The intended audience is for state and local officials. But don’t let that scare you. This brochure can also help home- and business owners think about their options, the pros/cons of each, their relative costs, and suitability for a particular location.
The first part of the 198-page document deals with how to use something called FEMA’s National Tool. It collects information from a variety of different sources. Planners use the data to create a “scorecard” that helps rank the alternatives.
Flood-Mitigation Alternatives Discussed
The major types of alternatives discussed in the brochure include:
Drainage Improvements
Barriers
Wet Floodproofing
Dry Floodproofing
Elevation
Relocation
Acquisition (Buyouts)
Helpful Screening Questions
Chapter 3 contains a variety of screening questions designed to help determine the “fit” of each option for a particular location. For instance, to name a few, “What is the…”
Structure type
Condition of the structure
Foundation type
Number of stories
Building footprint
Example of Material in Typical Chapter
The meat of the discussion starts after that. The document contains a chapter on each of the seven major options and sub-options within them.
At a minimum, these chapters explain how flood professionals are trained to evaluate options and make recommendations in your situation.
While FEMA’s text is aimed at professionals, it’s well written, clear, and easy to understand. I won’t elaborate on each chapter, but will give you an example – Chapter 5: Barriers.
Levees and walls, two of many barriers against flooding discussed in Chapter 5.
Other sub-options include berms and temporary barriers (inflatable, floatable, and water filled).
Advantages:
They keep floodwaters out of the house and prevent flood damage
They require no significant changes to structures.
Disadvantages:
Barriers may not bring a substantially damaged structure into compliance with local floodplain management ordinances
Cost may be prohibitive
Large area needed for construction
Need for maintenance
Can affect local drainage, making flooding worse for others.
Whether they’re suitable in your situation will depend on:
The depth of flooding
Height of the barrier needed
Local building codes
Type of foundation (i.e., these don’t work well with basements)
Soil conditions (load-bearing capacity and permeability)
Duration of floods
Costs
Requirements for human intervention
Annual maintenance
Access to structure during normal times
Escape from structure if barrier is overtopped during an extreme event
Interior drainage (what happens if water starts filling in behind the barrier)
The brochure contains lucid and thought provoking discussions on each of these issues. If you start exploring such barriers, this brochure will help you plan discussions with contractors.
Highly Recommended
And so it goes for each of the other major types of mitigation found in other chapters. This is a valuable resource for anyone considering a major investment. It won’t help you make a final decision. But it will help you make a more intelligent decision.
So if you’re trying to find the best option to mitigate floodprone structures, click here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/18/2023
1999 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Screenshot-2023-02-18-at-12.34.27-PM.png?fit=1148%2C560&ssl=15601148adminadmin2023-02-18 14:04:202023-02-18 14:22:06How to Find the Best Option to Mitigate Floodprone Structures
According to a press release by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, the City of Houston Police served an evidentiary search warrant at the Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning, 2/17/2023. Inframark operates the plant.
Looking east at the Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. Bens Branch separates the plant from the apartments near Kingwood Town Center and the Kingwood Library (bright white roof near top of frame).
The City had received numerous complaints about foul odors in the area and found irregularities in both plant operations and corresponding regulatory compliance. Houston Police Department’s Environmental Crimes Unit and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) investigated further.
They kept their work quiet until now, fearing the possible destruction of documents by the parties being subpoenaed.
The investigation centers around allegations of falsified government documents and compliance samples.
City of Houston Press Release
Problems with Plant and Solutions
The foul odors related to an equipment malfunction at the plant during the week of January 23, 2023. The plant now operates normally. But addressing the ongoing odor issues will require improving the “transfer efficiency” of oxygen.
According to the City, the amount of air pushed into the wastewater system directly impacts the amount of odor generated. The City believes fixing the odors will require a dual strategy:
Short Term – Repairs to leaks in the plant’s air-distribution and header systems
Longer Term – Modification of the header system and the addition of another blower.
Close Monitoring
The City intends to monitor the facility closely. It says it has worked and will continue to work with the TCEQ to take all steps necessary to minimize any adverse impact to the residents of Kingwood and the environment.
No Service Disruption Expected
Kingwood residents should not experience any disruption in water or wastewater service, according to Mayor Pro Tem Martin. He emphasized that contaminated wastewater never threatened Bens Branch or Lake Houston because of this problem.
