Port Arthur Levee Needs Repairs Post Hurricane Ike

Port Arthur's levee system protected thousands of homes in the area during Hurricane Ike but the levee was damaged in the storm surge. Now officials are rushing to complete the repairs.

When Hurricane Ike made its approach to Southeast Texas Moe Cully and his family evacuated from the home they've lived in for 34 years. A home that sits directly in front of the Port Arthur levee. Cully said the levee saved his home, "if it hadn't been for that my house would be gone for sure."

Doug Wright is the Assistant Manager for Jefferson County Drainage District 7. Wright said, "it worked they say it was a category two storm with a category four tide." Wright said the levee was built in the 1970's to withstand a category three hurricane. The surge was at least a couple of feet below the 17 foot height although waves washed over all this debris. Wright said, "there are fences, decks, trees that have to be removed."

Wright said the county is in the process of removing it so it can then determine how badly the levee was damaged in the storm, "remove all the debris and repack all of this clay to establish a good firm base for this seawall. The issue right now is we have to make sure it is in good shape for the next storm and we have to do that immediately we can't wait for the next storm and hope it's okay."

Wright said the repairs have to happen as soon as possible because after Hurricane Katrina the levee inspection rules changed. He said right now the levee is not up to code. If it fails inspection homeowners will be unable to buy flood insurance for their homes. It would be as if the levee didn't exist. DD7 would like to clear the entire area within a month.