Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Flood Control Issues Detailed by Interim Director of Aviation Sesha Vorrey at Airport Advisory Board Meeting

Airport Advisory Board Meeting, December 8, 2015


Interim Director of Aviation Sesha S. Vorrey included in his Director's Report at the Airport Advisory Board Meeting details about the effects on the airport of the record-breaking rain of October 30, 2015.

The National Weather Service reported that 6.55 inches of rain fell that day at the South Padre Island/Brownsville International Airport, nearly matching the 6.68 inches that fell during Hurricane Dolly.  As much as five feet of water flooded Brownsville's infamous Four Corners, with areas in Southmost having depths of over three feet.


Flooding at the airport was not as dramatic, but did interfere with some flights October 30 and 31.  Mr. Vorrey showed slides of accumulations of 4" at the jet bridge, 7" at Gates 3 and 4, 6" at the main entrance and the HPA.

"Didn't we spend millions of dollars less than five years ago to totally upgrade our drainage?" asked board member Chris Hughston.  "We were told at the time we would be set for a 100 year storm."

Vorrey explained that the improvements all worked, the detention ponds, along with the pumps and generators.  What could not be contained was the water flooding in from the surrounding city, particularly Boca Chica Blvd.
Board President Manuel Alcocer Presenting Award
to John Chosy

On a more positive note, Vorrey detailed several projects looming in the future, including a runway extension.

Recently retired Assistant City Attorney John Chosy was presented with a service award for his seven years on the Airport Advisory Board.

1 comment:

  1. the whole point of that improvement project was to levee the airport off from the surrounding city and have its own independent pumping station. sounds like it failed, or the levee was inadvertently cut at some point in the past.

    ReplyDelete

𝗧𝗦𝗖 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗨𝗕𝗘𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗔

TSC Board of Trustees Thursday evening's Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees meeting at Gorgas Hall , the first since the passing...