Entries by admin

Proposed New Law Mandates Flooding Disclosure to Renters

HB531 passed the Texas House of Representatives today. 119 voted Yea, 27 Nay and 2 voted present. Before it can become law, it still needs to pass the Senate and then the Governor must sign it. Background and Purpose Some feel that renters in areas susceptible to flooding may be unaware of that risk. Although […]

HCFCD Issues Flood Bond Update as of March 30, 2021

In the March 30, 2021 Harris County Commissioner’s Court Meeting, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) gave a Flood Bond update. Here’s where projects in the 2018 Flood Bond program stand. Overview In the 30 months since the bond was approved by Harris County voters, the Harris County Flood Control District has used bond funds […]

Paradoxes of “Flood Control”

Most of us would hate to get flooded. Repairs can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. They can also disrupt normal life for months or even years. Yet collectively, we often act in ways that worsen flooding. Why? From Ignorance to Inadvertence and Intentional Some individuals do it out of ignorance, like the person who […]

Support Creation of Dredging District to Reduce Floods, Improve Lake Capacity

In the 2021 Legislation session, State Rep. Dan Huberty introduced HB2525, a bill to create a Dredging and Maintenance District for Lake Houston. Senator Brandon Creighton introduced an identical companion bill in the senate, SB1892. It deserves the support of everyone in the Houston region who depends on the lake for water as well as […]

Winter Storm’s Death Toll Rises Sharply Higher than Harvey’s

Shortly after the winter storm in February that caused statewide power outages, officials estimated the death toll near 60. In the last month, that figure has risen to 111 – nearly double the previous estimate and 43 higher than Hurricane Harvey which killed 68. Not Just Hypothermia The New York Times reported Representative Joaquin Castro, […]

Construction Update: New Caney High School #3 Site Going Green and Gray

South of Kingwood’s HCA Medical Center, contractors have made slow but steady progress on the site for New Caney High School #3 between Sorters-McClellan Road and US59. I reported last November that they were pouring concrete. They still are. But there’s a lot more of it on the ground of the 80+ acre site. About […]

Taylor Gully Excavation, Repairs Now Focusing on Area Downstream from Maple Bend Bridge

Harris County Flood Control District’s current excavation/repair project on Taylor Gully is nearing its downstream limit. The project began in January upstream from the Maple Bend Bridge. Drone photos below taken on 3/19/21 show the extent of work downstream from the bridge. The project has two main objectives: 1) restore the conveyance of the ditch, […]

Hurricane Naming Changes

Hurricane naming is changing. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has retired the names of Hurricanes Laura, Eta, and Iota from 2020 and Dorian from 2019 because of the death and destruction they caused. WMO also eliminated use of the Greek alphabet when names based on the Latin alphabet are used up. Now, a second list […]

National Hurricane Center Starting Tropical Weather Outlooks Two Weeks Earlier

Even if you don’t believe in climate change, the way the National Hurricane Center (NHC) covers tropical weather will change this year. Until now, NHC began issuing regular tropical weather outlooks on June 1st. Now they will start two weeks earlier. The National Hurricane Center will begin regular tropical weather outlooks starting on May 15 […]