TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE

Community Development & Revitalization

CDBG-DR

"We work to rebuild communities, to put Texans back

in their homes, and to help businesses recover

after the trauma of disaster."

George P. Bush, Commissioner

Friday, May 24, 2019

NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS:

RESULTS OF JOINT MITIGATION STUDY WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT GALVESTON ANNOUNCED

New research assesses secondary economic effects of a coastal barrier to reduce storm surge in Galveston Bay

 

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced results from a recently completed joint study conducted by the Texas General Land Office and the Texas A&M University at Galveston. The study evaluated the economic impacts of a coastal barrier system, estimated impacts on flood insurance rates and gauged perceptions of flood mitigation activities in the Houston-Galveston region.

“The Galveston Bay region is one of the most flood- and surge-prone areas in the United States with vast amounts of vulnerable residential, commercial, industrial and petro-chemical areas at risk,” said Commissioner Bush. “This vulnerability was highlighted in 2008 when Hurricane Ike struck the upper Texas coast and spurred interest in assessing a coastal storm surge suppression system. This study clearly demonstrates that, without any new protections in place, future storm surges could have substantial and lingering impacts on Texas’ economy and send lasting ripples through other economic sectors nationwide.”

As an example, the study estimated that, following a 500-year surge event in Galveston Bay, the U.S. GDP would be 1.1% lower corresponding to an estimated $883 billion dollar economic decline, and 30 states would also experience lower gross state products—effects that would be greatly reduced when mitigated.

“Our study highlights both the direct and indirect benefits of hazard mitigation efforts, and creates a richer illustration of the importance of flood mitigation in Texas,” said Wes Highfield, an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston and investigator on the study.

In addition to large-scale economic impacts, additional results of the study indicated that existing coastal flood insurance polices may also experience reductions in premiums up to 20 percent less per year while still maintaining the same level of coverage. Finally, an accompanying public survey also indicated that there is widespread public support for surge mitigation overall, including support for a coastal storm surge barrier. 

Results from various economic and storm-surge scenarios can also be mapped and visualized by visiting the companion website located at:  http://www.texascoastalatlas.com/coastalspine/ .

$46.4 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS FOR THREE COUNTIES IN SOUTH TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush issued the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) announcement of $46,400,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for major disaster declared in 2018 for severe storms and flooding for disasters. Cameron, Hidalgo and Jim Wells counties were all declared for 2018.

"Today HUD issued much-needed federal disaster recovery dollars in response to the devastating flooding in South Texas last June," said Commissioner Bush. "While many parts of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) were still under water, my team and I were on the ground meeting with local officials to coordinate our efforts to advocate for federal recovery resources. Now that these funds have been allocated to Texas, we will continue working with both local and federal officials in anticipation of HUD guidance on how we will be able to use these funds. I am committed to advocating for residents and we are ready to help our South Texas and Rio Grande Valley communities recover."

Following a series of storms that inundated South Texas with flooding, Commissioner Bush took members of his disaster recovery team to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to observe the devastation and work with local officials in affected counties on how to navigate the federal disaster recovery process. Commissioner Bush visited Raymondville, McAllen, Weslaco and Harlingen and met with elected officials as well as response and recovery staff from several other RGV communities.

For Texas to receive these funds, HUD must publish rules governing the use of the recovery dollars in the Federal Register, which enables the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to move forward drafting a state action plan. Once drafted, the plan must be translated in to multiple languages and made available for a mandatory public comment period. After the comments are responded to, the state action plan is then sent to HUD for final approval. The federally-mandated process takes a minimum of four months and has taken longer than six months in many cases.

Background

President Donald J. Trump signed the Supplemental Appropriations Act for Disaster Relief in October 2018, which authorized $1.68 billion in CDBG-DR funding for “disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared in 2018.” Included in the total allocation are funds for communities recovering from Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence and devastating wildfires in California.

HARVEY RECOVERY HOUSING PROGRAMS

(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)

HARVEY RECOVERY COMMUNITY PROJECTS

(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)

HARVEY RECOVERY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS

(EXCLUDING HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY)

LOCAL INPUT REQUESTED: FILL OUT OUR MITIGATION SURVEY NOW

Mitigation Survey:

Mitigation dollars are to be used for projects that will protect communities from the predictable damage caused by future events. Following HUD's publication of mandatory rules and requirements in the Federal Register, the GLO will write a Mitigation Action Plan that outlines what types of activities can be funded, who can receive those funds, and how much funding will be made available to each locality.

 

Stakeholder outreach is a critical part of the action plan development process and helps the GLO develop programs that address the challenges and needs faced by local communities. Over the last six weeks, the GLO policy development staff has conducted outreach to Harvey-impacted regions to solicit input to incorporate into the upcoming Mitigation Action Plan. Below is a list of input sessions the GLO has conducted over the last two weeks since the last GLO newsletter.

- SETRPC, H-GAC, BVCOG and CTCOG.

 

Please complete this survey to provide your thoughts and feedback for the mitigation funds: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GLO_Mitigation

For more information CLICK HERE for the mitigation web page and HERE for the mitigation summary

DOCUMENTING BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A DISASTER

When preparing your house, family and pets for a natural disaster, it’s easy to overlook your important documents, but safeguarding these items could mean the difference between a fast — or slow — recovery process after the storm.

Collect and safeguard critical financial, medical, educational, and legal documents and records, including those below. Take a video “tour” of your home to document all items and the home’s current condition. Place the following items in a water tight bag and back them up on a cloud or flash drive:

GET TO KNOW YOUR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR:

Melissa Washington:

Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Waller counties 

As your day-to-day contact for disaster recovery housing needs, Outreach Coordinators are here to serve you and your community. Their commitment to helping Texans repair their homes and rebuild their lives goes beyond the mission of the GLO. For them, it is personal.  

Outreach Coordinators live and work in the areas they serve, and so do their families. Some coordinators lost homes or vehicles in Hurricane Harvey. Others watched as the communities they grew up in were inundated by the rains. Each newsletter we will feature one coordinator whose story you may or may not know.  

A little more than a year after walking out of her house for the first time in days, trapped by torrential rain from Hurricane Harvey, Melissa Washington joined the GLO as an Outreach Coordinator. She and her family have called Brazoria County home for 11 years, and once the sun emerged after the devastating storm, she knew it was time to get to work.  

“I realized it was time to help my community recover,” Melissa said. “Every day I come home from work knowing I have affected one person’s life for the better. Whether through meetings with elected officials charged with drafting policy, educating social service organizations or attending intake fairs to meet survivors themselves, my time can be tracked in lives changed.” 

Melissa serves Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties, and is always looking for ways to serve her community. She and her family enjoy attending festivals, supporting non-profits, running 5ks with their dog, and rooting for the Aggies. She is active in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo- Wine Garden Committee, a member of American Business Women’s Association, and a Board Member for the Pearland Neighborhood Center. 

Melissa can be reached by email at [email protected]

PREPAREDNESS & PARTNERS:

DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES:

Recovery.Texas.Gov

(512) 475-5000

Texas General Land Office

P.O. Box 12873

Austin, Texas 78711-2873