Houston has the resources to protect critical industries on Ship
Channel
By Jim Blackburn and Phil Bedient | December 7, 2012 | Updated: December 7,
2012 7:16pm
In the Houston area, we watched with sympathy and understanding as
Hurricane Sandy ravaged New York and New Jersey. We know what kind of damage
these storms can bring. Yet we have failed to act to protect against the
economic and environmental devastation a well-placed storm will have on our
community.
The Houston Ship Channel contains the nation's largest petrochemical
complex and some of its most critical industrial facilities. Extending
approximately 20 miles from Loop 610 East to the Hartman Bridge, the channel
provides direct, induced and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people in
Houston, and more than 1 million jobs in Texas. It generates annual payrolls in
excess of $13 billion and more than $178 billion in economic output, with port
users generating nearly $5 billion per year in tax revenue for local governments
and the state.
So how vulnerable is the channel? Hurricane Ike mostly missed Houston and
generated only about 13 feet of surge up the Ship Channel. If Ike had come
ashore farther south, near San Luis Pass where originally predicted, the surge
up the Ship Channel would have reached almost 20 feet. And Ike was only a
category 2 storm. If Ike had had higher wind speeds with landfall at San Luis
Pass, it would have generated 25 feet of surge up the channel, causing massive
economic and ecological damage. In fact, based on research by Hal Needham of
Louisiana State University, the 100-year flood surge in the Ship Channel is
predicted to be about 25 feet, after taking into account the funneling effects
of Galveston Bay.
It is important to note that existing flood plain maps currently do not
include surge flooding in their analysis of the 100-year flood plain. Government
regulations require protection of many Ship Channel facilities to Federal
Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps, but these elevations are only
about 13 feet to 14 feet along the channel, far short of the projected 25-foot
surge.
So what harm would a 25-foot surge cause? A 25-foot surge would put a
significant part of the channel complex underwater. Of particular concern is
that almost 2,800 storage tanks of various types would be subject to various
depths of flooding.
Many tanks would float off their foundations or otherwise lose containment
of the various chemicals and oil products that they hold, much like Murphy Oil's
experience in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, any number of
pumps, generators and other necessary elements would be destroyed, as occurred
to Invista Chemicals in Orange during Ike. It could easily take months to make
necessary repairs, assuming that all flooded facilities would rebuild.
Such a flood event would have catastrophic effects not only on the economy
of the Houston region but also on Galveston Bay. The Ship Channel complex
handles large amounts of toxic materials. For the most part, the record is quite
good, but surge flooding of this magnitude would create an environmental
disaster never experienced by Galveston Bay or residential areas adjacent to
channel industries.
As a community, we do not have to continue to take these economic and
ecologic risks. There is a solution to this extreme and present risk that can be
locally funded and that can be completed in a timely manner without significant
controversy over environmental impacts. It is a solution that is compatible with
larger, regional structural solutions that will take far more time to implement
and that must rely heavily on federal funding to build.
Research at Rice University's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and
Evacuation from Disasters Center has discovered that the ground elevation is 25
feet above sea level on both sides of the Houston Ship Channel near the Hartman
Bridge. It is both possible and feasible to create a continuous 25-foot
structure that would keep the brunt of a major storm surge from entering the
channel and destroying the complex.
At least two designs have been explored for protecting the Ship Channel
from this 25-foot surge. In both cases, levees would be constructed to the edge
of the dredged channel. One is a gate structure similar to that used in the
Netherlands. The other is a structure that would slide across the channel, like
a bolt into a socket.
The Ship Channel is vulnerable, and it can be protected. Protection for the
Ship Channel can be constructed relatively quickly and can likely be funded by
local bond issues. Freeport and Texas City industrial facilities are already
protected. The Ship Channel should be as well. And there is no doubt about the
payback. A gate structure should cost less than $1 billion, and would protect us
from economic losses that could exceed $100 billion, as well as environmental
damage of a similar magnitude.
We are at a clear decision point within our community. The Hartman Bridge
Gate would provide security for our economic and manufacturing future as well as
ecological security for Galveston Bay. This is a challenge that should be
accepted for the well-being of all residents of the Houston region.
