Voters Approve $2.5B Flood Control Bond A Year After Harvey

HOUSTON — It was a light voter turn out this election season, but not light enough to keep those with memories of Hurricane Harvey from approving a $2.5 billion flood control bond on the 1-year anniversary of the horrific storm.

With just 38 percent of the precincts reporting total by 9 p.m. supporters of the flood control bond declared victory Saturday night. The election day voting totals heavily favored bond passage with 87 percent voting in favor of the bond, and those totals aligned with early voting totals.

There were less than 100,000 ballots cast in the early voting period, but a vast majority of those voters favored the bond with approximately 86 percent of voting residents casting ballots were in favor of the bond, with just 14 percent against, according to the Harris County Clerk's Office.

"I didn't see any reason not to vote in favor of this bond," county resident Kayla Grant told Patch.

>>>County Judge Announces $2.5B Flood Control Plan

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Harris County Flood Executive Director Russ Poppe unveiled the bond proposal during a May 30 news conference and announced tours and public hearings in each of the 23 watersheds in Harris County. Those hearings were designed to inform residents and solicit flood control ideas on flood mitigation.

The public meetings continued through most of the summer and wrapped up on Aug. 1, a week before the start of early voting. The county presented a comprehensive list of projects to residents that included:

• Home buyouts in flood-prone areas
• Improvement in the flood warning system
• Channel improvements and repairs
• Creation of green space and detention basins throughout the entire county

The bond received widespread approval from officials with the City of Houston and Harris County. On Aug. 23, law enforcement leaders in Harris County joined Emmett at the flood control district to show their support for the bond.

Proud to be joined by @SheriffEd_HCSO and our Harris County constables to support the @hcfcd bond issue. First responders know how important flood control is! Please vote on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/06MW7pFQnZ
— Official Ed Emmett (@EdEmmett) August 22, 2018

The Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston released a survey before the start of early voting that indicated widespread support for the bond, with 55 percent of registered voters in Harris County expressing their support.

Among those who've voiced support for the bond include iconic Houston business leader Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, who opened up his Gallery Furniture stores to take in refugees from the flood waters at the height of the storm, and former President George H.W. Bush, who cast his mail-in ballot from Maine.

Officials said infrastructure improvements made through this bond will take 10-15 years to implement.

Click here to see a list of projects.

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