Packery Channel Storm History
The stability of Packery Channel has been challenged by storm inundation since 2005 when Hurricane Emily opened the channel to the Gulf of Mexico during construction. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita followed later in the summer serving to interrupt related beach nourishment activities. Despite the impact of these storms during construction and more recently during Hurricane Ike (2008), Packery Channel has remained open and navigable. Dredging was scheduled 6 years after completion (7 years after opening in 2005). This maintenance dredge, conducted during the Winter of 2012 and 2013, served not only to deepen the primary channel from the basin to the Gulf but also to supply much needed sand for the nourishment of the narrow beach fronting the seawall.
