HOUSTON – Seven candidates running for Houston mayor spoke at a forum in Meyerland on Monday about a major problem in the Bayou City - drainage and flood control.
Some of the hardest hit rain fell in the Brays Bayou Watershed and Meyerland areas that were soon devastated with heavy flooding over the Memorial Day weekend.
Eight people died in Houston because of the floods.
Three of those people died after a Houston Fire Department rescue boat capsized along the Brays Bayou.
A total of 3,015 homes in Houston were flooded. More than 3,500 multi-family units were flooded.
"We don't have a city plan that includes good flood controls, good policing, good economic development," said candidate Marty McVey.
Several candidates insisted the completion of "Project Brays," a multi-million dollar plan that includes making changes to Brays Bayou, would greatly reduce the risk of heavy flooding from happening again.
"We have to continue on with the federal project of widening the channels," said candidate Steve Costello.
"We're going to have to fight with everything that we have to make sure we get the federal dollars that are necessary to widen the Bayou," said candidate Chris Bell.
"You have to widen the channels, you have to deepen them," said Sylvester Turner.
Other candidates had other suggestions.
"Creating a supplemental capacity underground that can retrieve water more quickly," said Ben Hall.
"We need to build retention and detention every place in the city that we can find a place to do it," said Bill King.
Adrian Garcia pushed the idea of developing an alert system to warn people about flooding well in advance.
"There is technology that gave the Medical Center 2 hours notice. That could have meant the world to a lot of families here," said Garcia.
"Project Brays," which flood officials said was delayed, is expected to be completed by 2021.
Monday's forum was hosted by the Meyerland Community Improvement Association and the Brays Bayou Association. Houston City Council Member Anne Clutterbuck moderated the event.
It was held at Lovett Elementary School in Meyerland.