Members of the Travis County Commissioners Court released the following statement regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14 rainfall intensity and floodplain findings :
Item 16: Consider and take appropriate action regarding the effects of recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14 rainfall intensity and floodplain findings on future Travis County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects.
“Travis County has a responsibility to prepare for the future and to lead by example. Atlas 14 has shown we must make changes to our bond projects in order to keep our constituents safe. As we move forward with our projects, our staff will continue to work closely with our neighboring governments and make certain we are keeping the best interests of our constituents in mind. While the added costs are significant, we must do what is necessary to keep safety our priority.” – Sarah Eckhardt, Travis County Judge
“Having seen the flooding devastation that has occurred multiple times in Precinct 4, it is clear we cannot ignore the dangers facing our constituents. We must not take the information provided to us by Atlas 14 lightly. Now is the time to take action and move forward with our projects, while taking the Atlas 14 information into consideration. Ultimately, it is our responsibility as a Commissioners Court to maintain the safety of our constituents, our bond projects, and the environment where they are being constructed.” – Margaret Gomez, Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 4
“The science of climate change is not in question. All one has to do is look at the multiple severe weather events Travis County has experienced in the past few years. Travis County must be prepared to protect our constituents and make certain our projects are climate change resilient. By doing this as early as possible, we can maintain fiscal responsibility and prioritize safety.” – Brigid Shea, Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 2
