With storms once again flooding Galveston, could the ‘Ike Dike’ provide a solution?

These must-have Insider Deal household items are at unbeatable prices!over $30 billion in damages in 2008. While the city hasn’t been hit quite as hard since then, some experts estimate that it’s likely to be hit by a major hurricane every 15 years.With the potential of more serious storms on the horizon, let’s take a look back at one of the more unique solutions to the floods that continue to plague the region.

After witnessing the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ike, Merrell was inspired by floodgate systems in the Netherlands, and got to work drawing up a similar system for the Galveston area. Merrell’s original plan for the “Ike Dike” involved a “coastal spine” made up of a lengthy wall and several flood gates placed at various key points in Galveston Bay.During calm days, these gates would be left open for normal ship traffic to pass through. But during inclement weather events, they could be closed to prevent flood waters from rushing into the city.

But while the project might sound great in theory, progress on it over the years has been slow for multiple reasons.Galveston, Surfside Beach hit with heavy rain, flooding as Tropical Storm Alberto nears landfall in Mexicoto cost upwards of $57 billion, and as of September 2023, Congress still had not appropriated any funds towards it.

Finally, in May of this year, the US Army Corps of Engineers officially secured the first $500,000 of funding, marking an official start to the project.But while funding has started trickling in, the process of raising the remaining funds is likely to be an uphill battle, with billions of dollars still needed to complete the project.be completed before another major storm hits, or are Galveston residents likely to be left “high and dry”, so to speak? Only time will tell.

Hurricane Ike Galveston Bay Ike Dike

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