12/7/2025 – A 64-year-old retired woman in Kingwood was flood-free for 33 years. Then an Internet company altered her drainage. And it triggered a series of cascading issues that almost destroyed her home.
Lisa Griffin’s lot sits in a shallow bowl, but water still managed to drain from her back yard to the street through a utility easement that runs alongside her home.
The photo below shows how stormwater from Griffin’s back yard used to funnel to the street before disruption to the utility easement.
Drainage from “bowl” used to go to front curb.
However, Griffin says water no longer flows in that direction.” According to Griffin, after the company placed new cable in that easement, they brought in fill dirt and sod that obstructed her drainage. Her back yard then “turned into a swamp.”
She believes the soggy ground weakened trees in her yard. It made them more susceptible to wind damage during the derecho and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, she says. High winds destroyed several large trees on her property. One sliced through her home.
Tree uprooted by Beryl’s winds sliced through Griffin’s home
Others sliced through her fences.
Another tree destroyed this fence and nearly took out a neighbor’s home.Tree removal wiped out Lisa Griffin’s life savings.
Griffin has been trying to recover ever since. The loss of the trees, which usually soak up water, exacerbated the soggy conditions in her yard.
Sudden Loss of Drainage Triggers Cascade of Issues
Her experience is a cautionary tale. It shows how the loss of a safety margin – measured in inches – can turn into a life-altering experience. Griffin says that when the utility blocked the path for water to drain, it backed water up into the bowl. Then…
In May 2024, heavy rains flooded her garage and everything in it.
Griffin attempted to remediate the drainage issues herself, but so far, her efforts have proven ineffective. She now literally has water lilies growing where she attempted to install her own French drain.
Standing water next to Griffin’s garage and carportfrom her neighbor’s property. Note rotted wood in bottom of door (left).
The Long, Lonely Road to Recovery
A former professional photographer, Lisa Griffin lost years of work when the tree fell into her home. “You can’t get that stuff back,” she said. “Too many sentimental things were just … lost.”
Altogether, Griffin experienced hundreds of thousands of dollars of loss. “I couldn’t get anybody to come and move that tree for a while. So it rained in my house. I got mold because of the water.”
“And then the insulation from the attic started to wash into the house. I had a house covered in pink insulation,” she added. “The wind and rain were in my house along with squirrels and giant mosquitoes.”
Griffin recruited friends to help her clean up the mess. But it was so hot, “they would almost pass out,” she said.
Eighteen months later, with the house now fixed, Griffin is turning her attention to replanting trees.
She considered selling the home, but worried about taking a loss on it.
Along the way, Griffin sought help from her HOA, the trail association, and even the City without luck.
Currently she is exploring legal action. But the Internet company, which she believes is responsible for triggering her cascade of troubles, has deep pockets and just points fingers at others.
Meanwhile her drainage issues persist. Her story reminds me of the old parable “For want of a nail.” But Griffin tries to keep smiling.
Lisa Griffin in front of her home
Posted by Bob Rehak on December 8, 2025
3023 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251206-DSC_4136.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-12-08 17:46:002025-12-08 17:59:24Swamped: Utility Alters Drainage Leading to Major Issues for Lisa Griffin
12/6/25 – Northpark Drive expansion contractors started boring underneath Union-Pacific Railroad Tracks on 5/17/25. Yesterday, they finally connected the drainage networks on both sides – an early Christmas present for the project team. It also represents a major project milestone in the quest to build an all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood.
Pictures of Final East/West Connections under Tracks
This morning, Project Manager, Ralph De Leon sent me pictures taken earlier on Thursday.
Culvert sections creeping toward junction box (right). A concrete/sand mixture surrounds the sections to lock them in place.Wider shot shows culvert’s entry point into junction box.Workers place plywood across the entry, then……pour more concrete to seal it off.Contractors finally removed the retaining walls that kept workers safe in the pits.
How Bore Pits Looked Today
By the time I got there today with my drone, contractors had completely filled one bore pit and mostly filled the second!
Pit between tracks and Loop 494 filled!
According to De Leon, even though contractors have completed the east/west drainage, they must still connect the junction boxes to 8′ x 8′ culverts that branch north on both sides of the tracks.
One branch will collect stormwater from Loop 494 shown above.
Pit east of tracks was mostly filled in today. But note excavator digging an additional trench north (right) of pit.
The second will convey part of the stormwater that goes under the tracks to the north behind Extra Space Storage, Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts. See above. That water will use a ditch that connects with Bens Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch near the Fireworks Stand.
