Hurricane planning session set

JAMAICA BEACH — West end residents will hold their own hurricane planning meeting Saturday, hoping to catch second-home owners while they’re in town.

Only about 20 percent of west end property owners are full-time residents.

Most people who own vacation homes aren’t even aware of what the city does to prepare for a storm and the subsequent recovery, said Jerry Mohn, president of the West Galveston Island Property Owners’ Association.

The coalition of property owners groups is holding the meeting.

Officials from the city of Galveston, the National Weather Service, Galveston County and the Texas General Land Office will encourage property owners to be ready for whatever this year’s hurricane season brings their way, Mohn said.

But homeowners also are likely to bring up problems they’re still having with Hurricane Ike-related damage and issues that came up during the last eight months of recovery, Mohn said.

Officials with the land office also will be prepared to answer questions about the 4.5-foot elevation line established after Ike wiped out almost all of the island’s natural vegetation. The elevation line marks the start of the public beach easement, where building is not allowed.

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At A Glance

WHAT: West End hurricane planning meeting

WHEN: 9:45 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Public service building, 16628 San Luis Pass Road, Jamaica Beach