August 24, 2018
Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter.
This weekend is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. People across the region will be coming together to honor the people and places we lost and celebrate the victories achieved in the wake of the storm. It is hard to process the amount of loss and devastation this storm left behind, but the resiliency of the people of Texas and their drive to recover truly brought our communities together to act as one.
Early Voter turnout in the Lake Houston area was the highest in the county. The Kingwood location saw more than 4,100 voters alone. On Election Day, you must vote at your precinct's polling location. You can find your specific location by visiting this
link:
http://harrisvotes.com/VoterBallotSearch.aspx?L=E
Included below is a letter from County Judge Ed Emmett asking for your support of the election.
Many Federal, State and Local agencies are all publishing items to note the time and work put in by residents, friends, families, neighbors and so many more in our road to recovery. Several of these are included below. Be on the lookout for even more of these inspiring items as we move forward.
Should you have questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us directly using the information provided at the bottom of this email.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
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Download my August 2018 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could fun or useful to you and your family! This new format allows you to save the document for printing or sending to your family members.
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FEMA: One year later, Harvey survivors
recover, rebuild and inspire
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In 2017, Aug. 25 was a tragic day. Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas, bringing destructive winds and floodwaters that claimed 88 lives and caused immeasurable damage.
In 2018, as that date approaches again, Texans mourn the loss of those who were taken too soon and reflect on the struggles hundreds of thousands have faced in Harvey’s aftermath. Texans, however, also take pride in the triumphs of so many survivors who have overcome difficulties and destruction Harvey dumped into their lives.
“Hurricane Harvey was an unprecedented natural disaster that devastated lives, homes, infrastructure and natural habitats,” said Paul Morris, director of the FEMA Texas Recovery Office. “The response, however, showed the true nature of our state and our neighbors, helping one another and refusing to give into the troubles thrown their way.”
Harvey dropped more rain than any storm in recorded continental U.S. history and caused nearly 780,000 Texans to evacuate their homes, including over 122,000 who were rescued by local, state or federal first responders as well as private citizens from Texas and Louisiana. Thousands of homeowners and businesses have since rebuilt, many with the help of federal grants, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans and flood insurance payments, which total in the billions. Many more have picked themselves up and started fresh in new apartments or houses.
FEMA had pre-positioned personnel and supplies as Harvey approached last year, and was ready to join the Texas Division of Emergency Management, local agencies, nonprofits and the private sector in responding to survivors’ immediate needs. Within days, the number of responders from FEMA, other federal agencies and the Texas National Guard topped 31,000. State agencies and local governments hit the ground running after Harvey and established innovative partnerships with FEMA that deliver resources effectively and efficiently. This enables the state to guide its own recovery, and allows communities to decide how they will rebuild.
Thousands of Harvey survivors, for instance, have lived in temporary housing units through a Direct Housing program that is funded by FEMA, administered by the Texas General Land Office and led by local governments. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Texans have received free, confidential crisis counseling and referral services through Texans Recovering Together, a program run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and funded through grants from FEMA. Volunteers from around the state and around the country also have flocked to the disaster area, contributing more than 3.5 million hours of their time and a massive amount of unsolicited donations in the past year.
As the state looks back on a year of recovery and remembrance, Texans find themselves in the midst of another hurricane season. There will never be a better time to plan for the unexpected and take action to protect one’s home, property and family. For information on how to prepare, visit
www.ready.gov
. Texans know there is still much more work to be done. Recovering from Hurricane Harvey is a long-term process, which is led by the State of Texas with continuing support from FEMA and other federal agencies. But with the lessons learned and partnerships solidified during the past year, Texas will emerge smarter, safer and stronger than ever before.
The 2017 disaster season affected nearly 47 million people in the United States. While recovery continues, FEMA and its interagency partners remain focused and dedicated to the continued stabilization and resilience of impacted communities. As of July 25, 2018, FEMA and its federal partners obligated $22.9 billion dollars to support response and recovery from hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and the California wildfires. FEMA and its federal partners have been making long term investments in the affected communities and will continue to focus on the progression of recovery for years to come.
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Tomorrow is Election Day:
Harris County Flood Control Bond Election
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Harris County Judge Ed Emmett issued the following letter regarding tomorrow's Bond Election. You can read the text below or click the link to see the letter enlarged:
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Tomorrow voters will have a chance to decide what I believe is the most important local election in my lifetime - the Harris County Flood Control District's $2.5 billion bond proposal for hundreds of flood mitigation projects across the county.
In an effort to inform and engage the community in developing the bond proposal, the Flood Control District hosted 23 community meetings - at least one in each county watershed - in June, July and August. In addition, county officials, including the four county commissioners and myself, have participated in numerous neighborhood association and civic group meetings. Community members were encouraged to review projects that could be undertaken with bond funding, to ask questions, and to suggest additional projects that could reduce flooding risks in their neighborhoods.
Nearly 4,000 residents attended these meetings. This process resulted in a list of 237 proposed projects that will be presented to Harris County Commissioners Court on Aug. 14. Of those projects, 38 were added as a result of the community engagement process, which also resulted in more than 2,400 comments and suggestions from the public.
