Here’s how to report storm debris blocking Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) ditches and streams. After a storm, it’s crucial to keep HCFCD channels clear of fallen trees and debris to reduce future flood risk. One tree down across a stream can catch other trees that create a log dam, backing water up into […]
7/29/24 – Yesterday, I reviewed a thought-provoking, academic study co-authored by Dr. Samuel Brody of Texas A&M about the relative effectiveness of three different forms of flood mitigation. Today, I would like to discuss a related topic – the costs of not preserving floodplains. Land in a floodplain is cheap. But the initial cost to […]
7/28/24 – A 2020 academic study in the journal “Cities” quantifies the relative effectiveness of three different ways to mitigate flood losses. They include storage, conveyance and measures designed to promote infiltration. Best Ways to Mitigate Flood Losses The study, called “How Effective are Drainage Systems in Mitigating Flood Losses?” found that storage was the […]
7/26/24 – The National Weather Service (NWS) has produced a must-read publication called “The 2024 Official SE Texas Hurricane, Severe Weather Guide.” It puts everything you need to know about dealing with hurricanes and other forms of severe weather that strike this area – into one place. It’s a concise, well-written, easy-to-understand compilation of essential […]
7/25/24 Noon – A flood watch and warning continue for the Lake Houston Area with more heavy rain expected. The San Jacinto East Fork and West Fork, Caney Creek and Lake Creek are all at or near flood stage due to even heavier rains earlier in the week. Flood watches and warnings have been extended […]
7/24/24 – Note: This guest editorial by Kingwood resident Tony Lanson is timely. The Lake Houston Area is currently under yet another flood watch. Why are the promised Lake Houston flood gates not completed? Why has the schedule slipped repeatedly? Will they really be constructed by 2028 – the latest target date? That’s 11 years […]
7/23/24 at 7PM – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood watch for much of southeast Texas until at least Wednesday evening. They warn to keep storm drains clear of debris from Hurricane Beryl. NWS already predicts the East Fork San Jacinto to reach the moderate flood stage. Other bayous and channels could […]
July 22 2024 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) still aims to complete the giant Mercer Stormwater Detention Basin between FM1960 and Cypress Creek just East of the Hardy Toll Road before the end of this year. Pictures taken 7/22/24 Show Progress Compare these pictures of the Mercer Basin in February this year when […]
July 21, 2024 – Last week, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) quietly shared this year’s flood-bond update with Commissioners Court. The update came during widespread power and internet outages from Hurricane Beryl that limited its visibility. The flood-bond update details progress on the 2018 Flood Bond for the first time since the last update […]
7/19/24 – With 4-5 inches of rain expected in the next few days, storm sewer inlets, ditches, and gutters blocked by tree debris from Beryl could form a secondary crisis. Especially if the downpours become intense enough to cause street flooding that floats debris. A Widespread Issue Jeff Miller from Elm Grove Village in Kingwood […]