3/4/25 – In many ways, the purpose of government is to help us manage uncertainty by working together. For instance:
A strong national-defense system provides the stability people need to go about their daily lives and build businesses.
The justice system protects us from criminals who would steal our hard-earned money.
Traffic systems enable us to get where we’re going safely – in the air and on the ground.
Flood-control systems protect us from unpredictable major storms that might otherwise destroy our homes.
Triple Threat For Disaster Relief and Flood Mitigation
But in the last month, newspapers and magazines from coast to coast have blared headlines about the possible impacts of massive federal government staff cuts and a blanket funding freeze on government grants. The cuts and delays potentially affect wide swaths of the federal government including:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It helps provide low-income, affordable housing. And its Community Development Block Grant Program also helps fund many flood-mitigation and disaster-relief projects.
Together, these three groups help protect us from natural disasters, recover from them, and mitigate the impact of future severe-weather events.
It’s unclear at this point how budget and staff cuts in these groups would impact disaster-prone areas, such as Texas. But rumors certainly have created a stir. And the uncertainty surrounding the cuts is contributing to potential delays that could jeopardize 60+ flood-mitigation projects totaling $1.1 billion that Harris County has been working on for four years.
Right now, no one can predict what all this uncertainty will bring. And that in itself is bad.
Separating Waste from Need
Predictably, most people have lined up along a partisan divide. But in this national debate, we need a better appreciation of details and nuances.
When I listen to stories of government fraud, waste and abuse, one side of my brain thinks, “We need to get a better handle on that.” Many examples exist in Harris County right under our noses.
But when I listen to stories about DOGE pillaging through one government department after another, I can’t help but wonder whether a series of targeted surgical strikes might work better than a blanket, slash-and-burn campaign.
It reminds me of a cautionary nursery tale dating back more than 500 years. Parents have taught it to countless generations of children around the world to dramatize the value of preparation and attention to detail.
For Want of a Nail, the Shoe Was Lost
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; For want of the shoe, the horse was lost; For want of the horse, the rider was lost; For want of the rider, the battle was lost; For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost; And all from the want of a horseshoe nail.
No government system works perfectly forever. They require constant calibration in response to changing environments. But wholesale, sudden change has the potential to disrupt communities and lives drastically. And I’m not just talking about people whose jobs are affected.
Impacts of Threatened Cuts Already Seen Locally in County Commissioners Court
In Harris County Commissioners Court last Thursday, leaders discussed ways to deal with the uncertainty produced by these possible cuts.
Item 11 dealt with financial strategies to deal with uncertainty in case the federal government pulls back grants affecting Harris County employees and programs, including the 2018 Flood Bond.
Item 164 dealt with the need to better understand the status of each project in the Flood Bond in the face of a potential billion-dollar budget shortfall.
The Peril of Pendulum Politics
The function of government should be to provide services that give citizens a safe environment to build better lives … in the most cost-effective way possible. It’s not one or the other.
Right now, Harris County has at least $1.1 billion of grants at risk because they are under the HUD umbrella. That makes them tainted in the current environment because of HUD’s statutory mission established under Democratic presidents in the 1960s.
Let’s make sure that in the current swing of the pendulum, we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The DOGE “Musketeers” are reportedly evaluating cuts of 50 – 80 percent of HUD’s staff … plus billions in grant programs. The County has worked four years to apply for the $1.1 billion in grants. HCFCD conducted engineering studies, prepared flood-remediation plans, and developed estimates.
We have already spent millions of dollars in anticipation of reimbursement. If DOGE nukes CDBG programs, either by directly cutting the grants themselves or the personnel required to process reimbursements, the County will be out the money already invested. That will delay or eliminate future flood control projects entirely.
Is It Wise to Cut $1.1 Billion That Could Save $150 Billion?
Look at those CDBG disaster recovery funds not as a frivolous expense, but as an investment in future safety and cost reduction.
The flood-control grants will protect against future floods. When the next superstorm like Harvey hits, the $1.1 billion under review will look tiny compared to the damages it could help avoid.
Harvey damages cost $125 billion. Adjusted for inflation, a similar storm today could easily cost in the region $150 billion.
Perhaps DOGE should focus on cutting future expenses, not just today’s. To quote another old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/4/25
2744 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/2023/10/Harvey-at-59-Bridge-IMG_3686-e1741129570215.jpeg?fit=1100%2C685&ssl=16851100adminadmin2025-03-04 17:11:592025-03-04 22:53:59Editorial: Government Should Help Manage Uncertainty, Not Create It
3/3/25 – A Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) spokesperson reports that the District finished picking up Hurricane Beryl debris at numerous locations along Bens Branch in Kingwood on February 27, 2025.
Hurricane Beryl struck the Houston area on July 8, 2024, with winds gusting up to 83 MPH at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Sustained winds exceeded tropical storm strength for approximately six hours in the Lake Houston Area. Wet grounds over a large part of the area from well above average spring and early summer rainfall led to widespread downing of trees.
The storm damage came on top of a derecho earlier in the year that created chaos.
HCFCD claims the piles were not theirs but couldn’t say who they belonged to. However, local leaders who monitored cleanup efforts disagreed.
But Eric Heppen, Harris County Precinct 3’s Director of Engineering, said, “We’re past that now. We’re just going to pick up the piles.” Thank you, Commissioner Ramsey. And thank you, HCFCD.
Some piles, such as those along Bens Branch opposite Bear Branch Elementary on Tree Lane, became highly visible eyesores. They also became temptations for young boys eager to show off their mountain-climbing skills.
The pictures below show what remained of the Tree Lane piles today.
Nothing.Piles gone!
Thanks to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey for breaking the logjam (pun intended) over who was responsible for the Beryl debris and arranging for the pickup.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/3/25
2743 Days since Hurricane Harveyand 238 since Beryl
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250226-DSC_1834.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-03-03 22:03:342025-03-03 23:14:34HCFCD Finishes Removing Beryl Debris from Bens Branch
3/1/25 – At the 2/27/25 Harris County Special Commissioners Court meeting, commissioners spent more than an hour discussing the need for a 2018 Flood-Bond update to help deal with a potential billion-dollar funding shortfall.
Previous Flood Control District department heads published a flood-bond update monthly. But the frequency has fallen to annually under the current department head as activity slowed and inflation soared.
Harris County Commissioners Court 69 minute discussion on need for bond update.
Commissioners Openly Concede Funding Shortfall
Against that backdrop, Commissioners and the County Judge openly conceded that all promised bond projects will not get done because of a lack of money. That’s despite assurances on the Flood Control District website that all will get done.
However, discussion made it clear that commissioners worry whether projects in their precincts will end up on the chopping block. They also worry whether the Flood Control District has followed the Equity Prioritization Frameworks adopted by Commissioners Court.
Reasons for Concerns
The request for an update came as commissioners fretted about the potential cancellation of projects associated with $1.1 billion allocated to Harris County from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) via the Texas General Land Office.
Earlier in the meeting , Commissioners had voted on financial strategies designed to limit the County’s financial exposure in case HUD funding fell through. (See previous post about Item 11),
Thirty-five percent inflation in the non-residential construction sector since the beginning of the bond has also affected the Flood Control District’s purchasing power.
Finally, an unexplained four-year slowdown in activity at the Flood Control District also has commissioners concerned. The slowdown continually decreases purchasing power over time by delaying projects as inflation builds.
Already, the current activity level in dollars adjusted for inflation is lower than before voters passed the 2018 bond.
Analysis of data from HCFCD and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
See below.
HCFCD spending in 2024 roughly equaled 2017 spending after adjustment for inflation.
To complicate matters, the Flood Control District’s website “Active Projects” Page no longer works and hasn’t for months. The District blames it on a problem with their geographic information systems. That affects an interactive map.
But the page also featured a text-based list of active projects and their locations. That has also disappeared with no explanation. And a Harris County source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me Flood Control has not made an effort to fix the page/map.
Getting up-to-date information out of the Flood Control District has definitely become more difficult. And not just for journalists. Clearly that has commissioners worried, too.
