10/22/25 – Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators who research weather trends, reported today that 14 separate billion-dollar weather disasters have occurred across the U.S. during the first six months of 2025. They caused $101.4 billion in damages.
Climate Central Now Updating Former NOAA Database
Climate Central has taken over the database of billion-dollar disasters that NOAA stopped updating earlier this year. The self-described “policy neutral” non-profit group addresses climate, sea-level rise, extreme weather, energy, and related topics.
Most Expensive 6 Months on Record
The 14 events recorded just in the first half of this year, between January and June, are well above the inflation-adjusted annual average of 9 events over the past 46 years.
According to Climate Central, the first half of 2025 was the most expensive on record, driven by unprecedented damage from the LA wildfires and damaging Spring severe weather.
The January LA wildfires were the costliest event so far this year — and the costliestwildfire on record — with damages exceeding $60 billion, nearly doubling the previous record.
Need for Data If Costs Shift to States
Climate Central is committed to keeping this critical dataset accessible, timely, and transparent, and will continue to update the analysis to monitor the risk of weather and climate-related disasters.
Adam Smith, Climate Central’s Senior Climate Impacts Scientist, said, “I’m proud to continue this work with Climate Central and to ensure that this vital information remains accessible to the public, researchers, and decision-makers.” Smith formerly headed up NOAA’s U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Program for 15 years.
While the first half of the year set records, it’s unclear how an unusually quiet Atlantic hurricane season while affect the final totals for the year. So far, not one Atlantic hurricane has made landfall in the mainland US this year, a first since 2005.
According to the New York Times, the annual average of billion-dollar disasters has surged from three per year during the 1980s to 19 per year during the last 10 years.
The increase in costs during that same period is not just a function of weather extremes. “As more people and businesses move into areas that are prone to floods and wildfire, more property is vulnerable to damage,” said the Times article.
The Times quoted Andrew Rumbach, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute. He studies climate effects on communities and said the database serves as a powerful signal that decision making is costing us a lot of money.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/22/25
2976 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251022-Q1-2-2025-Climate-Disasters-In-US.png?fit=1100%2C639&ssl=16391100adminadmin2025-10-22 18:45:432025-10-22 18:48:22Weather Disasters Cost More Than $100 Billion in First Half of 2025
October 20, 2025 – On October 16, 2025, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals ruled that the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) enjoyed governmental immunity in one set of “takings” claims arising out of Hurricane Harvey. The three-judge panel reversed a ruling by the 152nd District Court in Harris County.
The new ruling said that the SJRA acted reasonably and that the property owners failed to prove their case. The property owners had accused the SJRA of causing or worsening their flooding during Hurricane Harvey as a result of releases from Lake Conroe.
Even so, the ruling runs to 33 pages. Every paragraph represents a Tylenol moment for the plaintiffs. From discussions of applicable law to standards of proof, expert witness testimony and more.
The justices relied heavily on the gravity and immediacy of the threat posed by Hurricane Harvey (page 18) in determining that SJRA deserved immunity. Harvey was “significantly serious” and “likely to produce great harm or danger,” they said (page 20).
Key Factors in Finding
The judges believed that SJRA acted “reasonably,” a pivotal word they applied. “SJRA created a Gate Policy that was intended to minimize threats to life and property and to comply with applicable rules and legal authority. Adhering to that policy during a storm emergency is objectively reasonable,” they added on Page 21.
Further they found (page 25) that the downstream property owners failed to prove that “the threat to life or property posed by Harvey [did] not qualify as grave and immediate.”
And they agreed with the SJRA (page 29) that releasing the stormwater from Lake Conroe was “necessary,” even though:
Some buffer existed before SJRA would have flooded upstream residents
The dam could have withstood higher levels.
In the end, they said (page 31), “The decision of whether, when, and how much, water to release was discretionary and the Property Owners have not presented evidence that the amount released was so extreme as to be objectively unreasonable.”
Conclusion: Reversal With Prejudice
Thus, they concluded, “We reverse the trial court’s order and render judgment dismissing with prejudice [emphasis added] the Property Owners’ statutory takings claims.”
