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Lake Jackson officials outline recovery steps after hurricane, cite $10.5 million in damages
Summary
City officials said CenterPoint crews are restoring power, initial damage assessments show about $10.5 million in residential and commercial losses, and debris pickup will begin next week with a first pass expected to take six to eight weeks.
Gerald Rosnosk and City Manager Modesto Mundo gave a public update on Lake Jackson’s recovery the day after a hurricane, saying utility crews are working and the city is coordinating debris collection, distribution sites and safety messaging for residents.
Rosnosk said CenterPoint crews have been working in Lake Jackson and reported 1,350 linemen on site. “The CenterPoint hit the streets of Lake Jackson with 1350 linemen and they started working hard today,” he said, and added that some neighborhoods were seeing power restored while many homes remained without electricity. He urged residents who receive a power-on alert but still have no electricity to contact CenterPoint at 713-207-2222 or the company’s outage webpage.
The officials also described expected cleanup operations. Rosnosk said the city’s first pass damage assessment identified about $10.5 million in residential and commercial damage so far and that the figure has been shared with county and state partners to pursue FEMA support. On debris, he said the volume is roughly double what the city saw after Hurricane Ike in 2008 and warned residents to expect a lengthy removal effort: “The first pass for pickup is going to start sometimes next week” and that pass will likely take “six to eight weeks.”
Rosnosk explained how vegetation removal near power lines will be handled, saying CenterPoint crews will cut and drop trees and limbs and that private property owners will be responsible for clearing cut material from their yards while the city will clear public property. “CenterPoint does not remove that vegetation,” he said.
Officials described resources available to residents: a cooling center opened at the recreation center with announced hours, the dog park is available for pet exercise, and a local distributor will hand out water and ice tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Rosnosk said nonprofit groups including Aerial Recovery and Global Empowerment Mission would distribute care kits beginning at 10 a.m. at Brazoswood 9th grade campus while supplies last, with BISD assisting on site.
Sanitation and logistics updates included a resumption of regular trash routes beginning tomorrow and a suspension of recycling collection for the week so trucks can be redeployed to clear the garbage backlog. Officials noted they have pre-positioned debris contractors, including Crowder Gulf, and will refine timelines as daily pickup begins.
City Manager Modesto Mundo emphasized safety concerns during recovery work, citing increased EMS calls for falls and heat-related incidents and warning residents to follow chainsaw, ladder and generator safety precautions. He urged neighbors to check on elderly or medically fragile residents.
Rosnosk closed by reaffirming that the city call center will remain open to handle resident questions and requests for assistance as recovery continues.
The city did not report any formal votes or policy actions in this update; officials said they are continuing to coordinate with county and state partners on aid and logistics.
