Government
BY JESSICA SHORTEN
Parks, businesses see lasting impact from Hurricane Beryl
Magnolia
The Woodlands’ Parks and Recreation Department was still clearing hurricane debris in early August, and township ocials on July 30 told the Texas Legislature local businesses were still feeling the eects of extended closures following Hurricane Beryl. “Many small-business owners, particularly those in CenterPoint’s area with prolonged outages, have reported crushing nancial burdens due to the extended closures,” township board of directors Chair Ann Snyder said during in-person testimony in Austin July 30. In addition, Chief Operating Ocer Chris Nunes told ocials at a July 18 board of directors meeting that 12 township parks and the George Mitchell Nature Preserve Bridge sustained around $2 million in damage from the storm that hit the region on July 8. Nunes said as of Aug. 8 the timeline for completion for those repairs was still uncertain.
Township parks damaged by Hurricane Beryl
1488
45
3
1 Avalon Park 2 Black Knight Park 3 Evangeline Oaks Park 4 Forestgate Park 5 Grogan's Point Park 6 Harpers Landing Park 7 Lehigh Springs Park 8 Meadowlake Park
6 12
9
2978
242
2
VISION PARK BLVD.
The Woodlands
11
RESEARCH FOREST DR.
DAVID MEMORIAL DR.
1
4
8
9 Spring Hill Park 10 Tamarac Park of The Woodlands 11 Tapestry Park 12 Wimberly Park
BRANCH CROSSING DR.
7
NORTHGATE DR.
RED SABLE DR.
E. PANTHER CREEK DR.
GROGANS MILL RD.
GROGANS POINT DR.
CREEKSIDE FOREST DR.
5
10
N
SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIPCOMMUNITY IMPACT
In their words
Going forward
The 89th Texas Legislature will begin on Jan. 14 and run through June 2, pending any additional special sessions called by Gov. Greg Abbott. Any bills proposing changes based on the eects of Hurricane Beryl will not be able to be led until the rst day of the o cial legislative session. However, in testimony provided to the Senate on July 29, Snyder said township o cials would like to have some kind of x implemented by the end of the session for future hurricanes. “I’m asking you, on behalf of all of us, everyone who was aected throughout the Greater Houston area, I implore that something must be done. Change must happen,” Snyder said. Timeline July 15: The Public Utility of Commission of Texas announced formal investigation into CenterPoint Energy July 17: The Special Senate Committee on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery and Electricity was created. July 29: Special committee begins meeting Jan. 14: The 89th Texas Legislature will convene.
“We are still working o of the derecho two months ago from [collecting] debris. So this is a double hit that we’re working on.” CHRIS NUNES, CHIEF
“Some of the most powerful politicians and legislators in the state are very
upset [about the outages]. So we want to make sure ... they know what our position and desires are.” KYLE WATSON, VICE CHAIR, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OPERATING OFFICER, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP
What residents should know
during one of the hearings on July 29. “As a result, our township sta resorted to regularly driving our CenterPoint service area to report operable street lights to give us somewhat of a reliable indicator that power had been restored.” Township members also approved forming a governmental ad hoc committee to provide input to the state Legislature during proceedings. “This is not anything that’s going to happen overnight, and it’s also not anything that’s guaranteed,” board director Brad Bailey said.
Township board members have focused on potentially working with the Texas Legislature in 2025 to address power outages. On July 24, the board approved a lobbying contract with Williams Public A airs to provide services for a number of special hearings being held in Austin through October regarding CenterPoint Energy’s handling of the power outages. “CenterPoint displayed static maps that were commonly inaccurate to say the least,” Snyder said
SOURCES: PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS, TEXAS LEGISLATURE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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