Trench (r) will connect the junction box to culverts already buried behind storage businesses.
The rest of the stormwater from the junction box will use culverts already buried down the middle of Northpark. Contractors have already made and buried that connection, according to De Leon.
Up Next Elsewhere on Northpark
According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, after tying into the drainage ditch that goes behind the storage businesses, the large storm sewer crew will move across the tracks and tie in the Loop 494 drainage to the western junction box.
They will then begin working on the east side of the tracks from the Anderson Rd to Northpark Christian Church where the paving has been poured setting the curb inlet tops and extensions.
Another crew will also work east of the tracks from Northpark Christian Church to Advanced Auto, setting the curb inlet tops and extensions.
On Monday December 15th, they will move to the corner of LP 494 and Northpark in front of the Dry Cleaners to set the sanitary sewer manhole cone and top.
The dirt crew will begin backfilling and grading behind the curbs on both east- and westbound Northpark east of the railroad tracks.
The concrete paving crews will pour from Anderson Rd. towards the Dairy Queen driveway. They will then move to westbound Northpark and pave from Sun Auto to Quick Quack/Sherwin Williams.
The driveway crew will continue working on the remaining 4 driveways on westbound Northpark near Northpark Christian Church. They will then return to working on the sidewalk from Northpark Christian Church to the east end of the project at Advanced Auto.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251206-image002.jpg?fit=825%2C1100&ssl=11100825adminadmin2025-12-06 21:16:562025-12-06 21:31:49Northpark Update: Drainage on Both Sides of UPRR Tracks Finally Connected
12/5/25 – The Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) and Texas General Land Office (GLO) announced yesterday the approval of two engineering design contracts for the largest coastal protection effort in the history of the United States – the Coastal Texas Project.
The two contracts represent a milestone in moving this historic initiative toward construction. Each contract covers a major component of the larger project.
Part I: Galveston Bay Barrier System
The Galveston Bay Barrier System (aka the “Ike Dike”) represents the largest element of the Coastal Texas Project. It accounts for 85 percent of the $35 billion estimated cost.
HDR won engineering design for Beaches and Dunes (Bolivar and West Galveston Beach and Dune System). Goal: ecosystem restoration to strengthen natural coastal barriers along the Bolivar Peninsula and West Galveston Island.
The Beaches and Dunes features will move into design first.
Part II: Bolivar Roads Gate System
The second element: the largest flood gate system in the world. Jacobs won the engineering design of The Gate (Bolivar Roads Gate System). It will span a two-mile-wide waterway between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula.
Remember Ike
Those who lived in Houston in 2008 will likely never forget Hurricane Ike. It began as a Category 4 storm 800 miles wide. And it made landfall along the upper Texas Coast as a high end Category 2. The eye came right up Galveston Bay and crossed the Lake Houston Area. It pushed 15-20 feet of storm surge inland in Chambers County almost as far north as I-10.
Track of Hurricane Ike
Surge traveled deep inland through Galveston Bay, Clear Lake, and the Houston Ship Channel, flooding industrial sites and neighborhoods as far north as Baytown. Also, Ike spawned 29 tornadoes.
Luckily, the world’s largest petrochemical complex was on the dry side of the storm. West of the eye, winds pushed water back out to sea. Therefore, surge was lower.
Had Ike made landfall, a few miles farther west, the story could have been much different.
Importance of Projects
“We can no longer wait to implement this long-term resiliency strategy, aimed at safeguarding the largest port and petrochemical complex in the nation,” said GLO Commissioner, Dawn Buckingham, M.D.
“The State of Texas has appropriated nearly $1 billion to the Gulf Coast Protection District to advance projects offering multiple lines of defense to reduce the risk of coastal storm surges. With President Trump leading the way, I am confident our federal leaders will follow suit and fully fund the Coastal Texas Project, ensuring our national assets are protected from the threat of devastating storms.”
“These contracts are important because they move two major features of the Coastal Texas Project into design. Once designed, we can finally realize the full magnitude of these ideas and further engage local communities with details, not concepts,” said Coalter Baker, Executive Director, Gulf Coast Protection District.
Destruction on Bolivar Peninsula After Hurricane Ike. Scouring literally ripped streets and storm sewers out of the ground.Destruction on Bolivar Peninsula After Hurricane Ike. Not much was left standing. Many residents could not even find their property because the storm destroyed so much.
