In June, I posted about how New Caney ISD was clearing approximately 50-60 acres of land between Sorters-McClellan Road south of the HCA Kingwood Medical Center for a new high school. Now, contractors are starting to pour concrete and drill piers to support the 337,000 square-foot, three-story building with a central courtyard. Aerial photos show their progress.
Detention Pond Now Substantially Complete
It was only last September when contractors started excavating a large and deep detention pond along the southern perimeter of the site. They used the dirt to build up and level the building pads.
Looking north from the center of the site. Note the Medical Center building in the upper right.Looking south from the center of the site toward the 59 bridge in the background.Note holes for pierswhich will support columns to hold the weight of the building.Looking west toward Sorters McClellan road from the center of the site.Note the additional holes for piers .Looking at the east end of the detention pond, over the car dealerships that front on US59.Looking in the opposite direction toward the west end of the detention pond.
General plan for New Caney High School #3
Artist rendering of building. Main entrance will face Sorters McClellan road.
New Caney ISD’s enrollment grew 31 percent between 2011 and 2016. That ranked NCISD first in the greater Houston area and fourth in the state for percentage enrollment growth. Eventually, the high school will hold 2,250 students. However, the school will open with only 1,350.
While it’s nice to see growth, from a flooding perspective, it’s also scary. One can only hope the engineers specified enough drainage capacity for the detention pond.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/14/2020
1173 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/20201113-DJI_0185.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2020-11-14 11:44:562020-11-14 11:45:00Pouring Concrete for New Caney ISD High School #3
Nicaragua and Honduras, devastated by Hurricane Eta just a little more than a week ago by up to 40 inches of rain, could see another 20 to 30 inches from Iota. Iota formed today in the central Caribbean.
Meanwhile, people in Central America are still digging out from landslides, trying to restore their homes from floods, and dealing with loss of crops, airports, roads and other infrastructure.
The combination of these two storms could mean 50% more rain in Central America than Houston received during Harvey.
Forecast track for Iota
NHC Forecast
The National Hurricane Center says that Iota’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is likely over the weekend, and the system is forecast to be a major hurricane when it approaches Central America.
Across remaining sections of Central America, the system has the potential to produce 20 to 30 inches of rain with a focus across northern Nicaragua and Honduras. This rainfall would lead to significant, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding, along with landslides in areas of higher terrain.
The environment ahead of Iota appears to be quite conducive for intensification. The system will be moving over warm waters, in a moist atmosphere, and within an area of very low vertical wind shear. As a result, steady to rapid strengthening appears likely over the next few days.
Record-Setting Season
“Iota is the record 30th named storm of this year’s extraordinarily busy Atlantic hurricane season,” said the Associated Press.
Eta may also have tied or exceeded Gordon for the longest-lived tropical event. Gordon formed on November 8, 1994 and dissipated almost two weeks later on November 21. Hurricane Eta formed on October 31 this year and dissipated today, November 13. Thus, it may have lasted a day longer. However, the experts have not yet made an official announcement that I have seen.
“La Niña is associated with a more active Atlantic hurricane season,” he says. “This increased activity is because the vertical wind shear (the change in wind speed and direction with height) is weaker during a La Niña year, enabling tropical storms to develop vertically without impediment.”
In La Niña years, steering currents that could cause wind sheer shift farther north, letting more storms develop in the tropical Atlantic.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/13/2020
1172 Days After Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/204653_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind.png?fit=897%2C736&ssl=1736897adminadmin2020-11-13 19:46:372020-11-13 19:47:51Iota Could Drop Another 20-30″ of Rain on Areas Just Devastated by Eta
The Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) preserves land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.
Bayou Land Conservancy Achievements
With the support of individuals and corporations, BLC now protects 14,000 acres at 60 preserves in the Houston region. They focus on 4,000 square miles which includes the Lake Houston Watershed. And they log thousands of volunteer hours every year. This group stands tall among the many worthy conservation groups in Houston.
If you haven’t met BLC yet, tonight you will have a chance to see what they do from the comfort of your own laptop.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Gala.jpg?fit=1200%2C718&ssl=17181200adminadmin2020-11-13 06:44:312020-11-13 06:44:34You’re Invited: Bayou Land Conservancy Virtual Gala Tonight, Keynote Speaker Ben Masters
Pouring Concrete for New Caney ISD High School #3
In June, I posted about how New Caney ISD was clearing approximately 50-60 acres of land between Sorters-McClellan Road south of the HCA Kingwood Medical Center for a new high school. Now, contractors are starting to pour concrete and drill piers to support the 337,000 square-foot, three-story building with a central courtyard. Aerial photos show their progress.
