07/27/26 – New spending figures are available from Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) through the end of 2026 Q2. This quarter marks the end of Dr. Tina Petersen’s administration and the start of new Executive Director Marcus Stuckett’s. In that sense, it represents (pardon the pun) a watershed moment.
HCFCD spending data shows that Stuckett inherits a production pipeline that was not pushing flood-mitigation projects into and through construction at historically normal rates.
Eight years into what was supposed to have been a 10-year bond program, Harris County has spent only 37% of the dollars approved by voters while inflation in the heavy-construction sector of the economy has totaled more than 50%.
As a consequence, inflation is taking a huge toll on the Flood Bond’s purchasing power…and making residents live with higher flood risk longer than necessary.
But there’s also some good news: 6 HCFCD construction jobs on the Harris County Commissioners Court Agenda this week!
Let’s look at each of these points.
Construction Slowdown
Shortly after voters approved the flood bond in 2018, spending on flood-mitigation projects soared. But then, the team that sold the bond and defined hundreds of projects was pushed out by Democrats starting in 2021.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia managed to get Dr. Tina Petersen appointed head of HCFCD at the start of 2022. And ever since, for whatever reason, project activity has plummeted. You can clearly see it in the rate of spending below – despite having billions of dollars available.
HCFCD spending since 2018 Flood Bond as of 26Q2.Far right reflects only 2 quarters. But even doubled, 2026 would represent a continuation of the long-term decline.
The gray area in the graph above represents construction spending. It has dropped almost by half since its peak during the previous administration. Construction is down to $90 million per year [annualized] from $160 million per year [actual].
As a result of the slowdown, Harris County could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in HUD Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Relief, whose deadlines are fast approaching.
Lower-than-Normal Construction Expenditures as Percent of Total
Typically, construction accounts for about 65% of most flood-mitigation projects, give or take 10%.
That number can vary even more depending on land-acquisition costs, environmental permitting, etc. There are always exceptions. But on average, 65% is considered a defensible rule of thumb for planning purposes by many flood experts; some suggest the figure may even be higher.
So, how has HCFCD spending compared? It falls far short of 65%. Looking at everything spent to date, only 46% has been on construction. But even that number may be deceptively high.
Construction spending on maintenance masks what’s happening on the capital-improvement side. So let’s also look at each sub-category.
HCFCD capital-improvement construction spending to date is just 37% of all capital improvement costs. And the Total percentage is buoyed up by construction spending on Maintenance.
Remember that only capital-improvement construction dollars actually reduce flood risk.
Only 37% of Bond Money Spent After 8 Years into 10-Year Bond Program
There’s another significant takeaway from last quarter’s update. HCFCD has spent only 37% of the bond money approved by voters – eight years into what was supposed to have been a 10-year bond program.
Sorting expenditures on the HCFCD Activity Page by “Fund Source” shows that only $932.69 million of the $2.5 billion bond has actually been spent to date. This excludes district and partner funds.
54% Inflation in Heavy Construction Sector Since Start of Flood Bond
But all the data above illustrates only part of the problem. Cumulative inflation in the heavy-construction sector of the economy totals 54% from mid-2018 (when voters approved the Flood Bond) to mid-2026. (Source: Federal Highway Administration’s National Highway Construction Cost Index, considered by many as a good analog for flood-control work).
This inflation has progressively eroded the purchasing power of flood-mitigation construction budgets.
A Bad Institutional Hangover
Problems moving projects into and through HCFCD’s production pipeline in a timely way has resulted in:
Inflation gobbling up a large percentage the bond’s purchasing power
Fast-approaching deadlines jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding
People living with higher flood risk longer than necessary.
There is some good news in all of this on the horizon. It looks like HCFCD’s new Executive Director, Marcus Stuckett, is making an immediate impact. This Thursday’s Commissioner’s Court agenda shows six CIP projects starting construction or going out for construction bids. They include:
Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin
Halls Bayou Channel Conveyance Improvements – Phase II
T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basins – Compartments 1A and 2
Hopefully Stuckett can get construction projects moving again.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/27/26
3254 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/2026/07/Construction-as-Percent-of-Total-Table.png?fit=1880%2C584&ssl=15841880adminadmin2026-07-27 17:38:302026-07-27 17:38:32HCFCD Construction Slowdown May Be on Verge of Turnaround
7/25/2026 – Last Thursday, a meteorological fluke spared the Lake Houston Area from the worst of Tropical Storm Bertha. Others nearby were not so lucky.
Throughout history, many cultures, military organizations, emergency managers, coaches and writers have coined sayings that contrast the value of preparation with luck. Here are some of my favorites that could apply equally to flood control.
Classic Proverbs
“Luck favors the prepared.” (Often attributed to Louis Pasteur in various forms)
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (Ben Franklin)
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”
“Dig the well before you’re thirsty.”
