Harvey's Wrath Prompts Houston Mayor To Request Texas 'Rainy Day Funds'

HOUSTON, TX — The Texas 'Rainy Day Fund' was built into legislature for dire emergencies in the Lone star State. Past Texas governors have often boasted about a surplus budget with the additional Rainy Day Fund in reserves. But after Hurricane Harvey's rainfall of more than 50 inches devastated Houston and its neighboring cities, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has asked Gov. Greg Abbott to have state government use part of the Texas Economic Stabilization Fund to aid Houston’s flood recovery.

Using part of the $10 billion-plus in the Rainy Day Fund "is appropriate for (the) response to a natural disaster such as Harvey that wreaked significant damage and caused local governments to incur unanticipated costs far beyond their budgets," the mayor said.

More than 27 trillion gallons of rain fell on Texas over a weeklong period and completely flooded parts from west of Houston all the way to the Golden Triangle of Beaumont, Orange and Port Arthur. Turner simply asks that the fund be used for what it's there for.

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The letter from Turner to Abbott said that although the total amount of damage has yet to be determined at this point, the federal government will pay for 90 percent of debris removal costs. Turner stated Houston's portion could be $25 million of the state's total estimation of $250 million.

Turner added that Harvey's damage exceeds the city's $100 million flood insurance under the city's flood insurance policy despite hurricane season being slightly more than halfway complete. Turner said Houston is basically without flood insurance at this point. Any additional flood insurance to cover the city from now until April 1, 2018 would cost the city an extra $10 million. Furthermore, the city would need to spend a $15 million deductible to recover any municipal damages.

The letter can be viewed on the city's website.

Turner added that without aid from the state fund, the city will be forced to increase its property tax rate on a temporary, emergency basis for 12 months to help pay its recovery bills. The mayor is seeking the city council's approval for an increase that would cost the owner of an average Houston dwelling $4.03 per month for a year.

Turner said use of the Rainy Day Fund is also appropriate to help fix the damage from the 27 trillion gallons of rain that fell on Texas from Hurricane Harvey.

Top image: Evacuees wade down a flooded section of Interstate 610 as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey rise Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Houston. The remnants of Hurricane Harvey sent devastating floods pouring into Houston Sunday as rising water chased thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip