…CATEGORY 5 IOTA HEADED FOR NICARAGUA… …EXPECTED TO BRING CATASTROPHIC WINDS, LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL TO CENTRAL AMERICA…
Ironic Meaning of Iota
Iota is anything but. The word itself is synonymous with “bit, mite, speck, scrap, shred, ounce, scintilla, little bit, particle, smidgen, and tad.” Instead it’s a monster Category 5 hurricane with winds exceeding 160 mph. And the storm is still strengthening.
Iota is in the left of the image, halfway down.
How ironic! Iota is a very impressive hurricane, especially for this late in the year, with a distinct, warm eye on satellite images. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found maximum flight-winds of about 147 kt and a central pressure of about 917 mb. 147 knots equals 169 mph.
And that makes Iota the latest category 5 on record for the Atlantic basin. A little more strengthening is possible today with fairly light shear and warm waters before Iota makes landfall tonight.
National Hurricane Center
Strike 2
Rapid weakening is anticipated over central America, and Iota should dissipate in a couple of days. The hurricane is moving westward at 9 kt. After landfall, the cyclone should move a little faster, and dissipate over the higher terrain of central America.
The new forecast is a little south of the previous one, mostly owing to the initial position.
This is a catastrophic situation unfolding for northeastern Nicaragua with an extreme storm surge of 15-20 ft forecast along with destructive winds and potentially 30 inches of rainfall. It is exacerbated by the fact that it should make landfall in almost the exact same location that category 4 Hurricane Eta did about two weeks ago.
Iota should strike the eastern coast of Nicaragua later today as a Category 5 hurricane.
Posted by Bob Rehak based on National Hurricane Center Data
1175 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1800x1080.jpg?fit=1800%2C1080&ssl=110801800adminadmin2020-11-16 13:11:082020-11-16 13:12:01Iota is Anything But, Now Cat 5 and Getting Stronger
Chris Bloch, an engineer and Kingwood resident, has become a flood-control activist in his retirement. I often run into Chris inspecting ditches, streams and culverts for blockages and collapsed outfalls. Chris also works with the Bear Branch Trail Association which owns property along many of the channels and streams cutting through Kings Forest, Bear Branch, and Hunters Ridge.
Activist Extraordinaire
For the last several months, Chris has focused intensely on blocked channels that contributed to the flooding of 110 homes in Kings Forest during Harvey. Where the channels cross under Kingwood Drive, three had become almost totally blocked by vegetation and silt. That contributed to backing water up into homes. See below.
Ditch at Shady Run and Kingwood Drive before clean-out.Photo courtesy of Chris Bloch.
Chris meticulously photographed the problems, began researching which entities were responsible for which portions of the channels, and in the case above, contacted the City of Houston. The City has responsibility for the medians and sides of Kingwood Drive and other streets. His persistence paid off.
In October, the City began cleaning out the ditch near Shady Run and Kingwood Drive.
Vacuum truck photographed at same location on 10/3/2020
Here’s what that part of the channel looks like today.
Same ditch after clean-out. Photo courtesy of Chris Bloch.
End-to-End Inspections
Chris is tenacious, tireless, and wide ranging. He looks at ditches from end to end. In this case, he’s also trying to get the Flood Control District to escalate clean-out of the ditch south of Kingwood Drive. Reduced conveyance through that reach could also have contributed to flooding in Kingwood Lakes.
Bloch says he has also identified twenty storm-drain outfalls that need repair. “It doesn’t make any difference if the storm sewers are clear if the water in them can’t get to ditches and streams,” he says.
You Be an Activist, Too
Activists like Chris make Kingwood the great place it is. They help identify local problems for government and make the case for addressing them.
As you hike through our greenbelts and along channels, keep your eyes open for developing problems:
Collapsed outfalls into ditches
Eroded banks
Vegetation and silt blocking culverts
Developing sinkholes
Fallen trees damming streams
Be an activist like Chris. Take pictures and report them to the appropriate authorities. That will usually be the City or Flood Control.
You, too, can make a difference.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/15/2020
1174 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Shady-Run-Ditch-After.jpg?fit=1200%2C838&ssl=18381200adminadmin2020-11-15 14:56:562020-11-15 14:57:00City Quietly Cleaning Out Culverts Under Kingwood Drive Thanks to Local Activist
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
Iota is Anything But, Now Cat 5 and Getting Stronger
…CATEGORY 5 IOTA HEADED FOR NICARAGUA… …EXPECTED TO BRING CATASTROPHIC WINDS, LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL TO CENTRAL AMERICA…
Ironic Meaning of Iota
Iota is anything but. The word itself is synonymous with “bit, mite, speck, scrap, shred, ounce, scintilla, little bit, particle, smidgen, and tad.” Instead it’s a monster Category 5 hurricane with winds exceeding 160 mph. And the storm is still strengthening.
How ironic! Iota is a very impressive hurricane, especially for this late in the year, with a distinct, warm eye on satellite images. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found maximum flight-winds of about 147 kt and a central pressure of about 917 mb. 147 knots equals 169 mph.
Strike 2
Rapid weakening is anticipated over central America, and Iota should dissipate in a couple of days. The hurricane is moving westward at 9 kt. After landfall, the cyclone should move a little faster, and dissipate over the higher terrain of central America.
The new forecast is a little south of the previous one, mostly owing to the initial position.
This is a catastrophic situation unfolding for northeastern Nicaragua with an extreme storm surge of 15-20 ft forecast along with destructive winds and potentially 30 inches of rainfall. It is exacerbated by the fact that it should make landfall in almost the exact same location that category 4 Hurricane Eta did about two weeks ago.
Posted by Bob Rehak based on National Hurricane Center Data
1175 Days since Hurricane Harvey
City Quietly Cleaning Out Culverts Under Kingwood Drive Thanks to Local Activist
Chris Bloch, an engineer and Kingwood resident, has become a flood-control activist in his retirement. I often run into Chris inspecting ditches, streams and culverts for blockages and collapsed outfalls. Chris also works with the Bear Branch Trail Association which owns property along many of the channels and streams cutting through Kings Forest, Bear Branch, and Hunters Ridge.
Activist Extraordinaire
For the last several months, Chris has focused intensely on blocked channels that contributed to the flooding of 110 homes in Kings Forest during Harvey. Where the channels cross under Kingwood Drive, three had become almost totally blocked by vegetation and silt. That contributed to backing water up into homes. See below.
Chris meticulously photographed the problems, began researching which entities were responsible for which portions of the channels, and in the case above, contacted the City of Houston. The City has responsibility for the medians and sides of Kingwood Drive and other streets. His persistence paid off.
In October, the City began cleaning out the ditch near Shady Run and Kingwood Drive.
Here’s what that part of the channel looks like today.
End-to-End Inspections
Chris is tenacious, tireless, and wide ranging. He looks at ditches from end to end. In this case, he’s also trying to get the Flood Control District to escalate clean-out of the ditch south of Kingwood Drive. Reduced conveyance through that reach could also have contributed to flooding in Kingwood Lakes.
Bloch says he has also identified twenty storm-drain outfalls that need repair. “It doesn’t make any difference if the storm sewers are clear if the water in them can’t get to ditches and streams,” he says.
You Be an Activist, Too
Activists like Chris make Kingwood the great place it is. They help identify local problems for government and make the case for addressing them.
As you hike through our greenbelts and along channels, keep your eyes open for developing problems:
Be an activist like Chris. Take pictures and report them to the appropriate authorities. That will usually be the City or Flood Control.
You, too, can make a difference.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/15/2020
1174 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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