Earth Equity News

Galveston Mayor to Ask Congress for $2.3 Billion in Relief Today. By Dale Lezon and Ruth Rendon, Houston Chronicle, September 22, 2008. “As officials warned of serious health risks for evacuees who return to Galveston, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas made plans to ask Congress today, [when she testifies before the Senate disaster recovery subcommittee,] for $2.3 billion to help her city recover from Hurricane Ike. City officials said they have no idea how much a complete recovery will cost, but Thomas will request $1.2 billion in aid for repairs to such vital infrastructure as the sewer and water systems, $600 million to repair damage to the UT Medical Branch and another $500 million to restore the Port of Galveston...Officials also announced Monday that residents on the island's West End were allowed to return to their homes to assess damage and then leave... Returning residents should prepare for a shock, city spokeswoman Mary Jo Naschke said. With all the work going on, city officials aren't sure how many people are on the island, Naschke said. What she does suspect is that the pre-Ike population of 58,000 will shrink. ‘When the dust settles, they'll choose to leave just because they don't want to experience this again,’ Naschke said. ‘Or because they simply can't afford to rebuild their lives here. It's a real possibility.’”