A Texas county battered by Hurricane Harvey has earmarked $60 million to speed up flood protection projects in 105 damaged subdivisions outside mapped flood plains.
The Houston Chronicle reports the Harris County Commissioners Court earmarked the funds Tuesday to help the Harris County Flood Control District complete the work in four years, not 5 1/2 years.
The effort is part of 230 projects in the $2.5 billion flood bond program approved by voters last August -- a year after Harvey.
County Engineer John Blount says commissioners are spending local funds to design projects, rather than waiting on matching federal funds that will instead be used for construction.
Harris County risks losing $37 million that might not be reimbursed. Blount says engineers concluded it's worth it to more quickly protect neighborhoods.
