Tuesday, June 27, 2023

$500 million from the State of Texas going to two Gulf Coast Projects: 'Ike Dike' and Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Surge Risk Reduction.

Happy Two-for-Tuesday!

Did anyone read from The Houston Chronicle on MSN from June 26, 2023, their article titled, “Gulf Coast storm protections including ‘Ike Dike’ to get $550 million in new state appropriations”?  In the article it speaks about Gov. Greg Abbott last Sunday, signing off on appropriations worth $550 million out of the legislative budget bill.  These funds will go towards two projects for the upper Gulf Coast and their agency called Gulf Coast Protection District.  The two projects are ‘Ike Dike’ (cost $34 billion) and Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay (cost $4 billion), and they will help protect the upper Texas coast, upper Texas ports, and the Houston Ship Channel from dangerous storms like Hurricane Ike and hurricane’s storm surges.  This is only part of the money needed to complete the ‘Ike Dike’ project which Texas’ part is about $13 billion and the U.S. government’s part is about $21.4 billion.  In December 2022, President Joe Biden authorized constructions for ‘Ike Dike’ as part of the federal defense act, at this time the Army Corps of Engineers is still awaiting funding for the estimated twenty-year project.  The Army Corps has started and finished the first mile of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay project in July 2022 by improving the earthen levee system by raising it in West Port Artur this project and all its phases expected to be completed by 2026.  This is good news for those living on the upper Texas coast.  If you would like to read more of the article from The Houston Chronicle for free on MSN, please click the link: Gulf Coast storm protections including 'Ike Dike' to get $550 million in new stateappropriations (msn.com).

If you would like to read about the completion of Phase 1 of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay, please click the link: USACE News Release: Army Corps, partners complete first mile of Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay surge risk reduction mega-project / Gulf Coast Protection District (gcpdtexas.com).

If you would like help in looking into how to update your facility or terminal to make it more hurricane resistant, contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC's website!

We hope you have a great and productive rest week!  Keep cool in this heat wave!

**Disclaimer – The Houston Chronicle may charge a fee to read this article. **