Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough on Tuesday called for the installation of seawalls and flood gates along the entire Galveston County Gulf Coast to protect Galveston Bay from large storm surges. Listen: RealPlayer  MP3

His remarks came during a meeting on Hurricane Ike Recovery on the Bolivar Peninsula.

"We need a Seawall over here," Yarbrough said to a large crowd in the auditorium at Crenshaw School. "We think there is a way to put a seawall from High Island all the way to the San Luis Pass, with some type of gated, control structure over the Houston Ship Channel."

Yarbrough said the system would protect Galveston Bay from a huge storm surge such as occurred with Hurricane Ike.

"You talk about the best money FEMA could spend," Yarbrough said. "If that storm hit just a little south or west, and if that big storm surge that popped Bolivar Peninsula, had popped that Houston Ship Channel, all that industry and all those folks in Houston would be having what you are going through; we would have it tomorrow."

Yarbrough asked the Bolivar residents to work with the County on the removal of debris, and talked about some of the projects to restore the peninsula.

"You can rest assured that the County is going to be raising money as best we can to raise Highway 87, for example," he said to applause from the audience.

The crowd also applauded Yarbrough's suggestion that Rollover Pass be closed.

The turnout for the meeting was larger than expected, with an overflow crowd when it opened in the Galveston County Annex at Crystal Beach. Listen: RealPlayer  MP3 (This audio is being provided in stereo)

Commissioner Patrick Doyle welcomed the crowd to the annex and introduced representatives of Entergy, the Bolivar Peninsula Special Utility District and the Texas General Land Office.

Galveston Independent School District Trustee Sandra Simmons complained that many people were unable to fit into the room and offered Crenshaw School as a site that could accommodate everyone. Thus, the meeting was moved.

Galveston County Emergency Management Coordinator John Simsen welcomed the crowd to the new location in the gymnasium at Crenshaw School.  Listen: RealPlayer  MP3

The report from the Bolivar Peninsula SUD continued; then Galveston ISD Superintendent Lynne Cleveland updated the crowd on the status of the school district and the return of classes to Crenshaw.   County staff, Commissioner Doyle and Judge Yarbrough made remarks, followed by Sheriff-elect Freddie Poor and his staff.

Doyle and Yarbrough said that additional meetings will be held on the Bolivar Peninsula.