A dismissal “with prejudice” means the case is over. Plaintiffs cannot refile the claim ever again. This final judgment permanently ends the lawsuit and prevents the same issues from relitigation in the future. Except through a successful appeal to a higher court.
It’s unclear how this case differs from several other similar takings cases arising out of Harvey. It’s also unclear at this point whether the plaintiffs will appeal the case.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/20/2025
2974 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SJRA-Lawsuit-Appeal-Win-e1761012101319.png?fit=1199%2C623&ssl=16231199adminadmin2025-10-20 21:24:082025-10-25 13:36:43SJRA Wins Appeal Against Downstream Homeowners
10/19/2025 – Yesterday, dozens of volunteers from across Kingwood joined together to make a huge difference in Median Madness Round 3. Young and old, male and female, Republicans and Democrats, they all worked side by side. For the good of their community, they attacked a stretch of Northpark Drive where vines and tree limbs had encroached on the roadway, reducing visibility and interfering with traffic.
An HPD officer described the problems. Drivers trying to cross Northpark had problems seeing oncoming traffic without pulling out into the road. Also, large trucks using the inside lane of Northpark next to the median would often swerve into the other lane to avoid overhanging limbs that would scratch their vehicles. The sudden swerves endangered traffic in the outside lane. But that’s no longer a problem. At least in this area near Woodland Hills Drive.
How Area Looks AFTER Clean Up Effort
Thanks to the volunteers and the help of the City workers who gave up their Saturday morning, visibility has radically improved. So have the aesthetics of Northpark Drive!
“After” photo taken on Sunday 10/19/25. Note the broad cleared area next to traffic.Quite an improvement!
Team That Made the Difference
Approximately three dozen volunteers joined members of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, and City Council Members Fred Flickinger and Julian Ramirez (far right) for the effort.Orientation at rally point.
After a brief orientation, they spread out along Northpark. Some trimmed back vegetation while the others piled up the limbs and vines for disposal. I don’t have the names of all those who participated. But we should all thank them for their efforts.
Team Goes Into Attack Mode
It was a miracle to watch as the pictures below show. Everyone did what needed doing. With a smile. After the orientation, they immediately assaulted the offending limbs and vines with a passion. (See pictures below.)
Professionals from Houston Parks and Recreation handled work high in the trees with special equipment...…while the volunteers with lopping shears handled the rest.Some people piled the debris……as fast as others could trim it.It was a wordless ballet of teamwork.People just did whatever needed doing.Gracie de LeonHumble ISDboard member Elizabeth Shaw (center with long dark hair)No one consistently carried bigger loads than City Council Member Julian Ramirez (At-Large Position #1).There is Ramirez again in the background, hefting another heavy load.James Cook made the Catch of the DayAddie Vincent came representing a group called the Greenbelt Guardians. They patrol Kingwood trails to pick up trash, report downed trees and keep trails clear.Council Member Flickinger (center) with Greenbelt GuardiansAddie Vincent (l) and Blaise Pawlak (r).
It was gratifying to see the next generation of Kingwood residents taking as much pride as their parents did in keeping Kingwood beautiful.
Debra Knebel of Hunters Ridge (l) and another happy volunteer.Knebel is also a board member of the Bear Branch Trail Association.Houston Parks and Recreation Department employee Janet Curtisstrikes a happy pose as her debris pile became taller than she is.
About the Greenbelt Guardians
According to Knebel, the Greenbelt Guardians are students from Kingwood High School, who volunteer to work on greenbelt beautification projects. They clear greenbelts and pick up debris for the various community and trail associations in Kingwood.
The Greenbelt Guardians are available to meet with the community and trail associations to discuss volunteer opportunities.
The leaders of the organization are Broderick Rosello, Blaise Pawlak, and Addie Vincent at Kingwood High School.
Reach out to them if you have time to give. They have an Instagram account: @kw.greenbelt.guardians.
Special Thanks
Thanks to everyone who turned out for Round 3 of Median Madness. You made a huge difference! And you are an inspiration!