“Repair the roof while the sun is shining.” (Popularized by John F. Kennedy)
Military Sayings
“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”
“Proper planning prevents poor performance.” (Known as the Five Ps)
Emergency managers often express the same idea without mentioning luck:
“Preparedness saves lives.”
“Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can.”
“Prepared, not scared.”
“When seconds count, preparation matters.”
Some that mention luck:
“Hope is not a strategy.”
“Luck is not a plan.”
“Don’t confuse good luck with good judgment.”
“Past success is not proof of future safety.”
“Just because you’ve been lucky doesn’t mean you’re safe.”
“Luck eventually runs out; preparation doesn’t.”
“Every disaster survivor was lucky. The prepared ones needed less luck.”
“The safest families don’t count on luck; they count on preparation.”
“Ignoring risk is gambling. Preparing for it is responsibility.”
Flood Control
“The best time to prepare for the next flood is before the river rises.”
“Floods don’t care how lucky you’ve been.”
“Every floodplain eventually reminds people why it’s a floodplain.”
“Nature keeps no record of how many times you’ve gotten away with it.”
“A century without a flood doesn’t cancel tomorrow’s forecast.”
Past is Not A Prologue
Many people mistake the absence of past losses for the absence of risk, when in reality they may simply have benefited from a run of favorable conditions. Two poignant expressions in that regard:
“When it comes to protecting your family, hope is a virtue—but preparation is a responsibility.”
“Building your family’s safety on luck is like buying insurance after the storm has begun.”
What You Can Do
So, what can ordinary citizens do to prepare? I have a very short list of suggestions.
Become politically involved. Understand what is and isn’t being done to reduce your flood risk. And demand results.
Support HCFCD’s new executive director as he tries to turn the organization’s CIP program around and start, once again, building the projects voters approved almost 9 years ago.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/25/2026
3252 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Bond-CIP-as-of-26.02.01.png?fit=2068%2C784&ssl=17842068adminadmin2026-07-25 17:33:122026-07-25 17:53:41Luck as a Flood-Control Strategy
7/24/26 – This week’s Northpark Drive expansion update includes news on the bridge, Loop 494, traffic lights and the entry ponds.
No-one ever said building the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood would be easy. But the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 took on the job which has entailed coordinating the work of multiple utilities and political jurisdictions and a railroad. They each have their own priorities and timetables.
Bridge Over Loop 494 and UPRR Tracks
The bridge over Loop 494 and the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks is one of the signature features of the Northpark Expansion project. It will enable the smooth flow of traffic during evacuations even when trains stall on the UPRR tracks or stoplights at 494 get knocked out.
The east ramp for the bridge by Dunkin’ Donuts is now totally paved and virtually complete. Work has shifted to building turn lanes under where the bridge will go and sinking piers for the bridge.
Rebar for bridge piers being hoisted into place.Eastern Northpark Bridge abutment. Cranes are drilling holes as crews prepare rebar cages to reinforce the concrete piers. Crews are also prepping a u-turn under the bridge at this location.Closer shot of prep work on U-turn lane. Note circular rebar cage top right.Drilling holes for the piers takes some serious equipment.
494 Detour
The intersection of Loop 494 and Northpark was shut down for several weeks while contractors installed north-to-south drainage across Northpark. However, they have completed that operation and repaved 494.
Surface lanes are now complete on 494 and curbs have been installed. Photo from a week ago.
But before they can remove the concrete traffic barriers that detour traffic, UPRR must be present to coordinate their crossing signals with other systems.
Everyone is reportedly scrambling to open the intersection before school starts next month.
Traffic Light Coordination
City of Houston, TxDOT, METRO, Harris County and Montgomery County all have signals. Transtar is the entity that manages/integrates each of the individual jurisdictions and signalized intersections onto a single monitoring system. Integration is one of the steps needed when they upgrade to a new system.
Farther east on Northpark at Russell Palmer Road, several weeks ago, a contractor realized the “pedestrian push-to-cross signal” on the north side of Northpark was not connected to the controller box.
According to Ralph De Leon, Northpark project manager, connection involved boring underneath the roadway, installing conduit, then running wire, etc. That’s done now. Now the City needs to run their diagnostics, inspect everything and only then can the signals become operational.”
De Leon described the complexity, “Signal boxes now have their own IP address. They are complex devices that run on software that generates endless codes/numerical signals. In terms of process, we bought the traffic signal control box, handed it to the City, they put it in their shop, loaded the software, programmed its computer, generated a logbook, then ran diagnostic after diagnostic.”
I noticed City crews working on stoplights at several places on Northpark today. So. we may be close. The new target date for fully functional signals at Russell Palmer is July 31.
Entry Ponds
Sunlight can break down pond liners unless water covers them. So, closing on the property that will hold the well that keeps the ponds full was necessary before the pond liners could be placed.
