HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is a guest on this week's Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall and says his tag line for Harvey would be: "We survived and we are committed!"
The survival was due in large part to the planning and ability of emergency responders to be flexible in how they responded to an unprecedented flooding event. He says they can always do better and will when it comes to opening up shelters for those who need them and in planning for ways to avoid such devastating impacts from major flooding, including asking voters to raise taxes.
Houston Newsmakers: Judge Ed Emmett speaks more on Harvey recovery
"When you get your tax bill, there's a separate line item for Harris County Flood Control District," he said. "If we put together the right package and we go back to the voters at some point in the future and say, 'Following Harvey, these are the things that need to be done. This is how much it's going to cost. Voters do you approve?'"
Emmett talks about the hard choice made by the Army Corps of Engineers and the opening of the gates of the Addicks and Barker dams.
"If the Corps decides that they're at risk of losing one of those dams, they have no choice but to release the water," he said.
Houston Newsmakers: Harvey recovery
And on needing to change the rules about the way counties can better govern themselves, Emmett said, "Cities like Baytown and Pasadena and South Houston and Galena Park, you can't leave those out of the mix."
Emmett has called for a total revamp of the way the region works to prevent flooding and says those talks are already under way.
More information:
Judge Ed Emmett, Harris County, (R) ,713-274-7000, www.judgeemmett.org