Special thanks to Council Member Fred Flickinger for sponsoring the event and to his Deputy Chief of Staff Demari Perez for helping to organize and promote it.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/19/25
2973 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251018-DSC_3893.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-10-19 18:32:162025-10-20 11:08:47Median Madness Volunteers Made a Huge Difference … Again
10/18/2025 – Yesterday, on 10/17/2025, the Northpark Expansion project reached a major milestone. Some might say the project cleared a major hurdle, except the hurdle is about 15 feet below the UnionPacific Railroad tracks.
Whatever you call it, the completion of the second bore under the railroad tracks caused jubilation among board members of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10. Utility conflicts and buried debris delayed completion of the bores and forced construction crews to tackle other parts of the project out of sequence.
A collective sigh of relief could be heard … even through emails.
The twin bores will convey stormwater under the railroad tracks from the west side of Loop 494 to the east side, and from there to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Path of drainage from entry ponds. Additional drainage from the businesses along Northpark will go through culverts under the street where the center ditch used to be.
The boring operation began in May 2025 after years of negotiation with the railroad. Crews had completed the first bore with little trouble, but then ran into a buried, out-of-place water line with the second bore that set them back months.
Next Major Steps
Crews must still place culverts under Northpark itself west of Loop 494 to get stormwater from the south side to the north side. Not necessarily in this order, they must also:
Complete new surface lanes on the south side of inbound Northpark
Finish driveways on the north side of outbound Northpark
Build junction boxes in the two bore pits
Work with UnionPacific as it rewires its signals for the new railroad crossing configuration
Clear “Ditch One” behind the businesses on the north side of Northpark
Pave the surface lanes that will go on either side of the bridge
Begin work on the foundation for the bridge and its abutments
Install permanent traffic lights at I-69
Finish paving Loop 494.
Photos Taken on 10/16-17/25
The photos below show progress made this week.
The yellow truck and crane in the center are demobilizing boring equipment.
This ten second video shows the augur breaking through into the receiving pit.
Video provided by Northpark project manager Ralph De Leon
Here’s how the two pits looked today.
(Looking E.) Crews have removed all equipment from the bore pit on the east side of the tracks.In the receiving pit west of the tracks, you can now clearly see twin 5′ bores...all the way through.When I visited the site, the bore contractors were already demobilizing their equipment.After crews build junction boxes in the pits and connect the drainage under Loop 494, paving crews will be able to complete this last segment and eliminate backups like you see above (upper right).
Elsewhere along Northpark
Friday afternoon, crews were busy working from one end of the project to the other.
Looking W toward I-69 at top of frame. Inbound lanes on the left still need to be paved. The bridge will begin in the foreground where the outbound lanes bow to the right.From opposite direction, looking E, outbound surface lanes will connect across the two bore pitsto the lane already paved in front of the Shell Station (lower left).That will straighten out a major kink in the traffic.Closer to I-69, private contractors hired by the Exxon jobber, Honey Farms, are reworking the stations apron to make room for drainage, sidewalk, street and lighting improvements.
10/17/25 – Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger wants to remind the entire Kingwood Community about Median Madness Round 3.
The event will be held on Northpark from 8:30am to noon on Saturday, 10/18/25 between Forest Bluff and Bassingham. That’s just east of the commercial area around Northpark and Woodland Hills.
Parking
For parking, HPD will block off both the east and westbound lanes closest to the median. Kingwood Family Dentistry has kindly volunteered to let people use their parking lot as well. And a third option is next to the drainage ditch immediately east of the dentist.
Please remember to bring water and gloves. Also wear closed-toe shoes. All ages are welcome, but adults should accompany anyone under 16.
Chick-fil-A has joined the list of sponsors. Please support them.
Please register here for additional information: MEDIAN MADNESS SIGNUP. And don’t forget to pack a smile.
There’s a chance of rain tomorrow increasing from the single digits in the morning to double digits at noon. But don’t let that dampen your enthusiasm. Cloud cover can make working conditions more enjoyable.
Hope to see you there. Previous Median Madness events have brought together volunteers from across Kingwood. Their enthusiasm and camaraderie were inspiring.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/17/25
2971 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251009-Median-Madness-3-cropped.jpg?fit=1100%2C678&ssl=16781100adminadmin2025-10-17 17:13:452025-10-17 17:21:17Reminder: Join Median Madness Saturday 8:30 to 12 on Northpark
Update 10/16/25 at 10am – The Planning Department intends to recommend deferring consideration of the general plan discussed below until after the City of Houston District E and Harris County Precinct 3 have have met with the new owner.
10/15/2025 – San Jacinto Preserve and a sister company, Scarborough Houston LLC have purchased approximately 5300 acres of land west of Kingwood from Ryko Development and its sister company, Pacific Indio Properties.
Ryko tried for years to develop the property, most of which is floodplains, floodways and wetlands where the San Jacinto West Fork, Spring Creek, Turkey Creek and Cypress Creek all converge.
Concerns about flooding may have triggered Ryko’s sale after a succession of rapid-fire setbacks:
May 2024 floods and the second largest release from Lake Conroe in the history of the SJRA rekindled memories of Harvey’s devastation.
A Townsen Blvd. extension through the property was taken off Montgomery County’s 2025 Road Bond at the request of neighboring residents and MoCo Precinct 3 commissioner Ritch Wheeler.
Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ramsey lined up against a bridge that would connect the area to Humble.
Sale of Property to San Jacinto Preserve, LP, Scarborough Houston LLC
Under public pressure on all sides and faced with the loss of connectivity and critical infrastructure support, Pacific Indio sold the property to San Jacinto Preserve, LP and Scarborough Houston LLC in August of this year. Here is the Special Warranty Deed.
Both buyers have common ownership and management, as with Ryko and Pacific Indio. Companies often try to limit liability by setting up different companies for different projects. That way, if one part of the empire encounters trouble, it won’t bring down other parts.
In this case, the names of two men keep showing up: Ryan Burkhardt and James R. Feagin. Among the many companies under their control:
Scarborough Lane Development appears to be at the top of the food chain and headquarters in Addison, TX, a north Dallas suburb. All the other companies list the same address. So even though company names change, the same people control everything.
Scarborough Lane Development’s website says its “always committed to protecting the environment.” And it brags that it is “capable of handling the most challenging development projects.” We shall see.
Land Virtually Covered by Floodplains, Floodways
This project will test their talent as this map in Ryko’s drainage analysis shows. Only the small, dark gray areas in the red outline are above the 500-year floodplain.
Ryko’s drainage impact analysis showed this map of floodplains, floodways and streams on their property (outlined in red).
But keep in mind, that the floodplains will soon expand when FEMA releases new maps based on data acquired after Hurricane Harvey. The floodplain mapping above is from 2014. It predates the Memorial Day Flood, Tax Day Flood, Harvey, and the May 2024 flood.
On Houston Planning Commission Agenda for 10/16/25
San Jacinto Preserve’s (SJP) general plan is on the Houston Planning Commission’s consent agenda for Thursday, 10/16/25. See below. Their engineers chose to render the floodplains in barely distinguishable shades of gray this time.
Lisa Clark, who Chairs the Houston Planning Commission, also represents the San Jacinto Preserve.
Both Harris County Precinct 3 and City of Houston District E have requested the planning commission to postpone consideration until they have had the opportunity to meet with the developer and learn more about the plans.
Here is the General Plan that SJP submitted to the Planning Commission.
This is a pretty high-level plan. It shows planned major thoroughfares, easements, pipelines, property boundaries, drill sites, and floodplains/floodways. But it’s not yet a plat that shows the street layouts of neighborhoods or homesites.
However, it does still show a Townsen Blvd. extension bridging across Spring Creek into Humble. That piqued my interest.
I called Mr. Burkhardt in Addison for clarification, but he did not return my phone call to confirm exactly what their plans are. So we shall have to wait and see. They will have challenges, no doubt.
