Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Michael Cloud led a congressional letter to FEMA Regional Administrator George Robinson, expressing concerns about FEMA’s negligence in completing their work which resulted in massive delays in the city of Corpus Christi’s Packery Channel Restoration Project. Since Hurricane Harvey, the Packery Channel’s southern wall has remained damaged and Representative Cloud, Senator Cornyn, Senator Cruz have worked with local leaders to fight for the necessary funds to complete the restoration. 

Rep. Cloud, Senator Cornyn, and Senator Cruz stated in the letter, “The delay to the city’s ability to conduct restoration work was a result of FEMA’s failure from the very beginning, by not properly identifying project eligibility coupled with the project’s protracted Public Assistance review time. Due to this, it became necessary for the City to submit a project scope amendment to address further damages. Awaiting final approval by FEMA before initiating restoration work was prudent for the City to protect project funding. For this, the City of Corpus Christi should not be held responsible for further damages caused due to FEMA’s delay.”

Since October of 2020, Representative Cloud has been working with the city of Corpus Christi, and with Senators Cornyn and Cruz since 2021 to ensure the Packery Channel received its funding for restoration. In September 2021, FEMA awarded the city of Corpus Christi $13.5 million to restore the channel. 

In their letter, Rep. Cloud, Senator Cornyn, and Senator Cruz urge FEMA to continuing moving forward with the project. “Federal funds already obligated for this project should not be withdrawn to ensure this vital channel can be fully restored. We urge you to give the City of Corpus Christi your full and fair consideration of their first appeal.”

“Since Hurricane Harvey, we have worked tirelessly with the city of Corpus Christi to ensure FEMA’s participation to identify damages and get this restoration project moving forward,” Congressman Cloud said. “The city of Corpus Christi should not have to pay for FEMA’s mistakes and unnecessary delays. FEMA should expedite this critical project and ensure that federal funds already awarded to the project are not withdrawn. I will keep pressing to get this project going and holding FEMA accountable to ensure needs for this project are met.”

“Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas’ coast, and the Packery Channel is still repairing damage from Corpus Christi Bay to the Gulf of Mexico,” said Senator Cornyn. “This waterway is critical for recreational boat traffic and tourism in the Corpus Christi area, and I urge FEMA to fully fund this restoration project and ensure the channel remains a vibrant part of the Coastal Bend community for years to come.”

“Texans should not be penalized due to the inaction of a slow-moving federal bureaucracy,” Senator Cruz said. “I’m proud to continue to fight for the restoration of the Packery Channel and the City of Corpus Christi alongside Senator Cornyn and Representative Cloud.”

Click HERE for a copy of the letter.

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