Amelia Brust

Community Impact Newspaper • February 9, 2018

Willow Fork Drainage District resuming diversion channel work after setbacks

What began as a six-month project has turned into a three-year saga for the Willow Fork Drainage District’s stormwater quality project. Three consecutive storms delayed work or, in the case of Tropical Storm Harvey, undid much of what was completed, according to District Assistant Vice President Wendy Duncan.

Community Impact Newspaper • February 9, 2018

Federal budget includes $90 billion in disaster relief for states recovering from hurricanes, including Texas

The U.S. Congress passed a $400 billion budget deal early Friday—the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018—which included almost $90 billion in federal disaster relief funding for states hit by hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters, including Texas.

Community Impact Newspaper • January 24, 2018

County officials still assessing potential tax revenue losses due to Katy-area Harvey reappraisals

As officials assign new property values for the more than 2 million parcels located in Harris and Fort Bend counties, the damage caused by Tropical Storm Harvey in August looms large.

Community Impact Newspaper • January 23, 2018

Harvey reappraisals authorized—again—and other things you missed from Katy ISD this week, Jan. 22

As part of Monday’s consent agenda, KISD trustees voted a second time to authorize reappraisals of properties damaged by Tropical Storm Harvey in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties.

Community Impact Newspaper • January 23, 2018

The Ballard House begins reopening in Katy after Harvey repair projects wrap up

After more than four months of repairs and 14 fundraisers, The Ballard House has begun welcoming families back to its guest rooms. The Cinco Ranch hospitality house took on between 3 and 4 feet of water during Tropical Storm Harvey, but Executive Director Kathy Alt said efforts from the community have allowed the facility to reopen.

Community Impact Newspaper • December 25, 2017

Best of 2017: Community Impact Newspaper's favorite photos from the Katy area

As we wrap up an eventful news year, here are Community Impact Newspaper’s favorite photos from the Katy area in 2017.

Community Impact Newspaper • December 20, 2017

Experts give their tips for recognizing, recovering from Harvey-related trauma

Recovering from Tropical Storm Harvey will take more than construction and replacing the personal items damaged by floodwaters, according to psychologists and Katy-area social service professionals. Children and their guardians are uniquely vulnerable to the lasting effects of trauma and depression from natural disasters.

Community Impact Newspaper • December 20, 2017

As Houston region debates regional flood control, Katy moves ahead with drainage plans

With a new $203,000 study of the city’s and region’s vulnerabilities largely complete, Katy plans to revamp its drainage network and coordinate with neighboring entities for more comprehensive flood control efforts.

Community Impact Newspaper • November 21, 2017

KISD: Homeless population more than tripled after Harvey

Only one Katy ISD campus was has remained closed after Tropical Storm Harvey, but thousands of district students remain displaced as a result. KISD counted about 3,500 homeless students—nearly 2,800 of whom were displaced because of Harvey—as of Nov. 8.

Community Impact Newspaper • November 21, 2017

Katy homes expected to keep their appeal despite Harvey flooding

Floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey caused more damage to residential homes than any other property type in the Greater Houston area, experts said. Nearly 5 percent of homes in the area flooded, but only 0.1 percent of those were completely destroyed, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Community Impact Newspaper • November 12, 2017

Resilience is the watchword for Katy ISD’s displaced Creech Elementary students, staff

Tropical Storm Harvey’s flooding damaged several neighborhoods in the Cinco Ranch,inlcuding one of their Katy ISD campuses: Betty Sue Creech Elementary School at 5905 S. Mason Road, Katy. Going on three months later, staff and students said they are “making it work.”

Community Impact Newspaper • October 31, 2017

Katy area hospitals say no Harvey damage, but two had...

Throughout Tropical Storm Harvey, Houston Methodist West Hospital, Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus in the Katy area managed to carry on business more or less as usual, according to administrators.

Community Impact Newspaper • October 25, 2017

Barker, Addicks releases still frustrating residents but officials say

The Barker and Addicks reservoirs in West Houston are now dry but the consequences of their August releases are still unfolding nearly two months later by officials and surrounding residents.

Community Impact Newspaper • October 17, 2017

West Houston's Addicks and Barker reservoirs now dry, US Army Corps of Engineers says

As of late last week, the Addicks and Barker reservoirs in west Houston were officially empty for the first time since Tropical Storm Harvey arrived in the region on Aug. 25.

Community Impact Newspaper • October 11, 2017

Memorial Lutheran Church Katy expansion withstands flooding, other structures not so fortunate

Tropical Storm Harvey did not delay Memorial Lutheran Church Katy’s Oct. 29 dedication of its new multi-million-dollar building expansion, but flooding from the storm damaged the church’s old preschool and parsonage, according to Senior Pastor John Davis.

Community Impact Newspaper • October 6, 2017

PHOTOS: Repairs continue at flooded Katy ISD facilities

Katy ISD is still repairing flooded facilities after Tropical Storm Harvey damaged 16 campuses in late August. Creech Elementary School was a total loss, taking on between 2-4 feet of water after Buffalo Bayou breached its banks.

Community Impact Newspaper • October 4, 2017

Lt. Governor, Houston senator echo Harris County’s call for third reservo

Just over a week after Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said at a Houston press conference a third reservoir in the city was needed for flood mitigation, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appeared to back the idea.

Community Impact Newspaper • October 2, 2017

Questions swirling around Harvey buyouts but Fort Bend County still aw

As homeowners clean out their flooded properties around the Greater Houston area, questions about buyouts are common. But Fort Bend County is still awaiting decisions for buyouts from last year’s floods.

Community Impact Newspaper • September 25, 2017

These Katy restaurants helped out with Harvey recovery efforts, Part 1

Community Impact Newspaper spoke to some of the several Katy area restaurants that contributed to relief efforts during and after Tropical Storm Harvey.

Community Impact Newspaper • September 25, 2017

These Katy restaurants helped out with Harvey recovery efforts, Part 3

Community Impact Newspaper spoke to some of the several Katy area restaurants that contributed to relief efforts during and after Tropical Storm Harvey.