The Center for Texas Beaches and Shores (CTBS) at Texas A&M University at Galveston was established in 1993 by the Texas Legislature to address beach erosion and wetlands loss throughout the state. We seek to become the gateway for research on coastal sustainability and resiliency.
This Center is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the Texas shoreline, bays and waterways through innovative research in cooperation with government and private sector agencies. Our focus is to develop comprehensive, holistic approaches to Texas coastal research and restoration solutions while incorporating natural, economic and political processes.
The Texas Coast is one of the most productive and ecologically distinctive shorelines in the World. It is dynamically being reshaped by both natural and man-made forces. The Center for Texas Beaches and Shores aims to gain further understanding and educate the Texans living in this 18-county coastal region.
We have worked to create the Texas Coastal Planning Atlas using detailed geographic information that assists in providing guidance in decision-making, policy, and planning.
The Growing Threat of Urban Flooding
Floods present significant economic and social challenges in the United States and around the globe. Losses continue to grow and the potential impact of climate change and population increases are expected to accelerate this rise. Primary attention has been focused on the flooding that results from overflow along coastlines as a resulted of sea level rise, tidal variability, and coastal storm surges. However, contemporary analysis indicate that a growing segment of flood losses occur because of flooding outside the 1% annual chance flood zone of the US National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in both coastal and riverine environments. Much of this flooding occurs in more densely occupied urban areas. In many of these areas, the population is socially and economically vulnerable. Unfortunately, little data are available to determine the extent of losses in these areas. Although property owners in most of the areas are eligible to purchase flood insurance under the NFIP, there is little participation.
WEBTOOLS
Check out a number of WEBTOOLS CTBS has created throughout the years!
Contact Us:
For General Inquires:
PHONE: (409) 741-4076
EMAIL: CTBS@tamug.edu
Mailing Address:
The Center for Texas Beaches and Shores (CTBS)
Texas A&M University at Galveston
1001 Seawolf Parkway
Bldg. 3029
P.O. Box 1675
Galveston, TX 77553
Physical Address:
Texas A&M at Galveston Mitchell Campus
Ocean and Coastal Studies Building
Buyer Be-Where is an on-line system to help prospective home buyers and sellers understand their risk relative to other properties in the area. Anyone with an Internet connection can enter a street address and receive a graphic and statistical risk assessment for a specific property. Comprehensive, easy to understand information delivered on-the-fly will provide a critical resource for existing and future property owners interested in making sound and safe investment decisions.
Access the website at: http://txbuyersbewhere.com. From there, you can enter an address or click on a specific parcel to obtain your risk score. The selected property will be evaluated along multiple natural and human induced hazards. A color-coded risk score will be generated for each hazard as well as an overall risk score combining all the factors. The Buyers B-Where system offers access to critical information about a property’s risks and its potential long-term value before purchase or sale is executed.
