Wildlife refuge continues to thrive post-hurricane damage

ARANSAS COUNTY - In 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit the Aransas Wildlife Refuge twice.

The vistor's center was destroyed by the winds and storm surge. Now almost seven years later, there is a brand new vistor's center built and designed to withstand hurricane force winds.

"We love our new visitor's center," said Laura Bonneau, an employee at the refuge." It was sort of a silver lining."

The new center also allows for faster prep time in the event of an incoming storm.

"It would probably be something that used to take two days to move equipment, vehicles and evacuate a lot of stuff, now that can be a couple of hours," said Scott Affeldt, an agent at the refuge.

The new center isn't the only form of protection the refuge has, the barrier islands a long the South Texas coast also protect the refuge from storm surge.

"We have shell ridges that formed thousands of years ago," said Joe Saenz, who works at the refuge. "Those ridges themselves, being there helped minimize the impacts of some of the storm surge here."

The shoreline was severely impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The agents are hoping for a quiet hurricane season so they can complete the construction of a shoreline protection project.

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