GCCPRD December Public Scoping Meetings
The Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) will host a series of public scoping meetings in December 2014 to encourage public participation and feedback in the Storm Surge Suppression Study.
Following three major hurricanes, the last of which (Hurricane Ike) was the most expensive in Texas’ history, Governor Perry issued an Executive Order creating the Governor’s Commission for Disaster Recovery and Renewal. One of the Commission’s recommendations was to conduct a study to determine how coastal communities can reduce the damage impact of future storms. In conjunction with that recommendation, Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Orange Counties formed the GCCPRD as a local government corporation. The GCCPRD is now leading the Storm Surge Suppression Study, a technical, scientific-based effort to investigate opportunities to alleviate the vulnerability of the upper Texas coast to storm surge and flooding.
The study is funded by the Texas General Land Office through a $3.9 million federal Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant that was awarded in September 2013. Since then, the GCCPRD has been collecting and analyzing existing data, and collaborating with other organizations and universities conducting similar work. The Storm Surge Suppression Study will yield a system of alternatives that may consist of a variety of natural, structural, and nonstructural methods. Using these findings, the GCCPRD will recommend a cost-effective and efficient system of flood damage reduction and surge suppression measures to help protect the six-county region. This effort is an opportunity for the GCCPRD to assume a leadership role and work collaboratively with federal, state, local, and public and private institutions to develop a plan that meets the needs of the region and the nation.
Public feedback and participation will be encouraged throughout the duration of the study. Public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates and locations:
Thursday, December 4, 2014. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. League City Civic Center, 400 West Walker St., League City, Texas 77573
Tuesday, December 9, 2014. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Harris County Precinct 2, J.D. Walker Community Center, 7613 Wade Rd., Baytown, Texas 77521
Materials, presentation, and format will be the same at all three meetings. The open houses will last from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Informational displays will be available for public viewing, and GCCPRD representatives will provide information and answer questions. No formal presentation will be made. Materials will be available in English and Spanish.
If hearing impaired or language translation services are needed, please contact the GCCPRD consulting team at 713-868-1043 or at info@gccprd.com by November 26, 2014. GCCPRD representatives will make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.
Comments will be accepted at the public scoping meetings and throughout the duration of the study. Written comments may be mailed to the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District in care of Col. Christopher Sallese at 3100 West Alabama St., Houston, Texas 77098 or emailed to info@gccprd.com.