Texas might spend up to $20 billion to protect Houston from hurricanes. Rice University says it can

[TexasTowelie]

Texas might spend up to $20 billion to protect Houston from hurricanes. Rice University says it can do it for a fraction of that.


by Kiah Collier, Texas Tribune


For about a decade, two of Texas’ top universities have pushed dueling plans to protect the Houston-Galveston region from hurricanes.

A concept championed by Texas A&M University at Galveston appears to be winning out as the federal and state governments pursue a plan similar to one proposed by A&M oceanographer Bill Merrell in early 2009, months after Hurricane Ike smashed ashore at Galveston Island.

But that project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office, which calls for the installation of beachfront sand dunes and massive storm surge barrier gates, won’t become reality for at least 15 years — and probably much longer. That leaves plenty of time for a worst-case hurricane to devastate the densely populated, highly industrialized region — a reality that’s coming into sharper focus as sea levels rise and the ocean warms.

The so-called coastal barrier system also carries a significant price tag — as much as $20 billion — and a significant part of the system may guard against only a modest, 100-year storm.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/29/rice-university-plan-texas-coast-barrier/

[Javaman]

1. because, you know, cutting back on carbon emissions would be so much more expensive. nt