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City, ISD agree on communications
By NATALIE TORENTINOS
Pearland’s City Council and School Board members had no qualms doling out compliments during a recent review of Hurricane Ike recovery efforts, but everyone agreed that improvements are needed for future disasters – especially when it comes to communication.
Both governing bodies held a joint meeting Nov. 20 to discuss past cooperative efforts and possibly document future provisions to emergency management plans, as well as examine the storm’s affect on area businesses, schools and homes.
According to a presentation prepared by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the 10-foot storm surge impacted 205,000 people, 5,000 businesses, and 42 schools. Overall, the storm impacted 606,000 people and 15,000 businesses.
Some areas were more vulnerable than others, and Pearland escaped the more severe damage found in southern Brazoria County.
The meeting’s participants expressed concern regarding the public’s confusion over evacuation orders -- mainly due to Brazoria County officials announcing mandatory evacuation when the city has a right to execute its own order.
“There needs to be communication about evacuations as a whole in our community, especially in the ETJ and MUDs, because that led to confusion,” said Councilman Kevin Cole. “Who are the people living in the ETJ going to follow? How can we better communicate that?”
Cole suggested the city utilize cell phone text messaging since that was one method of communication which rarely failed throughout recovery efforts.
“Those things worked,” he said. “But sometimes you’ve got to go back to the brute work – get out on the street and tell people.”
School Board Trustee Suzy Roberts added that flying banners could be an option as an initial announcement method if electricity should be out.
“The ETJ, county and city, no one knew what their status was, which was confusing,” Roberts said.
Councilwoman Felicia Kyle emphasized the need for developing phases of communication efforts, which could start out locally in individual neighborhoods, then gradually grow citywide.
“Going to a POD or grocery store required effort,” Kyle said. “HOAs – they were one of the best ways to get info out on the basic level. Let’s build on that.”
In other City news, three proposed sidewalks are being developed using Community Development Block Grant Funding in order to better serve pedestrians near several area schools.
The Fite Road sidewalk is estimated to cost $163,000 and would run from Old Chocolate Bayou Road to CR 389, close to Rogers Middle School. Old Alvin has an $87,000 budget and runs from East Walnut Street to Alexander Middle School. The Veterans Drive sidewalk, estimated to cost $112,000, would serve Dawson High School.
Both governing bodies held a joint meeting Nov. 20 to discuss past cooperative efforts and possibly document future provisions to emergency management plans, as well as examine the storm’s affect on area businesses, schools and homes.
According to a presentation prepared by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the 10-foot storm surge impacted 205,000 people, 5,000 businesses, and 42 schools. Overall, the storm impacted 606,000 people and 15,000 businesses.
Some areas were more vulnerable than others, and Pearland escaped the more severe damage found in southern Brazoria County.
The meeting’s participants expressed concern regarding the public’s confusion over evacuation orders -- mainly due to Brazoria County officials announcing mandatory evacuation when the city has a right to execute its own order.
“There needs to be communication about evacuations as a whole in our community, especially in the ETJ and MUDs, because that led to confusion,” said Councilman Kevin Cole. “Who are the people living in the ETJ going to follow? How can we better communicate that?”
Cole suggested the city utilize cell phone text messaging since that was one method of communication which rarely failed throughout recovery efforts.
“Those things worked,” he said. “But sometimes you’ve got to go back to the brute work – get out on the street and tell people.”
School Board Trustee Suzy Roberts added that flying banners could be an option as an initial announcement method if electricity should be out.
“The ETJ, county and city, no one knew what their status was, which was confusing,” Roberts said.
Councilwoman Felicia Kyle emphasized the need for developing phases of communication efforts, which could start out locally in individual neighborhoods, then gradually grow citywide.
“Going to a POD or grocery store required effort,” Kyle said. “HOAs – they were one of the best ways to get info out on the basic level. Let’s build on that.”
In other City news, three proposed sidewalks are being developed using Community Development Block Grant Funding in order to better serve pedestrians near several area schools.
The Fite Road sidewalk is estimated to cost $163,000 and would run from Old Chocolate Bayou Road to CR 389, close to Rogers Middle School. Old Alvin has an $87,000 budget and runs from East Walnut Street to Alexander Middle School. The Veterans Drive sidewalk, estimated to cost $112,000, would serve Dawson High School.
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