Martin thanked Houston Public Works, HPD, and the TCEQ for their swift responses.
Plant Will Eventually Be Relocated
Ultimately, the City will consolidate this plant with others in the Kingwood area on the Woodridge Village property. Harris County Flood Control and the City purchased that property from Perry Homes in 2021.
The City hopes to reduce flood risk to the sewage treatment plants by moving them to higher ground.
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/2023/02/20230217-DJI_0101.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2023-02-17 14:33:432023-02-17 14:54:56City Serves Search Warrant at Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant
Wayne Dolcefino, investigative journalist extraordinaire, has released another video about his and Jim McIngvale’s attempts to force Harris County to release public records pertaining to the 2022 election. Lina Hidalgo plays a starring role. And her performance reminds one of Shakespeare’s famous line from Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” The line implies that someone who denies something too strongly may be hiding the truth.
Fighting Disclosure Before an Accusation Has Been Made
Neither Dolcefino nor McIngvale have accused Hidalgo of trying to unfairly alter the outcome of the election. They’re just trying to learn what happened.
Yet Hidalgo and her cronies have steadfastly refused to produce public records – records that could easily prove their innocence. Instead:
Hidalgo and her team use encrypted apps to communicate, a practice outlawed elsewhere.
They tried to charge tens of thousands of dollars to copy emails that should only take seconds.
They have redacted the records they do produce so heavily as to make them incomprehensible.
For instance, in a list of phone calls, they blacked out EVERY phone number.
Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge and star of “What’s wrong with Sunshine?”, Dolcefino’s new video about his quest for public records.Click image to see video.
Downward Spiral of Suspicion, Distrust, More Investigation
The loss of trust seems to have resulted in a downward spiral. No telling yet where it will end. But for those old enough to remember, the spectacle is like a rerun of the waning days of Watergate. The shriller President Richard Nixon’s denials became, the more journalists investigated his denials.
And like Nixon, Hidalgo and her courtiers now resort to lame ad hominem attacks, calling those seeking the truth “losers.”
It took two years to uncover the truth in the Watergate scandal. Ultimately, the relentless exposes and investigations ended with Nixon’s impeachment, resignation, and long, slow slide into irrelevance.
(Update: 2/18/2023) And lest you think this post is politically motivated by an election denier, check out this editorial in the Houston Chronicle. “Hidalgo has concluded that Mattress Mack’s request for records is hurting democracy,” they say. “The presumption of the Texas Public Information Act has long been that public records are public property and most should be accessible to the owners.”
The editorial continues, “Harris County had the option of transparency and chose obfuscation.” The Chronicle concludes, “Texans have a right to know what their government is doing, how their tax dollars are being spent, and yes, how their elections are being run. That right is under assault…”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/16/2023
1997 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/2023/02/Hidalgo-Keyframe.jpg?fit=1200%2C835&ssl=18351200adminadmin2023-02-16 17:53:062023-04-16 12:58:24“The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks”
How to Find the Best Option to Mitigate Floodprone Structures
How do you find the best option to mitigate floodprone structures? What will work best in your particular situation? FEMA discusses many different options in an interesting brochure titled “Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures.”
The intended audience is for state and local officials. But don’t let that scare you. This brochure can also help home- and business owners think about their options, the pros/cons of each, their relative costs, and suitability for a particular location.
The first part of the 198-page document deals with how to use something called FEMA’s National Tool. It collects information from a variety of different sources. Planners use the data to create a “scorecard” that helps rank the alternatives.
Flood-Mitigation Alternatives Discussed
The major types of alternatives discussed in the brochure include:
Helpful Screening Questions
Chapter 3 contains a variety of screening questions designed to help determine the “fit” of each option for a particular location. For instance, to name a few, “What is the…”
Example of Material in Typical Chapter
The meat of the discussion starts after that. The document contains a chapter on each of the seven major options and sub-options within them.
At a minimum, these chapters explain how flood professionals are trained to evaluate options and make recommendations in your situation.
While FEMA’s text is aimed at professionals, it’s well written, clear, and easy to understand. I won’t elaborate on each chapter, but will give you an example – Chapter 5: Barriers.
Other sub-options include berms and temporary barriers (inflatable, floatable, and water filled).
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Whether they’re suitable in your situation will depend on:
The brochure contains lucid and thought provoking discussions on each of these issues. If you start exploring such barriers, this brochure will help you plan discussions with contractors.
