The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court authorized $800,000 to fund repairs for an erosion control structure located in the Sienna Levee Improvement District. The court also moved to allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to place temporary housing units in the region and to accept $14,000 in grant funding to support mental health assessment and therapy for juveniles.

1. Drainage channel repairs

Hurricane Harvey caused damage to a structure placed to control erosion along a lower Oyster Creek diversion channel in the Sienna Levee Improvement District, and the county’s Commissioners Court authorized $800,000 in funding to repair damages.

The Sienna LID and Fort Bend County Drainage District share usage of the structure, which is why the two entities are sharing the cost, said Mark Vogler, manager of the drainage district.

“Initially, it was estimated at $1.6 million, and we were able to scramble and pull $800,000 together, but since then, there’s been more damage because flows are continuing to go through there,” Vogler said. “The actual proposed cost now is up around $2.4 million.”

2. Temporary housing

The court voted to allow FEMA to place temporary housing units in areas that suffered flood damage related to Harvey.

The county typically would not allow such units to be placed in these regions because they are located in floodplains and considered special flood hazard areas, however, because these housing units are temporary, the court is granting an exception, County Engineer Richard Stolleis said. These units will accommodate displaced homeowners.

3. $14,000 grant funding

The court approved an agreement with the Houston-Galveston Area Council, accepting $14,000 in grant funding to provide mental health services, therapy, and assessments to referred juveniles through Sept. 30, 2018.

H-GAC is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the provided services, according to meeting documents. This agreement is supported and funded by the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division.