Commissioners Grill HCFCD Head for More Than Hour
Commissioners could have conveyed the update request in a simple memo. Instead they vented their frustrations for one hour and nine minutes. At one point, Adrian Garcia even accused fellow Democrat Rodney Ellis of filibustering!
Commissioners feared many projects would not be completed. Each explained why he/she wasn’t getting a fair share.
Ellis Request
Rodney Ellis worried whether the District was following his Equity Prioritization Framework. He requested that the update include:
Prioritization scores for each project.
A clear demonstration of how the bond prioritization framework is being implemented and tracked
An explanation of the prioritization of planning, design, constructing and funding of flood-bond projects.
Financial analysis showing all completed projects and sub-projects.
Lists of all:
Projects and sub-projects under construction and awaiting funding.
Committed partnership agreements.
Signed Inter-local Agreements (ILAs).
ILA commitments still in discussion.
Remaining available funds.
He emphasized that he “didn’t want to wait until all the money is gone.” He added…
“I know there’s not enough money to do all the projects we talked about and everybody else knows it. I’m just crazy enough to say it in public.”
Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis
Ramsey Concerns
Tom Ramsey worried about $257 million in subdivision drainage projects taken out of his budget. He pointed out that he has 2-3X the number of road miles to maintain compared to other precincts. Yet he has the smallest percentage of the total budget.
Ramsey concluded, “Come back in a way that we can live up to the commitment that we made to the voters in 2018. Right now, we’re struggling to make that happen.”
Garcia Concerns
Adrian Garcia complained about heavy trucks tearing up the roads in his highly industrialized precinct. He also worried about getting enough dollars to complete projects in his precinct.
Briones Concerns
Lesley Briones also worried about getting a fair share of dollars for projects in her precinct. Most of it leaned Republican before redistricting. Without saying it, she implied that the area had been penalized for the way it leaned politicly. She added, “I personally will not feel comfortable going out for a future bond if we haven’t delivered on the 2018 bond.”
Hidalgo: “Is There a Billion Dollars Sitting Somewhere?”
Judge Lina Hidalgo said she remained committed to “lifting up folks that had historically been left behind.” Then she asked, “Has that been achieved to any degree? To what extent have we achieved that?”
“We know we don’t have enough money. What are we going to do, folks?”
Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge, during discussion of Item 164 on 2/27/25.
She then discussed pausing non-equity projects and redirecting money to equity projects.
“The other option … go to the voters. I’m not hearing an appetite for that, so I just don’t understand how we solve this without additional money. So my final question, ‘Is there $1 billion sitting somewhere?'”
“It would just be sad to find out that the [projects] not completed rank higher on prioritization.”
Equity Wins Again
In the end, Commissioners Court requested a recommendation from the Director of Flood Control that would maximize the goal of finishing projects according to the equity prioritization framework, with highest scoring projects finishing first.
Flood Control agreed to present the analysis on May 22. This has the potential to slow Flood Control’s work even more.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/2/25
2742 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CC-2.27.25.jpg?fit=1100%2C554&ssl=15541100adminadmin2025-03-02 18:20:322025-03-03 11:01:39Harris County Commissioners Demand Flood-Bond Project Update
Editorial: Government Should Help Manage Uncertainty, Not Create It
3/4/25 – In many ways, the purpose of government is to help us manage uncertainty by working together. For instance:
Triple Threat For Disaster Relief and Flood Mitigation
But in the last month, newspapers and magazines from coast to coast have blared headlines about the possible impacts of massive federal government staff cuts and a blanket funding freeze on government grants. The cuts and delays potentially affect wide swaths of the federal government including:
Together, these three groups help protect us from natural disasters, recover from them, and mitigate the impact of future severe-weather events.
It’s unclear at this point how budget and staff cuts in these groups would impact disaster-prone areas, such as Texas. But rumors certainly have created a stir. And the uncertainty surrounding the cuts is contributing to potential delays that could jeopardize 60+ flood-mitigation projects totaling $1.1 billion that Harris County has been working on for four years.
Separating Waste from Need
Predictably, most people have lined up along a partisan divide. But in this national debate, we need a better appreciation of details and nuances.
When I listen to stories of government fraud, waste and abuse, one side of my brain thinks, “We need to get a better handle on that.” Many examples exist in Harris County right under our noses.
But when I listen to stories about DOGE pillaging through one government department after another, I can’t help but wonder whether a series of targeted surgical strikes might work better than a blanket, slash-and-burn campaign.
It reminds me of a cautionary nursery tale dating back more than 500 years. Parents have taught it to countless generations of children around the world to dramatize the value of preparation and attention to detail.
For Want of a Nail, the Shoe Was Lost
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For want of the rider, the battle was lost;
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost;
And all from the want of a horseshoe nail.
No government system works perfectly forever. They require constant calibration in response to changing environments. But wholesale, sudden change has the potential to disrupt communities and lives drastically. And I’m not just talking about people whose jobs are affected.
Impacts of Threatened Cuts Already Seen Locally in County Commissioners Court
In Harris County Commissioners Court last Thursday, leaders discussed ways to deal with the uncertainty produced by these possible cuts.
The Peril of Pendulum Politics
The function of government should be to provide services that give citizens a safe environment to build better lives … in the most cost-effective way possible. It’s not one or the other.
Right now, Harris County has at least $1.1 billion of grants at risk because they are under the HUD umbrella. That makes them tainted in the current environment because of HUD’s statutory mission established under Democratic presidents in the 1960s.
Let’s make sure that in the current swing of the pendulum, we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The DOGE “Musketeers” are reportedly evaluating cuts of 50 – 80 percent of HUD’s staff … plus billions in grant programs. The County has worked four years to apply for the $1.1 billion in grants. HCFCD conducted engineering studies, prepared flood-remediation plans, and developed estimates.
We have already spent millions of dollars in anticipation of reimbursement. If DOGE nukes CDBG programs, either by directly cutting the grants themselves or the personnel required to process reimbursements, the County will be out the money already invested. That will delay or eliminate future flood control projects entirely.
Is It Wise to Cut $1.1 Billion That Could Save $150 Billion?
Look at those CDBG disaster recovery funds not as a frivolous expense, but as an investment in future safety and cost reduction.
The flood-control grants will protect against future floods. When the next superstorm like Harvey hits, the $1.1 billion under review will look tiny compared to the damages it could help avoid.
Harvey damages cost $125 billion. Adjusted for inflation, a similar storm today could easily cost in the region $150 billion.
Perhaps DOGE should focus on cutting future expenses, not just today’s. To quote another old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/4/25
2744 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.
HCFCD Finishes Removing Beryl Debris from Bens Branch
3/3/25 – A Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) spokesperson reports that the District finished picking up Hurricane Beryl debris at numerous locations along Bens Branch in Kingwood on February 27, 2025.
Hurricane Beryl struck the Houston area on July 8, 2024, with winds gusting up to 83 MPH at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Sustained winds exceeded tropical storm strength for approximately six hours in the Lake Houston Area. Wet grounds over a large part of the area from well above average spring and early summer rainfall led to widespread downing of trees.
The storm damage came on top of a derecho earlier in the year that created chaos.
HCFCD claims the piles were not theirs but couldn’t say who they belonged to. However, local leaders who monitored cleanup efforts disagreed.
But Eric Heppen, Harris County Precinct 3’s Director of Engineering, said, “We’re past that now. We’re just going to pick up the piles.” Thank you, Commissioner Ramsey. And thank you, HCFCD.
Some piles, such as those along Bens Branch opposite Bear Branch Elementary on Tree Lane, became highly visible eyesores. They also became temptations for young boys eager to show off their mountain-climbing skills.
The pictures below show what remained of the Tree Lane piles today.
Thanks to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey for breaking the logjam (pun intended) over who was responsible for the Beryl debris and arranging for the pickup.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/3/25
2743 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 238 since Beryl
Harris County Commissioners Demand Flood-Bond Project Update
3/1/25 – At the 2/27/25 Harris County Special Commissioners Court meeting, commissioners spent more than an hour discussing the need for a 2018 Flood-Bond update to help deal with a potential billion-dollar funding shortfall.