About the Gulf Coast Protection District
In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature established The Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD). Its purpose? To lead a unified and comprehensive coastal resilience strategy for the upper Texas coast. As the non-Federal sponsor for major elements of the Coastal Texas Project and the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project, GCPD plays a pivotal role in delivering large-scale storm surge protection and coastal restoration.
Responsible for safeguarding approximately 5,220 square miles across five counties, GCPD leads the largest coastal protection initiative in U.S. history. For more information, visit the GCPD website.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/5/25
3020 Days since Harvey and 17 years, 3 months since Ike.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Hurricane-Ike-358-e1746218969261.jpg?fit=1100%2C732&ssl=17321100adminadmin2025-12-05 17:56:592025-12-05 21:23:11Engineering Contracts Announced for Largest Coastal Protection Effort in U.S. History
Swamped: Utility Alters Drainage Leading to Major Issues for Lisa Griffin
12/7/2025 – A 64-year-old retired woman in Kingwood was flood-free for 33 years. Then an Internet company altered her drainage. And it triggered a series of cascading issues that almost destroyed her home.
Lisa Griffin’s lot sits in a shallow bowl, but water still managed to drain from her back yard to the street through a utility easement that runs alongside her home.
The photo below shows how stormwater from Griffin’s back yard used to funnel to the street before disruption to the utility easement.
However, Griffin says water no longer flows in that direction.” According to Griffin, after the company placed new cable in that easement, they brought in fill dirt and sod that obstructed her drainage. Her back yard then “turned into a swamp.”
She believes the soggy ground weakened trees in her yard. It made them more susceptible to wind damage during the derecho and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, she says. High winds destroyed several large trees on her property. One sliced through her home.
Others sliced through her fences.
Griffin has been trying to recover ever since. The loss of the trees, which usually soak up water, exacerbated the soggy conditions in her yard.
Sudden Loss of Drainage Triggers Cascade of Issues
Her experience is a cautionary tale. It shows how the loss of a safety margin – measured in inches – can turn into a life-altering experience. Griffin says that when the utility blocked the path for water to drain, it backed water up into the bowl. Then…
Griffin attempted to remediate the drainage issues herself, but so far, her efforts have proven ineffective. She now literally has water lilies growing where she attempted to install her own French drain.
The Long, Lonely Road to Recovery
A former professional photographer, Lisa Griffin lost years of work when the tree fell into her home. “You can’t get that stuff back,” she said. “Too many sentimental things were just … lost.”
Altogether, Griffin experienced hundreds of thousands of dollars of loss. “I couldn’t get anybody to come and move that tree for a while. So it rained in my house. I got mold because of the water.”
“And then the insulation from the attic started to wash into the house. I had a house covered in pink insulation,” she added. “The wind and rain were in my house along with squirrels and giant mosquitoes.”
Griffin recruited friends to help her clean up the mess. But it was so hot, “they would almost pass out,” she said.
Eighteen months later, with the house now fixed, Griffin is turning her attention to replanting trees.
She considered selling the home, but worried about taking a loss on it.
Along the way, Griffin sought help from her HOA, the trail association, and even the City without luck.
Currently she is exploring legal action. But the Internet company, which she believes is responsible for triggering her cascade of troubles, has deep pockets and just points fingers at others.
Meanwhile her drainage issues persist. Her story reminds me of the old parable “For want of a nail.” But Griffin tries to keep smiling.
Posted by Bob Rehak on December 8, 2025
3023 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Northpark Update: Drainage on Both Sides of UPRR Tracks Finally Connected
12/6/25 – Northpark Drive expansion contractors started boring underneath Union-Pacific Railroad Tracks on 5/17/25. Yesterday, they finally connected the drainage networks on both sides – an early Christmas present for the project team. It also represents a major project milestone in the quest to build an all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood.
Pictures of Final East/West Connections under Tracks
This morning, Project Manager, Ralph De Leon sent me pictures taken earlier on Thursday.
How Bore Pits Looked Today
By the time I got there today with my drone, contractors had completely filled one bore pit and mostly filled the second!
According to De Leon, even though contractors have completed the east/west drainage, they must still connect the junction boxes to 8′ x 8′ culverts that branch north on both sides of the tracks.
One branch will collect stormwater from Loop 494 shown above.
The second will convey part of the stormwater that goes under the tracks to the north behind Extra Space Storage, Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts. See above. That water will use a ditch that connects with Bens Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch near the Fireworks Stand.
