11/18/24 – Do you know your home’s true flood risk? In October, National Geographic ran an insightful article by Meryl Davids Landau titled “Many Americans are buying homes in flood zones – and don’t realize it.” The article begins, “The Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) used by FEMA are based on antiquated data and obsolete […]
11/17/2024 – According to a National Hurricane Center report at 6 AM this morning, slow-moving Tropical Storm Sara has produced around 40 inches of rain in northern Honduras. To put that amount in perspective, it meets or exceeds most Hurricane Harvey totals reported in Harris County during a similar 4-day period. Harvey 4-Day Totals Rainfall […]
11/16/24 – When Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger announced a “Median Madness” event, I must admit I was skeptical. But within the first hour, I began to see significant progress and the power of people working together. The objective was vine control along Kingwood Drive. This story has nothing to do with flooding. But […]
11/15/24 – The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 Board met yesterday to discuss Northpark expansion, including: Two Meetings in One On a somewhat funny note, the board covered the first half of the agenda while standing in front of a locked Kingwood Community Center. After the keymaster finally arrived… Here is the agenda. And here […]
11/14/25 – At 1 PM EST, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Sara, the 19th named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season. It formed in the western Caribbean near the border between Nicaragua and Honduras. Circulation and banding appeared on satellite images taken this morning. The storm currently has sustained […]
11/13/24 – Four years of persistence by flood activist Chris Bloch are finally paying off. HCFCD is clearing a drainage ditch blocked by silt and vegetation. Bloch, who does not live near the ditch, has no financial stake in the clean-out effort. Yet he has stayed on top of the project and gently pushed it […]
11/12/24 – On the Harris County Commissioners Court agenda for today, Harris County Engineering has 71 items. Harris County Flood Control (HCFCD) has seven. HCFCD used to battle Engineering each meeting for the title of “most projects on the agenda.” But not these days. The disparity raises questions about HCFCD. Like “What’s going on?” The […]
11/10/24 – Rafael, the up/down, on/off, east/west, north/south storm that defied prediction while stalking the Caribbean and Gulf for the past week, has lost its punch. Rafael, a Rarity Rafael reached Category 3 hurricane strength twice on its sojourn. By 9AM this morning, it was barely a tropical storm. And the National Hurricane Center believes […]
11/09/2024 – A 900,000 cubic yard, $34 million Lake Houston dredging program announced in late 2023 may still launch this year, according to District E Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger. Reportedly contributing to delays according to sundry sources at different times and places: Callan Marine has had their dredge, The General Pershing, docked on […]
11/8/24 – A trip down Northpark Drive today revealed that the focus of Northpark expansion work is shifting west from Russell Palmer toward Loop 494 and US59. The project will create the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. Here’s where things stand. Major Accomplishments since Last Northpark Post Since my last Northpark expansion update, contractors […]