MoCo Residents Successfully Protest Connectivity Plan
Yesterday, Benders Landing Estates (BLE) Property Owners Association (immediately north of the SJP property had a proposal on the Montgomery County Commissioners Court Agenda. SJP wanted to connect their new neighborhoods through a quiet, residential street (Shady Hills Landing Lane) in BLE.
They felt the street was not suited to handling the volume of traffic that a 5000+ acre development would generate. And their plan to block SJP access through the street succeeded.
Commissioners voted to abandon a one-foot-wide portion of Shady Hills Landing Lane in Benders Landing Estates Section 7. The land will vest to adjoining property owners, who can then effectively block SJP residents from exiting any new subdivisions through their property.
The San Jacinto Preserve development comes with inherent flood risks. At this point, we need to wait and see what they propose. At a minimum, it will likely include:
A new drainage-impact analysis
New plats that show the exact location of homes and their density relative to floodplains
Street layouts
The amount of impervious cover added
How much forest is lost
Flood-mitigation plans
A no-adverse-impact statement from Texas-certified engineers.
Environmental/wetlands studies including impacts on water quality in Lake Houston
Wetlands in SJP floodplain
One seasoned hydrologist held out little hope for the safe development of this property. She told me that developing it would be like aiming a firehose at Kingwood. She also suggested that the developer was putting “profits over people” and that the people of Humble and Kingwood should oppose it for their own safety. Check back often as news develops.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/15/25
2969 Days since 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/2025/10/20250622-DSC_2654.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-10-15 21:12:412025-10-16 18:02:16Developer Buys 5300 Acres of Floodplains, Floodways, Wetlands from Ryko
10/14/25 – Signorelli Company has filed another general plan with the Houston Planning Commission for expansion of the Commons of Lake Houston. The new area for proposed development will be called The Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston.
The new plan dated 9/23/25 shows roughly 450 new homesites on approximately 105 acres. About half the homes will be wholly or partially in the current 100- or 500-year floodplains.
Looking S toward Lake Houston. Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston in foreground. East Fork San Jacinto on R. Kings Point water tower in upper right.
How Big Are Those Floodplains?
The expansion area is carved out of a larger 284-acre area, mostly in the floodplains of the San Jacinto East Fork, across the river from Kingwood’s East End Park. See above and below.
In the map above, the dotted lines snaking through and around the homes represent the 100- and 500-year floodplains.
Screen capture as of 10/14/25. Crosshatch = floodway. Aqua = 100-year or 1% annual chance floodplain. Tan = 500-year or .2% annual chance floodplain.
The current flood maps released in 2007 are based on data acquired after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. But, Harris County Flood Control has said that FEMA will release new flood maps before the end of this year based on data acquired after Hurricane Harvey.
From MaapNext.org. Screen capture on 10/14/25.
And those new flood maps will reportedly show floodplains expanding 50% to 100%. However, even under the current, outdated flood maps, half the planned homes are in floodplains.
Could the imminent release of new flood maps explain the motive behind Signorelli’s submission of a new general plan at this time?
Previous Attempts at Development Met Stiff Resistance
This is apparently the third time, Signorelli has tried to get plans for The Crossing approved. The previous attempts met with stiff resistance. Reportedly, Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia personally testified at the Houston Planning Commission against Signorelli’s plans when he was Precinct 2 commissioner (before redistricting).
Later, Signorelli fought the City of Houston all the way to the Texas Supreme Court for the right to develop the floodplain land. Signorelli claimed Houston regulations adopted after Hurricane Harvey made the land virtually un-developable. The developer argued that they violated property rights and amounted to inverse condemnation.
The Supremes did not rule outright for Signorelli in March 2025. They remanded the case back to the trial court when they found procedural errors in the trial court’s original decision. As of this writing, I can find no public records indicating a subsequent trial court ruling.
However, the previous iteration of the general plan for the Commons showed no stormwater detention basins. This iteration shows the addition of a 31-acre basin that could might provide fill to elevate some or all of the homes out of the floodplain.
That’s an improvement. But Harris County Flood Control District regulations call for a mandatory minimum of .55 acres of detention per acre. So, Signorelli’s plan seems to fall short of that requirement.
