County to list flooding sites
Safety plan sends people, barriers to danger spots
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said Tuesday that the county is identifying roadways and underpasses prone to dangerous flooding, and will immediately start deploying personnel and barriers to them when floodwaters start rising to prevent a repeat of last week’s deaths at a heavily traveled interchange.
Emmett outlined the interim steps to improve road safety more than a week after three motorists perished when they drove into flooded underpasses at the interchange of Loop 610 and U.S. 59 near the Galleria.
Emmett said placing personnel, such as deputies or transportation officials, and barriers at the locations could help prevent motorists from unknowingly driving into treacherous spots.
Heavy downpours, strong winds and hail were forecast for late Tuesday night and Wednesday. County officials planned to monitor roadways for signs of flooding and would seek to deploy county personnel to block them off with both people and barriers if they started seeing high water.
The Texas Department of Transportation and the Harris County Toll Road Authority will continue to work on a longer-term solution that may involve gates or other technology.
Listing high-risk spots
One driver during last week’s floods drove around a toll road authority vehicle into high water at the Galleria-area interchange, but two others on the opposite side of the freeway did not meet a barrier.
“We’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Emmett said after Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting.
While officials already rely on public safety officers, barriers and message boards to redirect motorists from some flood-prone areas, county officials acknowledge that there are spots that lack adequate protections.
Several staffers in the county judge’s office will be tasked with coming up with a comprehensive list of the high-risk locations, said Joe Stinebaker, a spokesman for Emmett.
Also Tuesday, commissioners approved $4 million for debris removal and $2 million for infrastructure fixes after last week’s storms. They also waived fees for residents of unincorporated Harris County who may need to get permits or inspections before they can get repairs. The fees for permits and inspections typically vary, but can be several hundred dollars.
During the floods, heavy rain — more than 17 inches fell in parts of Harris County — caused waterways to spill out of their banks. At least eight people across the region died during the floods, including the three motorists near the Galleria.
3,500 homes damaged
More than 3,500 homes in the county were damaged in the storms. The county estimated $56 million in damage to those properties. Officials said the cost of debris removal, emergency response and damage to public infrastructure totalled more than $32 million.
Harris County was among the counties covered by a disaster declaration by President Barack Obama on Monday; it will allow residents affected by the floods to apply for financial relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FEMA is expected to open several “disaster recovery centers” around the county to help flood victims get aid, but as of Tuesday afternoon, no locations had been finalized.