Bedient is the director of Rice University's Severe Storm Prediction,
Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center; Blackburn is co-director of the
SSPEED Center.
IN reply to ;
Houston has the resources to protect critical industries on Ship
Channel
By Jim Blackburn and Phil Bedient | December 7, 2012 | Updated: December 7,
2012 7:16pm
I kindly wish to tell the rest of the story of the proposed RICE DIKE, and
what it will do...
RICE DIKE PROPOSAL WOULD DESTROY GALVESTON BAY BAYSHORE COMMUNITIES
TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN THE BAYSHORE COMMUNITIES
THIS proposed RICE dike proposal, if approved in it’s entirety, would kill
our Bay shore communities as we know it. Your property values would tank to
zero, and you would eventually be forced out of your home. what the port of
Houston and industries there from plan to do with this Rice dike, is to make the
entire surrounding properties around the Galveston Bay complex a larger petro
chemical complex, and cargo port, thus dredging more toxins for more GLIT
islands to be built lining the ship channel filled with dredge toxins, for the
next hurricane to bury our Bay shore communities, because the RICE DIKE, in it’s
entirety, would literally wall us out of any Hurricane protective zone. What the
Rice Dike does, it hangs me and my neighbors out to drown in 25 feet of water
and toxic GLIT island Mud, and what is left will be used for “waterfront
recreation and other environmental and natural coastal features”. This Rice dike
proposal would take some of the highest elevated land around Galveston Bay and
Real Estate there from, and turn it all into a marshland after the next big one.
PLEASE SAY KNOW TO THE RICE DIKE, AND SAY YES TO THE IKE DIKE BY TEXAS A.M.
IT’s time to take our communities and Galveston Bay back from the port of
Houston and all it’s GLIT islands being manufactured in Galveston Bay, and also
from the surrounding toxic chemical plants that continue to built.
Please see ;
RICE UNIVERSITY IKE DIKE hwy-146-levee proposal, THAT WOULD WASH AWAY
SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON
NOVEMBER 2011
Preliminary research results indicate that the most feasible structure will
be a levee along SH-146 accompanied by pocket levees, built by private
landowners. The levee would connect natural 25 foot elevations near the Houston
Ship Channel and the Texas City Dike effectively protecting the properties and
critical facilities and infrastructure west of SH-146. However, moveable
barriers would need to be placed at Clear Lake and highway underpasses.
*** Furthermore, this proposal leaves waterfront properties and communities
east of SH- 146 vulnerable; however, it maintains the possibility of waterfront
recreation and other environmental and natural coastal features.
HERE is a IKE DIKE proposal that would help SAVE AND PROTECT SHOREACRES,
SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON.
THIS Ike Dike proposal by TAMU does NOT abandon all of us that have lived
here all our lives, and this proposal does not sell out to developers ;
=====================
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:30 PM
To: William Merrell
Cc: Cherie Coffman
Subject: Re: Ike Dike question ? fantastic! thank you for your kind reply
Sir, and explanation for the layperson such as me. many thanks, I like your
proposal much, much, better Sir, considering my backyard is Galveston Bay here
in Bacliff, 77518 shoreline. with that rice university plan, the shorelines from
Kemah to San Leon and property values there from would tank and the next big
one, we would all be marsh land. course, it would not matter much anyway,
because that big toxic dredge island I have to look at everyday now, you know
the one they propose to double in size now, well all that would be in our
houses. ...what were they thinking. ...thanks again. with kindest regards, terry
=====================
From: William Merrell
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:08 PM
To: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
Cc: Cherie Coffman
Subject: RE: Ike Dike question ?
Again - the Dike you describe is proposed by Rice University. It has
nothing whatsoever to do with the Ike Dike. The Ike Dike protects everyone in
the Bay because it is along the coast. You can verify this and learn the details
of the Ike Dike by going to our website
=====================
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [mailto:flounder9@verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:00 PM
To: William Merrell
Cc: Cherie Coffman
Subject: Re: Ike Dike question ?
Greetings again Dr. Merrell,
Sir, I had a question.
