Hurricanes Ike & Dolly
Hurricane Ike devastated the upper coast of Texas in 2008 killing 74 people and causing $29.5 billion in damages, becoming one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history.
Hurricane Ike, a powerful and destructive Category 4 hurricane, measured 900 miles wide, engulfing Galveston and other coastal areas with widespread damage and destruction. Hurricane Dolly, though less damaging, struck the Texas coastline months earlier as a Category 2 hurricane — making it the most destructive storm to hit the Rio Grande Valley in over 4 decades.
Many cities and counties have contract(s) still active in support of Hurricanes Dolly or Ike recovery, with applicable remaining balances and expiration dates. Projects that are not completed by the contract maturity date may be subject to the recapture of any funds spent to date. The GLO is committed to helping local governments with the successful completion of these projects and will provide any support necessary for the ongoing success of long-term recovery in these communities. The GLO stands ready to assess remaining projects, establish final schedules and complete necessary closeout documentation.
As part of the effort to rebuild after Hurricane Ike, the GLO has assisted communities in building or rehabilitating over 10,000 homes and 11,000 rental units. In addition, the GLO is helping build 2,364 rental units in Galveston County — of which the Villas on the Strand plays a vital role. The multi-block development borders the Strand District in the heart of historic downtown Galveston. This mixed-income multifamily community features 160 modern apartments and townhomes, with successful occupancy rates for both the public housing units and the market rate units. The Villas was built in the Central Business District and is close to downtown Galveston and the University of Texas Medical Branch, the largest employer in Galveston. This strategic location provides residents easy access to jobs, entertainment and family activities. The community also includes amenities such as a fitness center, playground, picnic areas, controlled parking and building access, in-unit washers and dryers, and onsite management and maintenance. It is also a certified sustainable community under both Enterprise Green Communities Criteria and Energy Star for Homes and includes additional measures to increase its resiliency during future hurricanes.
The Galveston Public Housing Rental Replacement Program is part of the overall replacement of the 569 public housing units lost in Galveston due to Hurricane Ike. The first phase is building 97 units for which Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) have been assigned by HUD and issued to the Galveston Housing Authority (GHA). The next phase will replace the remaining 287 units to meet the target requirement for complete replacement.