Galveston Tearing Down Ike-Empty Houses

Galveston’s residential look is changing as dozens of Hurricane Ike-wrecked houses are being torn down.

The city is spending $21 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a buyout program meant to clear the streets of empty and decaying homes.

Ike hit Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008, leaving behind swamped property and hundreds of unlivable structures.

The city is using FEMA funds to purchase 68 houses determined to be substantially damaged.

The Galveston County Daily News on Thursday reported that so far the city has closed on 42 homes. Construction crews on Monday began tearing down the first of the structures.

City spokeswoman Alicia Cahill says Galveston hopes to have all the approved homes demolished by the end of May before hurricane season, which runs June through November.

Information from: The Galveston County Daily News, http://www.galvnews.com