Detention Pond Now Substantially Complete
It was only last September when contractors started excavating a large and deep detention pond along the southern perimeter of the site. They used the dirt to build up and level the building pads.
School to Open in Fall 2022
The NCISD Board of Trustees approved an award of construction contract on May 18 for High School #3 to Gamma Construction. Gamma should finish construction in time for 2022-23 school year.
New Caney ISD’s enrollment grew 31 percent between 2011 and 2016. That ranked NCISD first in the greater Houston area and fourth in the state for percentage enrollment growth. Eventually, the high school will hold 2,250 students. However, the school will open with only 1,350.
While it’s nice to see growth, from a flooding perspective, it’s also scary. One can only hope the engineers specified enough drainage capacity for the detention pond.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/14/2020
1173 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Iota Could Drop Another 20-30″ of Rain on Areas Just Devastated by Eta
Nicaragua and Honduras, devastated by Hurricane Eta just a little more than a week ago by up to 40 inches of rain, could see another 20 to 30 inches from Iota. Iota formed today in the central Caribbean.
Meanwhile, people in Central America are still digging out from landslides, trying to restore their homes from floods, and dealing with loss of crops, airports, roads and other infrastructure.
Two Major Hurricanes in Two Weeks
Eta hit Nicaragua a little more than a week ago as a Category 4 storm, killing at least 120 people in flash floods and landslides in Central America, according to the Associated Press.
Forecasters say that Iota could also rapidly intensify into a major hurricane, given ideal conditions in the Caribbean.
To put these monster rainfall totals into perspective, Harvey dumped an average of approximately 45 inches across 1000 square miles in the Houston Area. Three years later, we’re still trying to recover.
NHC Forecast
The National Hurricane Center says that Iota’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is likely over the weekend, and the system is forecast to be a major hurricane when it approaches Central America.
Across remaining sections of Central America, the system has the potential to produce 20 to 30 inches of rain with a focus across northern Nicaragua and Honduras. This rainfall would lead to significant, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding, along with landslides in areas of higher terrain.
The environment ahead of Iota appears to be quite conducive for intensification. The system will be moving over warm waters, in a moist atmosphere, and within an area of very low vertical wind shear. As a result, steady to rapid strengthening appears likely over the next few days.
Record-Setting Season
“Iota is the record 30th named storm of this year’s extraordinarily busy Atlantic hurricane season,” said the Associated Press.
Eta may also have tied or exceeded Gordon for the longest-lived tropical event. Gordon formed on November 8, 1994 and dissipated almost two weeks later on November 21. Hurricane Eta formed on October 31 this year and dissipated today, November 13. Thus, it may have lasted a day longer. However, the experts have not yet made an official announcement that I have seen.
Why Such a Busy Season?
Dr. Nelun Fernando, a climatologist writing for the Texas Water Development Board, says, that currently we are under the influence of La Niña. “You can think of El Niño and La Niña as two faces of the same coin, where the coin is a phenomenon known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (also referred to as ENSO).”I
“La Niña is associated with a more active Atlantic hurricane season,” he says. “This increased activity is because the vertical wind shear (the change in wind speed and direction with height) is weaker during a La Niña year, enabling tropical storms to develop vertically without impediment.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/13/2020
1172 Days After Hurricane Harvey
You’re Invited: Bayou Land Conservancy Virtual Gala Tonight, Keynote Speaker Ben Masters
The Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) preserves land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.
Bayou Land Conservancy Achievements
With the support of individuals and corporations, BLC now protects 14,000 acres at 60 preserves in the Houston region. They focus on 4,000 square miles which includes the Lake Houston Watershed. And they log thousands of volunteer hours every year. This group stands tall among the many worthy conservation groups in Houston.
If you haven’t met BLC yet, tonight you will have a chance to see what they do from the comfort of your own laptop.
Event Details
From 6-7 pm, you can:
Register for and view the event here. Donations to the Bayou Land Conservancy are welcome, but optional.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/13/2020
1172 Days since Hurricane Harvey