The list includes projects to improve bayou and channel conveyance of storm water, to build storm water detention basins, to preserve the floodplain, and to buy out flood-prone homes. Importantly, bond funds would be used to provide the local match needed to attract larger amounts of federal money for flood risk reduction projects, and to partner with Harris County and other entities to improve subdivision drainage. Bond proceeds also would provide for local-only projects in areas that may not meet federal cost-benefit requirements, but are needed and would help the most people.
Progress has a cost, of course, and there likely would be a property tax increase accompanying the issuance of the flood bonds. The Flood Control District intends to use the bonds over a 10-15 year period. Based on a likely borrowing schedule over approximately 15 years, the Harris County Budget Management Department estimates that the overall tax increase would be no more than 2-3 cents per $100 of assessed home valuation - meaning that most homeowners would see an increase of no more than 1.4 percent in their property tax. Because of county property tax exemptions, homeowners with an over-65 or disabled homestead exemption on a home assessed at $200,000 or less would pay NO additional taxes for these bonds.
I hope that you will take the time to vote on this extremely important issue. If you need further information, the Flood Control District website is an excellent source of information. The address is
https://www.hcfcd.org/bond-program/
.
Thank you very much,
Ed Emmett
Harris County Judge
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Harris County Continues to Focus on Recovery and Resiliency Efforts as Hurricane Harvey’s
First Year Anniversary Approaches
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As Hurricane Harvey’s first year anniversary approaches, the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) reflects on this historic storm that devastated southeast Texas with unprecedented flooding and destruction. Harvey was the most extreme rain event in U.S. history - close to 50 inches of rain fell during a four-day period.
Harvey claimed 36 lives in Harris County alone and led to one of the largest rescue efforts in Texas history. More than 300,000 vehicles and up to 160,000 homes and businesses were damaged. Damages are expected to exceed $125 billion. "Harvey presented a tremendous test of strength for our region, especially for residents still trying to recover from previous floods,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. “Our area had been impacted by severe flooding for three consecutive years prior to Harvey.”
Harris County has had five declared disasters since 2015. A year after Harvey, it is clear that the path to recovery continues and will require an unwavering effort from all levels of government, the public and private sector.
“Our priorities rest on helping communities recover and backing flood control projects to make our county more resilient,” added Emmett. “We must all work together to accomplish this.”
To date, the federal government has provided $800 million in housing and other disaster related expenses, and close to $260 million for public assistance projects. Most recently, an additional $1.1 billion was granted to fund Harris County recovery projects. Harris County will oversee the allocation of $214 million in federal funds to help rebuild and repair single-family homes and an additional $119 million will go toward the construction of new single-family homes. More than $204.5 million will go to assist with damaged multi-family housing projects and affordable rental projects in areas affected by Harvey. Another $200 million will go to purchasing homes that have flooded throughout the county.
The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, established by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, has distributed more than $110.5 million dollars to more than 100 local non-profit organizations. This fund, now managed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, helps with needs that are not met by other local and federal efforts. “As we reflect on Harvey, we cannot forget the first responders, law enforcement, and community volunteers who dedicated their time to response and recovery,” said Emmett. “It is this neighbor helping neighbor spirit that helped us get through this year.”
Although hurricane season has remained quiet so far, HCOHSEM reminds residents that storms can develop quickly and without warning. As we enter the peak of hurricane season, residents are urged to stay informed by downloading the
Ready Harris App
or by following HCOHSEM on
Twitter
and
Facebook
.
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Houston Geological Society -
Flooding & Floodplains: Past, Present & Future
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A free Informational Workshop sponsored by the Houston Geological Society, open for the public
Where:
Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Dr, Kingwood, TX 77345, At the corner with W. Lake Houston Pkwy
When:
Friday, August 24th, 7-9 PM
Speaker:
Dr. William R. Dupre’, University of Houston, Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Flooding in the Houston area over the last three years has caused residents and professionals alike to reconsider how we evaluate and respond to flood hazards in the region.
Dr. Dupre’ will discuss how watersheds and floodplains are defined and mapped, and how individuals can obtain (and understand) information on local watersheds and floodplain maps. He will also discuss recent floods, including how floods are measured and how flood frequency is calculated. Of particular importance is how and why floods and floodplains in Houston have changed in the past, and are likely to change in the future. Lastly, he will review some of the possible approaches to reducing flood risk in the future.
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GLO Commissioner releases
"Hurricane Harvey: Texans at Risk"
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Cmr. George P. Bush releases "Hurricane Harvey: Texas at ...
PRESS RELEASE - Aug 24, 2018 AUSTIN - Today Texas Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush released a new report capturing lessons learned from the Hurricane Harvey housing assistance mission and making recommendations for how to improve both...
Read more
www.glo.texas.gov
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Humble ISD Community Leadership Academy
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Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order:
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All of the relevant information our office has gathered during the week will be posted to our Facebook page. By "liking" us, you will stay up-to-date about important matters across the state that affect you and your family. Click below to find our page.
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State Representative
Dan Huberty
Casey Christman
Chief of Staff
Abby Caldwell
District Intern
Jillian Swets
Capitol Intern
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Capitol Physical Address:
1100 Congress Avenue E2.408 Austin, TX 78701
Capitol Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone:
(512) 463-0520
Capitol Fax:
(512) 463-1606
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District Address:
4501 Magnolia Cove
Suite 201
Kingwood, TX 77345
District Phone:
(281) 360-9410
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This newsletter was not sent by State expense.
Paid political advertising by Friends of Dan Huberty.
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