Lot Size and Shape Typically Exacerbate Flooding
Moreover, the small, narrow lots shown in the general plan typically increase impervious cover which can lead to faster runoff and higher flood peaks.
Narrow-lot developments often have less room for detention or swales on-site, forcing greater reliance on underground detention vaults or regional drainage systems.
Neighborhood-wide, narrow-lot development can raise local drainage loads significantly. For example, a Houston Public Works study of a pilot area in Near Northside reportedly found:
Converting a block of 24 large lots (total 3.5 acres) into 72 narrow-lot homes raised impervious area from 42 % to 82 %, doubling the 2-year storm runoff volume and increasing peak flow rate by ~65 %. (Source: City of Houston Infill Redevelopment Drainage Assessment, 2019.*)
This area has flooded three times in recent years. During Harvey, Imelda, and the May 2024 flood. The new development could put people in harms way. However, the developer hasn’t yet filed a full drainage study or flood-mitigation plan. So we don’t yet know the flood danger.
Concerns of Residents
At this point, residents’ I talked to had three primary concerns about the new development.
Consistency with the surrounding area
Traffic congestion/wear and tear on roads
Loss of recreational area.
One resident told me, Signorelli promised the community that the land now proposed for development would be turned into soccer fields. It wasn’t. But at least it people could hike on it.
If a bright spot exists, approximately 180 acres will remain along the river if Signorelli builds these homes. That’s slightly larger than Kingwood’s East End Park on the opposite side of the river. But there’s no guarantee Signorelli won’t try to develop the remaining 180 acres, too, in the future.
On 10/16/25 Planning Commission Agenda, Then…?
This issue will be on Thursday’s Planning Commission agenda. General-plan approval is only a first step in developing a neighborhood or tract of land. If the General Plan is approved the developer then submits the plat application(s). If that is approved, the developer moves on to submitting the plans to the Office of City Engineer for approval of permits.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/14/25
2968 Days after 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.
*While I have found references to the study, I have not yet found the study itself.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20250430-DJI_20250430110754_0406_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-10-14 18:25:432025-10-14 18:28:07Signorelli Tries Again to Expand Commons of Lake Houston into Floodplains
10/11/25 – On 2/28/25, Friendswood Development/Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction, Ltd. sold 231 acres to Royal Shores Estates, LLC, a company managed by Ron Holley, a Kingwood developer. The transaction includes two parcels that bracket the existing Royal Shores Courts development.
Maps of Acquired Parcels
The first parcel to the north includes 164.39 acres and the second to the south includes 66.62 acres. They total 231.01 acres, an area approximately 50% larger than Kingwood’s 158-acre East End Park to the north.
Here is the Special Warranty Deed, which includes the maps shown below plus deed restrictions.
In addition to the wetlands, virtually all of the property lies within the floodplains or floodway of the San Jacinto River East Fork. See the screen capture below from the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer Viewer.
Aqua color = 100-year floodplain. Tan color = 500-year floodplain. Crosshatch = Floodway.
Note that FEMA based the 2007 map above on data acquired after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. FEMA has not yet released new maps based on Atlas 14 data acquired after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
However, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) believes that FEMA should release new maps before the end of this year and that when they do, the floodplains and floodways will expand significantly.
Floodplain Building Restrictions
All of Holley’s Royal Shores Estates land lies in the City of Houston and Harris County. The following regulations apply.
Houston allows no development in floodplains unless it complies with Chapter 19 – Floodplain of the City Code. Significant restrictions include:
New construction must have the lowest habitable floor elevated at least 2 feet above the 500-year flood elevation.
No placement of fill in the 100-year floodplain to elevate structures. Instead, structures must use open foundations (e.g. piers, columns) or continuous foundation walls with proper openings.
Developers must demonstrate that structures will not restrict storage volume or conveyance capacity of floodplains.
Developers may be required to submit a flood study (hydrologic/hydraulic model).