Previous Flood Control District department heads published a flood-bond update monthly. But the frequency has fallen to annually under the current department head as activity slowed and inflation soared.
Commissioners Openly Concede Funding Shortfall
Against that backdrop, Commissioners and the County Judge openly conceded that all promised bond projects will not get done because of a lack of money. That’s despite assurances on the Flood Control District website that all will get done.
However, discussion made it clear that commissioners worry whether projects in their precincts will end up on the chopping block. They also worry whether the Flood Control District has followed the Equity Prioritization Frameworks adopted by Commissioners Court.
Reasons for Concerns
The request for an update came as commissioners fretted about the potential cancellation of projects associated with $1.1 billion allocated to Harris County from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) via the Texas General Land Office.
Earlier in the meeting , Commissioners had voted on financial strategies designed to limit the County’s financial exposure in case HUD funding fell through. (See previous post about Item 11),
Thirty-five percent inflation in the non-residential construction sector since the beginning of the bond has also affected the Flood Control District’s purchasing power.
Finally, an unexplained four-year slowdown in activity at the Flood Control District also has commissioners concerned. The slowdown continually decreases purchasing power over time by delaying projects as inflation builds.
See below.
To complicate matters, the Flood Control District’s website “Active Projects” Page no longer works and hasn’t for months. The District blames it on a problem with their geographic information systems. That affects an interactive map.
But the page also featured a text-based list of active projects and their locations. That has also disappeared with no explanation. And a Harris County source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me Flood Control has not made an effort to fix the page/map.
Getting up-to-date information out of the Flood Control District has definitely become more difficult. And not just for journalists. Clearly that has commissioners worried, too.
Commissioners Grill HCFCD Head for More Than Hour
Commissioners could have conveyed the update request in a simple memo. Instead they vented their frustrations for one hour and nine minutes. At one point, Adrian Garcia even accused fellow Democrat Rodney Ellis of filibustering!
See the Commissioner’s Court Video from the 2/28/25 meeting. Click on Departments 2 or 2 and scroll to the discussion of Item 164 at 3:33. Commissioner Ellis kicks off the discussion.
Commissioners feared many projects would not be completed. Each explained why he/she wasn’t getting a fair share.
Ellis Request
Rodney Ellis worried whether the District was following his Equity Prioritization Framework. He requested that the update include:
He emphasized that he “didn’t want to wait until all the money is gone.” He added…
Ramsey Concerns
Tom Ramsey worried about $257 million in subdivision drainage projects taken out of his budget. He pointed out that he has 2-3X the number of road miles to maintain compared to other precincts. Yet he has the smallest percentage of the total budget.
Ramsey concluded, “Come back in a way that we can live up to the commitment that we made to the voters in 2018. Right now, we’re struggling to make that happen.”
Garcia Concerns
Adrian Garcia complained about heavy trucks tearing up the roads in his highly industrialized precinct. He also worried about getting enough dollars to complete projects in his precinct.
Briones Concerns
Lesley Briones also worried about getting a fair share of dollars for projects in her precinct. Most of it leaned Republican before redistricting. Without saying it, she implied that the area had been penalized for the way it leaned politicly. She added, “I personally will not feel comfortable going out for a future bond if we haven’t delivered on the 2018 bond.”
Hidalgo: “Is There a Billion Dollars Sitting Somewhere?”
Judge Lina Hidalgo said she remained committed to “lifting up folks that had historically been left behind.” Then she asked, “Has that been achieved to any degree? To what extent have we achieved that?”
She then discussed pausing non-equity projects and redirecting money to equity projects.
“The other option … go to the voters. I’m not hearing an appetite for that, so I just don’t understand how we solve this without additional money. So my final question, ‘Is there $1 billion sitting somewhere?'”
“It would just be sad to find out that the [projects] not completed rank higher on prioritization.”
Equity Wins Again
In the end, Commissioners Court requested a recommendation from the Director of Flood Control that would maximize the goal of finishing projects according to the equity prioritization framework, with highest scoring projects finishing first.
Flood Control agreed to present the analysis on May 22. This has the potential to slow Flood Control’s work even more.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/2/25
2742 Days since Hurricane Harvey