As part of the City's Flood Mitigation Plan, staff purchased and installed Tiger Dams around the detention pond on the Highway 6 Frontage Road near University Blvd in response to rising flood waters from the Brazos River due to Hurricane Harvey to prevent the intersection from flooding. Staff purchased two orders of Tiger Dams during the event. The first order was for 50 Tiger Dams, 150 support straps, and 10 fill attachments, totaling $68,450. The second order was for 50 Tiger Dams, 150 support straps, and 150 concrete anchors, totaling $73,000. The total purchase amount was $141,450. These purchases will be funded from the Streets & Drainage capital account and may be reimbursable by FEMA. In the coming months, a budget amendment will be presented to address Hurricane Harvey related purchases such as this one.
In addition to flood mitigation during Hurricane Harvey, the Tiger Dams can be used for future flood mitigation efforts and reused up to 17 to 20 years. They will be prepped and ready for deployment for any future flooding event. The use of Tiger Dams in the future provides a better, more efficient, way of providing flood fighting by staff. They are more efficient and can be deployed with less man power then traditional sand bags and they have a long service life as mentioned above.
The Public Works Department recommends that the City Council ratify the purchase of the Tiger Dams from U.S. Flood Control Corp. in the amount of $141,450.00 and approval of a budget amendment in the amount of $141,450.00 in revenue and expenses.