Following Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Alberto, Surfside Beach will receive $8 million in federal funds to repair its failing sewer system. The money comes from a HUD disaster mitigation grant distributed by the Texas General Land Office.
Surfside Beach has received $8 million in federal disaster-mitigation funds to repair its sewer system, which faced significant challenges due to consecutive storms earlier this summer, including Hurricane Beryl.
In the wake of consecutive tropical storms, Surfside Beach has successfully secured $8 million in federal funding to revamp its compromised sewer system, which suffered significant damage following the impacts of Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl earlier this summer.
Brazoria County, a small beach town, faced the most significant impact from Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm that struck just 30 miles southwest. At the same time, inland regions and nearby Galveston also experienced effects. The storm wreaked havoc on the town’s beloved “See the Sea” A-frame cottages while also forcing sand and salt water into the sewer lines, rendering the system almost inoperable just weeks after it had already faced challenges from Alberto.
A significant $8 million allocation for essential infrastructure repairs will benefit Surfside Beach. This funding is provided by a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is being distributed through the Texas General Land Office (GLO) as part of its Regional Mitigation Program. Congress has designated a significant allocation of $1.1 billion for enhancing essential infrastructure in storm-prone regions across the state.
The town initially fell short of the $900,000 threshold necessary for a direct GLO grant but discovered an alternative route via the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). The council, comprising more than 100 local governments, has secured almost $31 million in disaster-mitigation grants and has prioritized sewer upgrades in Surfside.
Upcoming enhancements will feature a new AIRVAC sewer line, maintenance holes, service connections, and a lift station, according to GLO spokeswoman Brittany Eck in a statement to The Facts. She mentioned that Surfside would receive reimbursement upon completion of the construction.
Although the funding provides a significant advantage for the coastal town, Eck highlighted that the grant is a singular award with no intentions for future renewal. With the increasing severity of hurricane seasons, Surfside officials are optimistic that the enhancements will bolster their infrastructure's resilience for the future.
The community, having endured the storm's wrath, views the repairs as more than mere restoration; they see them as essential groundwork for the next unavoidable assault from the Gulf.
