5/11/25 – A study published in the November 2024 edition of the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology by researchers from Louisiana State University and Texas A&M examined stalling and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. After analyzing 1,274 storms going back to 1900, they found one of the primary areas for such storms to strike is […]
5/9/2025 – Houston has 3,900 miles of storm sewers and 2,500 miles of roadside ditches. When it comes to reducing flooding, roadside ditches and storm sewers each have their pros and cons. But before looking at the strengths and limitations of each, let’s consider some basic capacity and performance differences. Capacity and Performance A typical […]
5/8/25 – Several crucial operations that are part of the Northpark expansion project should soon begin in the quest to create the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. Contractors are about to begin: Separately, contractors have already started clearing surface lanes on the south side of Northpark between Loop 494 and Marco’s Pizza. The lanes […]
5/7/25 – A developer named Ryko has announced plans to build 7000 homes on floodplain land that could be inundated with 7 to 25 feet of floodwater in the next 0.2% annual chance storm. The Houston area has had four such storms in the last 10 years. From a public policy perspective, that raises three […]
5/6/25 – ReduceFlooding has obtained an uncharacteristically blunt letter via a Freedom of Information Act request to Montgomery County’s Engineering Department. The letter blasts Ryko’s Drainage Study for its proposed 5,500-acre development deep in the floodplains near the confluence of four major streams across US59 from Kingwood. Overview of Drainage Study Objections The letter, which […]
5/5/25 – A proposed Federal rule change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) concerning threatened and endangered species could make floodplain development easier. Changing Definition of ‘Take’ The rule change would limit the Endangered Species Act’s power to protect habitat by deleting the word ‘harm’ from the explanation of what it means to […]
5/4/25 – A bill by State Rep. Charles Cunningham (HB 1532) that would create a Lake Houston Dredging District has passed overwhelmingly in the House and moved to the Senate. The bill received 114 Yeas and 19 Nays in the House, but has yet to pick up traction in the Senate. Perhaps no other bill […]
5/3/25 – A well-intentioned bill that just moved from the Texas House to the Senate could have dire unintended consequences in certain circumstances. One of the unintended consequences is increased flood risk. Bill Purports to Make Housing More Affordable HB23 (and nearly identical companion bills SB2354 and HB2977) give developers the ability to privately hire engineers […]
5/2/25 – Because of heavy rains on Friday, City Council Member Fred Flickinger’s Median Madness event on Saturday 5/3/25 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. A new date is not yet available. Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/2/25 at 10 PM 2802 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The National Weather Service in Houston has published a 2025 Hurricane Guide tailored for the southeast Texas area. The guide includes information about how to prepare for all hazards associated with hurricanes, including strong winds, storm surge, flooding, and tornadoes. The 38-page guide is filled with helpful tips, explanatory visuals, checklists, evacuation routes, easy-to-read text […]