A sale-and-purchase agreement for land has now been signed by all parties. The earnest money was deposited yesterday and the title company is working on scheduling the closing.
Now, De Leon is working with KSA, which has agreed to operate the well long-term.
HCFCD Construction Slowdown May Be on Verge of Turnaround
07/27/26 – New spending figures are available from Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) through the end of 2026 Q2. This quarter marks the end of Dr. Tina Petersen’s administration and the start of new Executive Director Marcus Stuckett’s. In that sense, it represents (pardon the pun) a watershed moment.
HCFCD spending data shows that Stuckett inherits a production pipeline that was not pushing flood-mitigation projects into and through construction at historically normal rates.
Eight years into what was supposed to have been a 10-year bond program, Harris County has spent only 37% of the dollars approved by voters while inflation in the heavy-construction sector of the economy has totaled more than 50%.
As a consequence, inflation is taking a huge toll on the Flood Bond’s purchasing power…and making residents live with higher flood risk longer than necessary.
But there’s also some good news: 6 HCFCD construction jobs on the Harris County Commissioners Court Agenda this week!
Let’s look at each of these points.
Construction Slowdown
Shortly after voters approved the flood bond in 2018, spending on flood-mitigation projects soared. But then, the team that sold the bond and defined hundreds of projects was pushed out by Democrats starting in 2021.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia managed to get Dr. Tina Petersen appointed head of HCFCD at the start of 2022. And ever since, for whatever reason, project activity has plummeted. You can clearly see it in the rate of spending below – despite having billions of dollars available.
HCFCD spending since 2018 Flood Bond as of 26Q2. Far right reflects only 2 quarters. But even doubled, 2026 would represent a continuation of the long-term decline.
The gray area in the graph above represents construction spending. It has dropped almost by half since its peak during the previous administration. Construction is down to $90 million per year [annualized] from $160 million per year [actual].
As a result of the slowdown, Harris County could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in HUD Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Relief, whose deadlines are fast approaching.
Lower-than-Normal Construction Expenditures as Percent of Total
Typically, construction accounts for about 65% of most flood-mitigation projects, give or take 10%.
That number can vary even more depending on land-acquisition costs, environmental permitting, etc. There are always exceptions. But on average, 65% is considered a defensible rule of thumb for planning purposes by many flood experts; some suggest the figure may even be higher.
So, how has HCFCD spending compared? It falls far short of 65%. Looking at everything spent to date, only 46% has been on construction. But even that number may be deceptively high.
Construction spending on maintenance masks what’s happening on the capital-improvement side. So let’s also look at each sub-category.
HCFCD capital-improvement construction spending to date is just 37% of all capital improvement costs. And the Total percentage is buoyed up by construction spending on Maintenance.
Remember that only capital-improvement construction dollars actually reduce flood risk.
Only 37% of Bond Money Spent After 8 Years into 10-Year Bond Program
There’s another significant takeaway from last quarter’s update. HCFCD has spent only 37% of the bond money approved by voters – eight years into what was supposed to have been a 10-year bond program.
Sorting expenditures on the HCFCD Activity Page by “Fund Source” shows that only $932.69 million of the $2.5 billion bond has actually been spent to date. This excludes district and partner funds.
54% Inflation in Heavy Construction Sector Since Start of Flood Bond
But all the data above illustrates only part of the problem. Cumulative inflation in the heavy-construction sector of the economy totals 54% from mid-2018 (when voters approved the Flood Bond) to mid-2026. (Source: Federal Highway Administration’s National Highway Construction Cost Index, considered by many as a good analog for flood-control work).
This inflation has progressively eroded the purchasing power of flood-mitigation construction budgets.
A Bad Institutional Hangover
Problems moving projects into and through HCFCD’s production pipeline in a timely way has resulted in:
Yet Commissioner Adrian Garcia defended former HCFCD Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen to the bitter end… against the interests of his own constituents. It will be interesting to see if this affects his re-election campaign this Fall.
Some Good News This Thursday
There is some good news in all of this on the horizon. It looks like HCFCD’s new Executive Director, Marcus Stuckett, is making an immediate impact. This Thursday’s Commissioner’s Court agenda shows six CIP projects starting construction or going out for construction bids. They include:
Hopefully Stuckett can get construction projects moving again.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/27/26
3254 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.
Luck as a Flood-Control Strategy
7/25/2026 – Last Thursday, a meteorological fluke spared the Lake Houston Area from the worst of Tropical Storm Bertha. Others nearby were not so lucky.
The lopsided nature of Bertha, the collapse of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal funding, and the resignation of former HCFCD Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen under pressure should all serve as powerful reminders that luck is not a reliable flood control strategy.
