Mayoral Candidate Bill King Lays Out Multifaceted Flood Mitigation Plan
Mayoral candidate Bill King has unveiled a multifaceted flood mitigation plan for Houston. While developing the plans, King visited about twenty neighborhoods in Houston that chronically flood and talked to residents about their flood experiences.
No One Solution, No Easy Answers
King believes the dynamics of flooding in each area are unique and there are no easy answers to Houston’s flooding problems. “There is no one solution,” says King. “Our topology and climate present significant challenges when attempting to address flooding. It will require a multi-phased approach and consistent, disciplined attention to the problem over many years.”
Seven-Phase Plan
Below are his seven proposals to improve flood mitigation. These proposals are specific to the City of Houston’s responsibilities. You can click on each for a detailed discussion.
- Stop the Diversion of the Drainage Fees.
- Prioritize Improving Conveyance and Creating More Detention.
- Ramp Up Purchases of Vacant Land for Green Space and Detention; Increase Funding for Buyouts.
- Build Higher but be Smart About It.
- Prepare a Detailed Plan for the Response to and Recovery from Future Floods.
- Advocate for More Regional Cooperation and Perhaps a Regional Flood Control Authority.
- Prioritize Projects in Flood Prone Areas.
First In a Series
I will post the flood mitigation plans of other candidates as I receive them. Flooding certainly isn’t the only problem Houston faces. However, solving those other problems will require solving flooding problems.
Who would want to invest in building a home or business in an area that chronically floods? Maintaining Houston’s growth will require solving flooding first.
Posted by Bob Rehak on August 26, 2019
727 Days since Hurricane Harvey