Highly Recommended
And so it goes for each of the other major types of mitigation found in other chapters. This is a valuable resource for anyone considering a major investment. It won’t help you make a final decision. But it will help you make a more intelligent decision.
So if you’re trying to find the best option to mitigate floodprone structures, click here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/18/2023
1999 Days since Hurricane Harvey
City Serves Search Warrant at Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant
According to a press release by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, the City of Houston Police served an evidentiary search warrant at the Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning, 2/17/2023. Inframark operates the plant.
The City had received numerous complaints about foul odors in the area and found irregularities in both plant operations and corresponding regulatory compliance. Houston Police Department’s Environmental Crimes Unit and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) investigated further.
They kept their work quiet until now, fearing the possible destruction of documents by the parties being subpoenaed.
Problems with Plant and Solutions
The foul odors related to an equipment malfunction at the plant during the week of January 23, 2023. The plant now operates normally. But addressing the ongoing odor issues will require improving the “transfer efficiency” of oxygen.
According to the City, the amount of air pushed into the wastewater system directly impacts the amount of odor generated. The City believes fixing the odors will require a dual strategy:
Close Monitoring
The City intends to monitor the facility closely. It says it has worked and will continue to work with the TCEQ to take all steps necessary to minimize any adverse impact to the residents of Kingwood and the environment.
No Service Disruption Expected
Kingwood residents should not experience any disruption in water or wastewater service, according to Mayor Pro Tem Martin. He emphasized that contaminated wastewater never threatened Bens Branch or Lake Houston because of this problem.
Martin thanked Houston Public Works, HPD, and the TCEQ for their swift responses.
Plant Will Eventually Be Relocated
Ultimately, the City will consolidate this plant with others in the Kingwood area on the Woodridge Village property. Harris County Flood Control and the City purchased that property from Perry Homes in 2021.
The City hopes to reduce flood risk to the sewage treatment plants by moving them to higher ground.
During Harvey, several of the plants, including this one flooded. They then contaminated nearby structures with sewage, requiring cleanup by workers in hazmat suits. Kingwood High School and Kingwood College, for instance, both required such special cleanup.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/17/2023
1998 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.
“The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks”
Wayne Dolcefino, investigative journalist extraordinaire, has released another video about his and Jim McIngvale’s attempts to force Harris County to release public records pertaining to the 2022 election. Lina Hidalgo plays a starring role. And her performance reminds one of Shakespeare’s famous line from Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” The line implies that someone who denies something too strongly may be hiding the truth.
Fighting Disclosure Before an Accusation Has Been Made
Yet Hidalgo and her cronies have steadfastly refused to produce public records – records that could easily prove their innocence. Instead:
The video’s title borrow’s from a saying by Louis Brandeis more than a hundred years ago, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Downward Spiral of Suspicion, Distrust, More Investigation
The loss of trust seems to have resulted in a downward spiral. No telling yet where it will end. But for those old enough to remember, the spectacle is like a rerun of the waning days of Watergate. The shriller President Richard Nixon’s denials became, the more journalists investigated his denials.
And like Nixon, Hidalgo and her courtiers now resort to lame ad hominem attacks, calling those seeking the truth “losers.”
It took two years to uncover the truth in the Watergate scandal. Ultimately, the relentless exposes and investigations ended with Nixon’s impeachment, resignation, and long, slow slide into irrelevance.
From Transparency Advocate to Stonewaller
Ironically, when first out of college, Hidalgo worked for a group called Internews, according to her Wikipedia page. Internews advocates for press freedom around the world. One of its main missions: “Holding governments accountable by supporting investigative journalism…”
Make sure you watch Dolcefino’s 10-minute video. The denials are revealing…methinks.
(Update: 2/18/2023) And lest you think this post is politically motivated by an election denier, check out this editorial in the Houston Chronicle. “Hidalgo has concluded that Mattress Mack’s request for records is hurting democracy,” they say. “The presumption of the Texas Public Information Act has long been that public records are public property and most should be accessible to the owners.”
The editorial continues, “Harris County had the option of transparency and chose obfuscation.” The Chronicle concludes, “Texans have a right to know what their government is doing, how their tax dollars are being spent, and yes, how their elections are being run. That right is under assault…”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/16/2023
1997 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.