Throughout history, many cultures, military organizations, emergency managers, coaches and writers have coined sayings that contrast the value of preparation with luck. Here are some of my favorites that could apply equally to flood control.
Classic Proverbs
“Luck favors the prepared.” (Often attributed to Louis Pasteur in various forms)
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (Ben Franklin)
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”
“Dig the well before you’re thirsty.”
“Repair the roof while the sun is shining.” (Popularized by John F. Kennedy)
Military Sayings
“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”
“Proper planning prevents poor performance.” (Known as the Five Ps)
“Amateurs talk strategy. Professionals talk logistics.”
“Success depends on preparation, not hope.“
Emergency Management
Emergency managers often express the same idea without mentioning luck:
“Preparedness saves lives.”
“Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can.”
“Prepared, not scared.”
“When seconds count, preparation matters.”
Some that mention luck:
“Hope is not a strategy.”
“Luck is not a plan.”
“Don’t confuse good luck with good judgment.”
“Past success is not proof of future safety.”
“Just because you’ve been lucky doesn’t mean you’re safe.”
“Luck eventually runs out; preparation doesn’t.”
“Every disaster survivor was lucky. The prepared ones needed less luck.”
“The safest families don’t count on luck; they count on preparation.”
“Ignoring risk is gambling. Preparing for it is responsibility.”
Flood Control
“The best time to prepare for the next flood is before the river rises.”
“Floods don’t care how lucky you’ve been.”
“Every floodplain eventually reminds people why it’s a floodplain.”
“Nature keeps no record of how many times you’ve gotten away with it.”
“A century without a flood doesn’t cancel tomorrow’s forecast.”
Past is Not A Prologue
Many people mistake the absence of past losses for the absence of risk, when in reality they may simply have benefited from a run of favorable conditions. Two poignant expressions in that regard:
“When it comes to protecting your family, hope is a virtue—but preparation is a responsibility.”
“Building your family’s safety on luck is like buying insurance after the storm has begun.”
What You Can Do
So, what can ordinary citizens do to prepare? I have a very short list of suggestions.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/25/2026
3252 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Northpark Bridge, Traffic Lights, 494 Detour, Pond Updates
7/24/26 – This week’s Northpark Drive expansion update includes news on the bridge, Loop 494, traffic lights and the entry ponds.
No-one ever said building the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood would be easy. But the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 took on the job which has entailed coordinating the work of multiple utilities and political jurisdictions and a railroad. They each have their own priorities and timetables.
Bridge Over Loop 494 and UPRR Tracks
The bridge over Loop 494 and the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks is one of the signature features of the Northpark Expansion project. It will enable the smooth flow of traffic during evacuations even when trains stall on the UPRR tracks or stoplights at 494 get knocked out.
The east ramp for the bridge by Dunkin’ Donuts is now totally paved and virtually complete. Work has shifted to building turn lanes under where the bridge will go and sinking piers for the bridge.
494 Detour
The intersection of Loop 494 and Northpark was shut down for several weeks while contractors installed north-to-south drainage across Northpark. However, they have completed that operation and repaved 494.
Surface lanes are now complete on 494 and curbs have been installed. Photo from a week ago.
But before they can remove the concrete traffic barriers that detour traffic, UPRR must be present to coordinate their crossing signals with other systems.
Everyone is reportedly scrambling to open the intersection before school starts next month.
Traffic Light Coordination
City of Houston, TxDOT, METRO, Harris County and Montgomery County all have signals. Transtar is the entity that manages/integrates each of the individual jurisdictions and signalized intersections onto a single monitoring system. Integration is one of the steps needed when they upgrade to a new system.
Farther east on Northpark at Russell Palmer Road, several weeks ago, a contractor realized the “pedestrian push-to-cross signal” on the north side of Northpark was not connected to the controller box.
According to Ralph De Leon, Northpark project manager, connection involved boring underneath the roadway, installing conduit, then running wire, etc. That’s done now. Now the City needs to run their diagnostics, inspect everything and only then can the signals become operational.”
De Leon described the complexity, “Signal boxes now have their own IP address. They are complex devices that run on software that generates endless codes/numerical signals. In terms of process, we bought the traffic signal control box, handed it to the City, they put it in their shop, loaded the software, programmed its computer, generated a logbook, then ran diagnostic after diagnostic.”
I noticed City crews working on stoplights at several places on Northpark today. So. we may be close. The new target date for fully functional signals at Russell Palmer is July 31.
Entry Ponds
Sunlight can break down pond liners unless water covers them. So, closing on the property that will hold the well that keeps the ponds full was necessary before the pond liners could be placed.
A sale-and-purchase agreement for land has now been signed by all parties. The earnest money was deposited yesterday and the title company is working on scheduling the closing.
Now, De Leon is working with KSA, which has agreed to operate the well long-term.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/24/2026
3251 Days since Hurricane Harvey