To enforce these restrictions, Houston requires:
Submission of detailed plans with elevations, cross-sections, floodplain mapping, location of proposed structures, and floodproofing certificates (where applicable) for a floodplain development permit.
Certifications and engineering analyses from licensed professional engineers for impacts on conveyance or storage.
Inspections during construction and before certificate of occupancy to ensure compliance.
How High is Up?
Homebuilders who buy lots from Holley will have to elevate homes significantly. How much?
That depends on the location of individual lots within Holley’s property.
Random sampling of locations using the elevation profile tool within the USGS National Map shows the northern section varies from 41 to 59 feet with an average of 45 feet.
Sampled points in USGS National Map within northern section of Holley Property
Sampled elevations in the southern section also vary from 41 to 59 feet, but have an average of 48 feet.
Sampled points in USGS National Map within southern section of Holley Property
So, how high would a builder have to elevate a home?
The height of a 500-year flood is currently 54 feet on the East Fork at Holley’s property. See graph below.
Two feet higher would put the minimum height of the “lowest habitable floor” at 56 feet.
So homes would have to be built up 8 to 11 feet on average.
The highest locations would require no additional elevation, but the lowest could require up to 15 feet! And deed restrictions appear to limit the height of homes to two stories. Interesting!
Based on the graph above, the average ground level in the northern area would have a 10% chance of flooding every year.
Perhaps that explains why Friendswood opted to sell.
Friendswood Started Expansion, Stopped, then Sold
Historical satellite images in Google Earth show that a giant pond on the northern parcel was likely used to provide fill for the original homes in Royal Shores. Shortly after clearing started for Royal Shores in 2005, clearing started for the pond. Excavation matched the pace of homebuilding for several years and later stopped.
Then, between 2013 and 2015, both clearing and excavation began again farther north. Friendswood significantly built up the cleared area until…
Expansion abruptly stopped around 2017. Satellite images show heavy erosion around the edges of the raised area. Shortly thereafter, trees started regrowing in the cleared area. No new roads or homes were built north of the pond.
There is little in the public record to explain why Friendswood suddenly stopped Royal Shores expansion after all that work. One theory: they were focusing on Royal Brook about that time. Another theory: flooding concerns caused them to rethink their plans.
Less than a year after the May 2024 flood, Friendswood sold the Royal Shores property to Holley.
What Holley Property Looks Like Today
I took the photos below on 10/11/25.
From north end of property looking south toward Lake Houston. East Fork on left.Both pond and area in foreground were expanded through early 2016. Then expansion abruptly stopped.Area on south side of pond was also cleared at same time. Southern parcel of Royal Shores Estates was originally called “The Eagle Tract” because of bald eagles that nested there.
Friendswood originally had plans to build 53 homes in the Southern/Eagle Tract.
I have not yet obtained copies of Mr. Holley’s plans.
New Flood Maps Could Change Holley’s Assumptions
HCFCD says FEMA will release updated flood maps before the end of 2025. Those could be a game changer if flood heights increase significantly. Check back often as this story develops.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/11/25
2965 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.
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10/10/25 – Barring weather delays, more unforeseen utility conflicts, and UnionPacific delays, work on the Northpark bridge over UP’s road tracks and Loop 494 could begin as early as December 2025.
Side Walls for Abutments Already Fabricated
According to Ralph De Leon, the project manager for the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10, all the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together. Speaking to the Kingwood Executive Group on Wednesday 10/8/2025, De Leon mapped out the next steps.
Fabrication of the cement side walls for the bridge ramps has finished. The cement panels are in a storage yard waiting for transport to the site.
They look much like the side panels for the ramps that lead up to the US59 bridges over Kingwood and Northpark Drives. They contain raised details of pine trees to fit with the Livable Forest motif.
Detail of side wall surface.Stacked panels in storage yard
But several things need to happen before the walls for the abutments go up. Abutments support the lateral pressure of an arch or span at the ends of a bridge.
Additional Preparatory Steps
First, contractors must finish the surface roads that will run beside the bridge (two lanes each side). And before they can do that, they must finish the drainage under those surface roads.
