A year has passed since Hurricane Harvey bore down in the Southeast, pummeling Texas and Louisiana with 27 trillion gallons of water. Since then, some cities and communities have come a long way to ensure they’re better protected for next storm.
Over the weekend, voters in Harris County, Texas—home to Houston, which saw some of the worst flooding during the event—elected to approve $2.5 billion in bonds that’ll help finance flood control projects in the region starting in 2020. Thanks to proposition A, taxpayers will see a tiny increase in property taxes over the next 10 to 15 years to cover the bonds’ interest. Federal dollars will match the bonds, bringing in another $3 billion—amounting to a whopping $5.5 billion to go toward flood control projects.
These projects include mapping floodplains, offering voluntary buyouts to homeowners in floodplains, and improving early warning flood systems. Most importantly, perhaps, is the work on watersheds Harvey left damaged. Projects to widen bayous and study watersheds like the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs will help create better flow paths for rainwater—and keep flood waters away from residential areas.
Always buy flood insurance.
Suzanne Brown Insurance Agency
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