The rest of the stormwater from the junction box will use culverts already buried down the middle of Northpark. Contractors have already made and buried that connection, according to De Leon.
Up Next Elsewhere on Northpark
According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, after tying into the drainage ditch that goes behind the storage businesses, the large storm sewer crew will move across the tracks and tie in the Loop 494 drainage to the western junction box.
They will then begin working on the east side of the tracks from the Anderson Rd to Northpark Christian Church where the paving has been poured setting the curb inlet tops and extensions.
Another crew will also work east of the tracks from Northpark Christian Church to Advanced Auto, setting the curb inlet tops and extensions.
On Monday December 15th, they will move to the corner of LP 494 and Northpark in front of the Dry Cleaners to set the sanitary sewer manhole cone and top.
The dirt crew will begin backfilling and grading behind the curbs on both east- and westbound Northpark east of the railroad tracks.
The concrete paving crews will pour from Anderson Rd. towards the Dairy Queen driveway. They will then move to westbound Northpark and pave from Sun Auto to Quick Quack/Sherwin Williams.
The driveway crew will continue working on the remaining 4 driveways on westbound Northpark near Northpark Christian Church. They will then return to working on the sidewalk from Northpark Christian Church to the east end of the project at Advanced Auto.
For More Information and a Timetable
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority Website and their three-week lookahead schedule.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/6/2025
3021 Days Since Hurricane Harvey
Engineering Contracts Announced for Largest Coastal Protection Effort in U.S. History
12/5/25 – The Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) and Texas General Land Office (GLO) announced yesterday the approval of two engineering design contracts for the largest coastal protection effort in the history of the United States – the Coastal Texas Project.
The two contracts represent a milestone in moving this historic initiative toward construction. Each contract covers a major component of the larger project.
Part I: Galveston Bay Barrier System
The Galveston Bay Barrier System (aka the “Ike Dike”) represents the largest element of the Coastal Texas Project. It accounts for 85 percent of the $35 billion estimated cost.
HDR won engineering design for Beaches and Dunes (Bolivar and West Galveston Beach and Dune System). Goal: ecosystem restoration to strengthen natural coastal barriers along the Bolivar Peninsula and West Galveston Island.
The Beaches and Dunes features will move into design first.
Part II: Bolivar Roads Gate System
The second element: the largest flood gate system in the world. Jacobs won the engineering design of The Gate (Bolivar Roads Gate System). It will span a two-mile-wide waterway between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula.
Remember Ike
Those who lived in Houston in 2008 will likely never forget Hurricane Ike. It began as a Category 4 storm 800 miles wide. And it made landfall along the upper Texas Coast as a high end Category 2. The eye came right up Galveston Bay and crossed the Lake Houston Area. It pushed 15-20 feet of storm surge inland in Chambers County almost as far north as I-10.
Surge traveled deep inland through Galveston Bay, Clear Lake, and the Houston Ship Channel, flooding industrial sites and neighborhoods as far north as Baytown. Also, Ike spawned 29 tornadoes.
Luckily, the world’s largest petrochemical complex was on the dry side of the storm. West of the eye, winds pushed water back out to sea. Therefore, surge was lower.
Importance of Projects
“We can no longer wait to implement this long-term resiliency strategy, aimed at safeguarding the largest port and petrochemical complex in the nation,” said GLO Commissioner, Dawn Buckingham, M.D.
“The State of Texas has appropriated nearly $1 billion to the Gulf Coast Protection District to advance projects offering multiple lines of defense to reduce the risk of coastal storm surges. With President Trump leading the way, I am confident our federal leaders will follow suit and fully fund the Coastal Texas Project, ensuring our national assets are protected from the threat of devastating storms.”
“These contracts are important because they move two major features of the Coastal Texas Project into design. Once designed, we can finally realize the full magnitude of these ideas and further engage local communities with details, not concepts,” said Coalter Baker, Executive Director, Gulf Coast Protection District.
About the Gulf Coast Protection District
In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature established The Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD). Its purpose? To lead a unified and comprehensive coastal resilience strategy for the upper Texas coast. As the non-Federal sponsor for major elements of the Coastal Texas Project and the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project, GCPD plays a pivotal role in delivering large-scale storm surge protection and coastal restoration.
Responsible for safeguarding approximately 5,220 square miles across five counties, GCPD leads the largest coastal protection initiative in U.S. history. For more information, visit the GCPD website.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/5/25
3020 Days since Harvey and 17 years, 3 months since Ike.