Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Woodridge Village Excavation and Removal contract with Sprint Sand & Clay continues progressing nicely. The volume excavated last month shows a continued rebound in activity after a dip last year when the housing market slowed. As of the end of April, Sprint has completed approximately 23% of its 500,000-cubic-yard […]
To kick off National Hurricane Preparedness week, the U.S. government sent two hurricane hunter aircraft to Ellington Field today. It was a rare opportunity for the public to interact with crews and support staff, and to tour some impressive displays of technology. See pics below. Hurricane Hunter Aircraft on Display at Ellington Field The versatile […]
National Hurricane Preparedness Week starts today, Sunday April 30 and runs through May 6, 2023. Helpful Resources The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers numerous resources to help you: The National Hurricane Center website also offers a treasure trove of educational resources for professionals, citizens, and students of all ages. And just in case […]
H.B. 1540 passed in the Texas House on Friday, April 28, 2023. The bill concerns recommendations from the Sunset Advisory Commission affecting the board of the SJRA. However, Representative Will Metcalf from Conroe offered a last-minute amendment from the House floor that would effectively fire Jace Houston, the SJRA’s general manager, who reports to the […]
On Tuesday, 4/25/23, Harris County Commissioners gave Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) approval to incorporate almost $3 billion worth of studies and projects into the first State Flood Plan. The approval will make the studies and projects eligible for future funding from the State Flood Infrastructure Fund. The San Jacinto Region 6 Flood Planning […]
After Hurricane Harvey, when the Army Corps established its San Jacinto West Fork dredging program, the Corps used an old sand pit off Hamblen Blvd. East in Humble to store the spoils. Before, During, After, Now Photos A regular reader emailed me about a large volume of truck activity in the area recently. So I […]
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. released the 2023 Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan (TCRMP) last month. It proposes a framework that addresses coastal hazards as well as investments that protect natural and man-made coastal environments. The plan includes 52 Tier 1 priority projects in the Houston/Galveston area including 4 in Harris County. 121 Projects […]
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. On 4/20/23, I reported about a drastic slowdown in the rate of Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) spending. Data obtained via a FOIA request indicate that with a few exceptions the slowdown has affected watersheds across the county. Two thirds saw a decline […]
If you need emergency supplies, you can save the sales tax on them this weekend. According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, this year’s tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 24. So, take an inventory and prepare yourself now for hurricane season. You can purchase […]
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) flood-mitigation spending has plummeted. Data obtained via a FOIA request shows a precipitous falloff too prolonged and too steep to attribute to hiccups on individual projects. The historical graphs below show annualized spending projections for 2023 based on first quarter spending (i.e., multiplied by four). HCFCD says that the […]