I did not have any ideas, other than the fact, I am concerned and confused
on one of rumored proposals of Ike Dike, and we wanted to know the truth, and I
was told, you were the person to go to, and my question was as follows ;
i heard that one of the potential designs for the ike dike, would have
everyone living south of the Kemah bridge on hwy 146, and everyone east of hwy
146 there from, i.e. Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, all these fishing
communities would be EAST OF SAID IKE DIKE, as the said IKE DIKE would be built
west of hwy 146, thus leaving everyone east of 146 to be left for marsh land, as
any hurricane after said IKE DIKE built would leave these fishing communities as
marsh lands due to any IKE DIKE built west of hwy 146, is any of this true?
is there any proposal on the table to eliminate the Kemah, Bayview,
Bacliff, and San Leon shore lines from the Ike Dike?
is the scenario of said rumor, I proposed above, is this one of the
proposals?
as home owners, property owners, and business owners, we are concerned, and
we have a right to know if this is a proposal or not?
a simple yes or no answer will do. ...
thank you,
kind regards,
terry
=====================
From: William Merrell
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 4:38 PM To: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
Cc: Cherie Coffman
Subject: RE: Ike Dike question ?
The 146 dike is proposed by the SSPEED Center at Rice. I agree with your
ideas on it. The Ike Dike is a coastal spine which would protect everyone.
Details on website http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/
Best regards, Bill
William Merrell George P Mitchell Chair Texas A&M University at
Galveston Po Box 1675 Galveston, Texas 77553-1675 409-740-4732 work 409-740-4787
fax 409-771-2225 cell
=====================
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [mailto:flounder9@verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:50 PM
To: William Merrell
Subject: Ike Dike question ?
Greetings Dr. Merrell,
I am a bit concerned and confused, and hoping you might be able to help
straighten out any confusion on the IKE DIKE.
i heard that one of the potential designs for the ike dike, would have
everyone living south of the Kemah bridge on hwy 146, and everyone east of hwy
146 there from, i.e. Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, all these fishing
communities would be EAST OF SAID IKE DIKE, as the said IKE DIKE would be built
west of hwy 146, thus leaving everyone east of 146 to be left for marsh land, as
any hurricane after said IKE DIKE built would leave these fishing communities as
marsh lands due to any IKE DIKE built west of hwy 146.
is any of this true ?
can you please show me where all the said potential designs and drawings
might be for the public to view on any said IKE DIKE ?
thank you,
kindest regards, terry
===================
END...TSS
Dr. Merrell, a marine scientist from Texas A&M, will be talking about
his proposal December 11, 2012 at 7 P.M. to explain his proposal, at a Town Hall
Meeting in San Leon, Texas, at the San Leon Fire Station. ...
=====================================
see full text ;
October 10, 2012
IKE DIKE PROPOSED BY RICE UNIVERSITY hangs our Bayshore communities out to
dry, IN 25 FEET OF WATER, to make way for WATERFRONT RECREATION $$$
ARMY CORP APPROVED TOXIC DUMPS IN GALVESTON BAY ‘GLIT ISLANDS’
GLIT ISLAND
GLIT ISLAND DOCK
GLIT ISLAND TRACTOR SPREADING A LOAD OF ?
JUST NORTH OF GLIT ISLAND, YOU HAVE MANY MORE GLIT TYPE ISLANDS BEING
MANUFACTURED
1ST GLIT TYPE ISLAND PAST THE ORIGINAL GLIT ISLAND, WE HAVE GLIT ISLAND
2
GLIT ISLAND 2
see tractors and pattern works here ???
zoom in and zoom out
JUST PAST THAT, GLIT ISLAND 3
GLIT ISLAND 3
(you can see the dredge way to the right of the photo. zoom in, and look at
the waters of the bay from the dragline...)
ZOOM IN
GLIT ISLAND 4, JUST NORTH OF GLIT ISLAND 3,
GLIT ISLAND 4 SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO MANY GLIT TYPE ISLANDS NOW BEING
FORMED AND FILLED IN, that eventually, once running northward, start to turn
green, just before the Atkinson Island Wildlife Management area
disgusted in Sunny Bacliff, Texas, still on the bay...for now?
TSS
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