Tuesday, August 6
LCRA Riverside Conference Center
1405 Willow St.
Bastrop, TX 78602
9:30-11:30 a.m.
J. Michael & Bridget Shahan Events Center at Lamar State College
209 W. Green Ave.
Orange, TX 77630
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, August 7
Ornelas Activity Center at The University of Texas at Tyler
3402 Old Omen Rd
Tyler, TX 75707
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, August 8
El Paso Water’s TecH2O Learning Center
10751 Montana Ave.
El Paso, TX 79935
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Trinity River Authority General Office
5300 S. Collins St.
Arlington, TX 76018
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Friday, August 9
McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center
1666 University Ave.
Lubbock, TX 79410
Beckendorf Conference Center at Lone Star College - Tomball
30555 Tomball Pkwy.
Tomball, TX 77375
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, August 13
Guadalupe Basin Natural Resource Center
Upper Guadalupe River Authority
125 Lehmann Dr.
Kerrville, TX 78028
9:30-11:30 a.m.
City of Lake Jackson Civic Center
333 HWY 332 E.
Lake Jackson, TX 77566
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, August 14
The Cactus Hotel
65 E. Twohig Ave. 15th floor
San Angelo, TX 76903
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Saltwater Pavilion at Rockport Beach
210 Seabreeze Dr.
Rockport, TX 78372
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, August 15
Abilene Convention Center
1100 N. 6th St.
Abilene, TX 79601
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen
6200 Tres Lagos Blvd.
McAllen, TX 78504
9:30-11:30 a.m.