A year to the day after Hurricane Harvey dumped 27 trillion gallons of water on southeast Texas, swamped 204,000 Harris County homes and apartments and killed more than 50 residents in the region, voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.5 billion flood infrastructure bond designed to protect the area in future storms.

The measure was leading with more than 85 percent support, according to County Clerk Stan Stanart. An estimated 150,000 of Harris County's 2.3 million registered voters cast ballots, according to preliminary numbers.

The measure is the largest bond Harris County voters have ever approved. County Judge Ed Emmett said voters have stepped up to show the rest of the country that the Houston area takes flooding seriously, and can be a model for other coastal regions grappling with stronger and more frequent storms.

"When was the last time you saw a vote get approved by 85 percent?," Emmett said at an election watch party Saturday night in downtown Houston. "It's remarkable."

HARVEY ONE YEAR LATER: A look at where we were, and where we go from here

The bond allows the Harris County Flood Control District to build at least 230 projects over the next 10 to 15 years. It is also key to accessing more than $2 billion in matching federal dollars.

The project list includes $1.2 billion for channel improvements, $401 million for detention basins, $242 million for floodplain land acquisition, $12.5 million for new floodplain mapping and $1.25 million for an improved early flood warning system. Another $500 million remains unallocated, leaving engineers money to pay for projects identified in the future.

Breaking down the Harvey bond proposal projects The 237 flood infrastructure projects include $1.2 billion for channel improvements, $401 million for detention basins, $242 million for floodplain land acquisition, $12.5 million for new floodplain mapping and $1.25 million for an improved early flood warning system. Source: Harris County Flood Control District | Data analysis by Jordan Rubio | Map created by Rachael Gleason

The bond also includes $184 million, coupled with $552 million in outside funding, to purchase around 3,600 buildings in the floodplain — more than the flood control district's buyout program has bought in its entire 33-year history.

At the celebration at Jackson Street BBQ, Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Morman reminded the crowd that some county residents displaced by Harvey have yet to return.

"Now the real work begins, and let's make sure we do right by the citizens of Harris County," he said.

The vote was a victory for Commissioners Court and the flood control district, which spend much of the summer in crowded churches, community centers and high school auditoriums on a public meetings tour in each of the 23 watersheds.

They got an earful from residents. Some were angry at the county's past neglect of flood mitigation, while others were distrustful of the flood control district's ability to manage such a large sum. Many saw their homes flood during Harvey, including those who live well outside the floodplain and thought they would stay dry.

In the end, the engineers and elected officials were able to convince enough voters to support their plan, and added 38 projects based on ideas from residents.

Matt Zeve, the flood control district's operations director, said he plans to hire 50 to 70 additional staff, plus consultants, to help administer bond projects. He said the flood control district will continually update a website so residents can monitor their progress.

"We want the public to challenge us, ask us questions, and make sure that they exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it," Zeve said.

Recovery plan

The bond was a year in the making, as officials across Houston and Harris County struggled with how to recover from the third major flood to deluge the region in as many years.

Gov. Greg Abbott refused to tap the state's $10 billion Rainy Day Fund to help. An $89 billion appropriation from Congress — split three ways to aid recovery from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria — was far less than what Abbott requested.

Commissioners Court decided to ask voters to approve a flood infrastructure bond, conceding that the flood control district's annual $120 million budget was inadequate to improve Harris County's chances in the next storm, let alone repair the damage to bayous and rivers that Harvey wrought.

Estimates to completely protect the county from 100-year storms range from $25 to $30 billion. Court members agreed the $2.5 billion figure would be a significant, albeit late, step in the right direction without pushing a large tax increase on residents.

The bond will increase the tax bill for homeowners by 2 cents to 3 cents per $100 of assessed home value, according to county budget analysts. Those who are disabled or older than 65, and whose home is worth less than $200,000, will pay no additional taxes.

SEE MORE: Search the projects in your neighborhood

After squabbling over when to hold the vote — an all-or-nothing gamble since voters' only option was to vote in favor or against the entire $2.5 billion — Commissioners Court unanimously agreed on Aug. 25. Members hoped the symbolism of the one-year anniversary of Harvey would remind voters of the need for better flood protection.

They also saw two other advantages: An August vote would allow the flood control district time to complete some projects by the start of the 2019 hurricane season, and eliminate the possibility that voters would pay little attention to the bond at the end of the lengthy Texas general election ballot in November.

Yet, turnout was dismal. Stanart, the county clerk, last week downgraded his initial turnout projection of 10 to 13 percent to 7.5 percent.

At Field Elementary School polling station in the Heights Saturday afternoon, voters trickled in at a pace of one every five to 10 minutes. Even as the 7 p.m. deadline neared in Southside Place, voters found themselves alone among the booths. Still, residents said they saw the important of showing up to register their support for the bond.

"The fact that we have no master plan is a big deal," said Heights resident Francesco Conti. "There should be more regulations."

The low participation may boost support for calls by Republicans, including state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, to end summer elections that would increase taxes. Bettencourt, who refused to give his opinion on the flood bond, said the vote should have been held in November.

But while legislators can take up that debate come January, Harris County will have already begun awarding contracts to complete flood bond projects. Zeve said bond funds will be used for projects before the end of the year. Commissioners Court on Tuesday plans to approve 16 flood control district projects.

Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter at @zachdespart or email him at zach.despart@chron.com.

Photos by Karen Warren

Design by Jordan Rubio

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