City supports county flood mitigation plan

El Campo City Council did its part to boost Wharton County's chances to receive federal grant dollars for flood mitigation during its first January meeting.

Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Wharton County Flood Mitigation Plan.

The city of El Campo is currently studying drainage in the Tres Palacios River fallout through municipal limits which links to a county study on the same drainage area in unincorporated areas and through to Matagorda County.

Approval of the resolution supporting the county plan coincides with an already in place city all hazards mitigation plan developed through the Texas Colorado River Floodplain Coalition in 2000, a necessity to apply for FEMA dollars.

"After the cities of East Bernard, El Campo and Wharton approve the plan by this resolution, the county and these communities will be eligible for flood mitigation assistance funding," City Building Official Andy Waligura said in a Jan. 9 memo to Council.

"The funding of any one project could be a 75 percent federal contribution and a 25 percent local contribution," he added.

The funds could be used for everything from public awareness and drainage projects to the purchase of emergency backup power units and the creation of an emergency response team.