Project Archives

Report of the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas

We know now what we only suspected on September 1, 2017: Harvey was one of the worst disasters in U.S. history. It caused at least $125 billion in damage in Texas, more than any other natural disaster except Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of Texans were left to salvage what they could. Ultimately, it produced the largest disaster response in Texas history.

A year after the hurricane, The Texas A&M University System chancellor, John Sharp—who is  the commissioner of Governor Abbott’s Rebuild Texas—tasked AgriLife Communications with designing Eye of the Storm.

In this 182-page report, we try to create as clear a picture of Hurricane Harvey as possible. We document how the storm developed and how it affected Texas. We also offer a frank assessment of the federal, state and local response, and recommendations for how Texas can be better prepared to withstand future disasters. The report is both a record of a milestone event in the state’s history and a guide to “future-proofing” our state to mitigate the impact of future Harveys.

Almost every chart and table throughout the table was redesigned.

Maps were recolored to match.

Chapter dividers are created from satellite images from during Harvey.

Redesigned charts and tables helped clarify the information.

The Leach Teaching Gardens is the first completed phase of The Gardens at Texas A&M University. It was funded in large part by donor contributions, which meant we needed to give them a very special grand opening event.

The event began with an indoor cocktail reception.

Event programs with attached lapel pins.

Custom lapel pins were attached to the programs for each donor.

The donor preview began inside and was followed by a tour of the gardens.

The party then moved outside for the revealing of the donor wall.

Temporary “walls” were created in order to “reveal” the donor wall.

The donor wall after being revealed.

The main mark/design element for the event.

Finally, the attendees were invited into the gardens for an exclusive preview. They were greeted by students and treated to cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvre throughout the gardens.

Volunteers were used to help hand out programs and welcome donors into the gardens.

Stations were set up throughout the gardens.

Rack cards with information for potential donors were placed throughout the event.

Volunteers and event staff all received custom Gardens t-shirts.

The Dirty Dozen is a 6 or 12 hour mountain bike race for solo riders or relay teams on a 7+ mile single-track course. Riders try to log as many laps as possible, with only one member riding at a time.

The promotion efforts brought in a record 370 racers to the 2017 race.