That in turn will require:
Finishing the bore operation under the railroad tracks to connect the drainage on both sides of the tracks.
Relocating some UP signaling equipment and power
Bringing fill dirt back from a sand mine on Sorters where it was stored after excavating the ponds at the entries.
Demolishing and removing the old lanes in the middle where the bridge will go up.
Building a foundation for the walls.
Drilling piers for the open span portion of the bridge which will go down 100 feet.
Pictures Taken 10/10/25
The pictures below taken today illustrate some of those steps.
Looking E from Dairy Queen toward Kings Mill entrance at additional drainage and bed prep for new lanes beside bridge.Looking W toward Loop 494, you can already see partial construction of surface lanes on left and right. Bridge will go in center where traffic and dirt are now.Bores under tracks are still holding up construction of surface lanes on right. In the meantime, traffic detours around the work area.Looking E from over entry ponds at US59. Demo of old lanes continues to make room for bridge and new surface lanes.Dirt apparently being moved back from storage at sand mine is being stockpiled near south entry pond.
Status of Bores under Tracks
The boring operation under the railroad tracks has been held up for several months by unexpected utility conflicts. The south bore is now complete.
But the north bore encountered two problems. A utility line broke off and had to be removed by hand. Next they encountered rocks, wood, and concrete debris that broke an augur. Still, De Leon’s project timetable shows that operation being completed by 10/18/25. They plan to hand-dig the remaining 11 feet.
South bore (r) has already reached the receiving pit west of tracks.Opposite direction (completed bore on left). Problem bore on right.Examples of debris encountered while boring under tracks.Looking S along 494 across Northpark. When the bores under the tracks are complete, contractors will place junction boxes in the pits, eliminating a blockage to the completion of Loop 494 expansion.
There are a lot of moving pieces to this puzzle. But it’s slowly and surely coming together. And when it does, Kingwood will have its first all-weather evacuation route. And commuters will shorten their drive times.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/10/25
2964 Days since Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/10_Bridge-Abutment-Wall-Stacked-Panels-Inventory-1-.png?fit=1500%2C1122&ssl=111221500adminadmin2025-10-10 22:03:402025-10-12 16:53:56Work on Northpark Bridge Could Start as Early as December
10/9/25 – Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger has scheduled another Median Madness event for Saturday October 18 from 8:30 to noon along Northpark Drive between Forest Bluff and Bassingham Drives.
Join District E, Trees for Kingwood and Houston Parks for a community cleanup of the medians in Kingwood!
It will involve picking up trash and trimming underbrush along the curb line to enhance aesthetics and safety.
To ensure your safety, the inside lanes of Northpark Drive will be closed for parking and cleanup.
The work area stretches from slightly east of Woodland Hills Drive for two blocks. See below.
Median Madness area circled in red.
Sign Up Now
Please confirm your attendance by signing up now. Once registered, you’ll receive an email with a waiver and helpful tips to prepare for the event. Be sure to complete the waiver and bring a printed copy with you on the day of Median Madness, October 18th.
What to Bring, Wear
And please remember to bring water, gloves, and wear closed-toe shoes. Tools will be available for use, but organizers encourage you to bring your own tools if possible. All ages are welcome, though those under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
Long-Range Weather Forecast Beautiful
Previous Median Madness events focused on Kingwood Drive. One scheduled last Spring for Northpark was cancelled because of weather. But the long-range forecast for the 18th indicates the weather should be sunny and seventy.
The Power of People Working Together to Improve Their Community
The first two Median Madness events drew huge crowds of volunteers from all over Kingwood who had had enough of unsightly vines encroaching on traffic and narrowing lanes. Their efforts can still be seen today.
Kingwood Drive Median Madness event in November 2024.
Despite the hard work and sweat, you saw nothing but smiles as volunteers worked side by side and tore into the vines. So mark your calendars for Saturday, October 18.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/9/25
2963 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251009-Median-Madness-3-cropped.jpg?fit=1100%2C678&ssl=16781100adminadmin2025-10-09 15:23:292025-10-09 15:23:29Median Madness Round 3 Coming October 18
