FEMA Announces New Flood Protection Efforts in Houston
Release Date: November 14, 2003
Release Number: FNF-03-16
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness & Response, announced grants today totaling $55.5 million to fund flood protection projects in downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center.
In June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 36 inches of rain over a five-day period in parts of Houston, about 80 percent of the average annual rainfall total. Allison caused an estimated $5 billion damage and remains the most costly tropical storm in U.S. history.
FEMA has joined with the State of Texas, local government partners and the Texas Medical Center to protect the greater Houston area from future flooding. In the past two years, FEMA has funded nearly $200 million in flood protection efforts at the Texas Medical Center alone. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest medical complex, and employees 60,000 employees.
Flood protection projects at the center include elevation of critical building systems, construction of perimeter flood protection walls and installation of flood gates and doors that effectively seal buildings against flooding. Many medical center buildings have employed redundant systems to avert the kinds of losses that occurred in June 2001.
Under Secretary Brown announced $45.7 million in grants for the Harris Gully Project. The project will increase flood protection in downtown Houston and at the Texas Medical Center and Rice University. The City of Houston will construct a storm water retention basin and greatly expand existing storm water management systems with the funding announced today.
Brown also announced more than $10 million in funding for reconstruction and flood prevention efforts at the Baylor College of Medicine.
After announcing the new flood protection grants, Brown toured sites at the Texas Medical Center that have been protected against future flooding.
Last Modified: Friday, 14-Nov-2003 14:30:16