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Tornado Report: Storm Tracks and Debris Cleanup Plan

11/28/25 – On Monday, 11/26/25, two tornadoes swept through Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s Precinct 3 in northwest Harris County. Yesterday, the National Weather Service assessed the damage. Even though it was not flood related, many readers live in those areas. Therefore, I am publishing this two part post. The first part covers where the damage occurred. The second covers the County’s cleanup plan.

Where Damage Occurred

Two tornadoes touched down and caused widespread damage. The information below comes from Harris County’s meteorologist, Jeff Lindner.

Tornado 1 (Towne Lake and Riata Ranch):

The first tornado began just south of Tuckerton Rd west of Barker Cypress and tracked northward through the eastern sections of Towne Lake. It then moved alongside Barker Cypress from near Cypress N Houston Rd to just south of US 290. The tornado lifted just before US 290 and no damage was found on the north side of US 290.

This tornado was rated an EF-1 with maximum winds of 105mph along the west side of Barker Cypress where residential houses suffered roof damage. The damage included uplift and loss of portions of roof decking. Much of the track was rated EF-0 with wind speeds of 65-85mph.

Track Length: 2.6 miles
Width: 500 yards
Estimated maximum wind: 105mph
Time: 1:23pm to 1:28pm

Tornado 2 (Klein):

The second tornado began just north of Louetta Rd., east of Cutten Rd. It tracked generally northeastward across Champion Forest Dr and just north of Theiss Elementary School. Then, it crossed Stuebner-Airline Rd near Klein Emergency Services District (ESD) 11, destroying a shed and snapping several large pine trees.

Next, it moved north-northeast impacting the Klein ESD 16 facilities. Finally, it crossed Spring Cypress impacting portions of the Klein ISD bus and maintenance area before dissipating over an open field to the north.

The majority of the track experienced EF-0 and lower end EF-1 damage, but isolated pockets of higher end EF-1 and EF-2 damage were noted between Stuebner Airline to Champions Forest Dr. There, significant portions of roofing material were removed on some residential structures. Portions of outside-facing brick walls also failed.

Additionally, extensive tree damage occurred through much of the path. Several houses suffered significant damage due to tree impacts.

The maximum rating was EF-2 with estimated winds of 115-125mph. Approximately 150 homes sustained damage with at least 12 suffering major damage.

Track Length: 3.8 miles
Width: 500 yards
Estimated maximum wind: 115mph
Time: 1:41pm to 1:47pm

Clean-Up Plan

Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s crews were out yesterday, working diligently to remove roadside storm debris left by the twisters.

Starting Monday, December 1, 2025, Precinct 3 crews will begin picking up debris in neighborhoods impacted by the tornado. Please follow the debris separation guidelines below to ensure safe and efficient pick-up.

📞 Residents should report their debris by calling 713-274-3100 or submitting a report at pct3.com/service-request. Select “Road & Bridge Maintenance” on the drop down menu.

The county and its partners have also set up several debris drop off locations.

Please note that hours have been updated for these temporary debris drop-off locations and that they are specifically for Harris County residents affected by the tornado.

These sites will open December 1-5, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and December 6-7, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

See locations below:

📍 Deputy Darren Goforth Park (Dog Park Side): 9402 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress, TX 77095

📍 Kissing Tree Park: 5707 Louetta Road, Spring, TX 77379

Additional Recover Partners

Trinity Klein Lutheran Church: Phone: (281) 376-5773 Website: trinityklein.org
Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM): Phone: (281) 885-4555 Website: namonline.org
Cypress Assistance Ministries (CAM): Phone: (281) 955-7684 Website: cypressassistance.org
American Red Cross Disaster Assistance: Phone: (800) 733-2767
Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) Damage Survey:Website: bit.ly/tornadoistat

Giving Thanks

We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The tornadoes were relatively weak. No one was killed or seriously injured. And Commissioner Ramsey, his team and community partners are working diligently to clear roads and help clean up the debris.

Please remember this holiday season to help your neighbors anyway you can.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/26/25

3011 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Mills Branch Drive to Get $1.2 Million Makeover Soon

11/25/25 – Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger announced today that Mills Branch Drive will get a $1.2 million makeover from Northpark Drive northeast to the City Limit. See below.

Mills Branch scope — *The makeover will consist of an asphalt overlay funded through the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund.*

Public Works will begin improvements on Mills Branch Dr. starting Monday, December 8, weather permitting, and expects to complete the project by Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Flickinger’s office says construction activities should take 40 days, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and that weekends will vary. Construction should not interrupt water or sewer service.

However, the project will include temporary lane closures. So please watch for flagmen and orange traffic cones that will help with traffic flow through the construction zone.

Also, expect some delays and leave extra time for commuting during construction. Finally, Flickinger warns of noise levels which will likely increase because of construction equipment in the area.

As always, pack your patience and look forward to a better ride in the future.

The Council Member says this project has no particular connection to the Northpark or Ford Road improvement projects. It just needed to be done. Regardless of the motivation, it should help with an evacuation should one ever become necessary due to flooding.

For More Information

Please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/25/25

3010 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Northpark Bridge Construction Plan Changes

11/23/25 – Contractors for the Northpark expansion project will now start constructing piers for the bridge over the UnionPacific Railroad tracks and Loop 494 on the east instead of the west, as previously announced. Photos taken today show equipment that will be used to drill the piers pre-positioned near Public Storage.

Elsewhere along Northpark since the last update a week ago:

An additional newly paved inbound lane between US59 and Exxon now shows how wide Northpark will be.
The drainage junction box on the west side of the UP tracks is complete and covered, although the box still needs to be connected to 8′ culvert coming under Loop 494.
Many, but not all, of the new driveways to businesses on the north/outbound lanes have now been completed.

As always, the pictures tell the story. I took all photos below today, Sunday, November 23, 2025.

Full Width Now Visible by Exxon

New concrete near 59 gives one a feeling for just how wide Northpark will be for most of its length. It’s not all open yet, but it won’t be long.

*Looking west toward the junction of US59 and Northpark.*

Here’s a wider shot from the reverse angle.

*Farther east, you can see the area in the middle where the bridge will start to elevate* *by PNC bank* *near bottom of frame.*

Drainage Junction Box West of Tracks Now Complete and Covered

The drainage junction box west of the UP tracks is now complete and covered. However, before Loop 494 paving can be completed, contractors must still install a short section of 8′ culvert. Boring under the tracks was a major milestone and so is the completion of the first junction box.

*Buried junction box is to right of excavator.*

*The steel fin poking up in the oval marks the edge of the junction box.*

Next, contractors will excavate the area between the red lines and connect the junction box with culvert already running under Loop 494. Then…

*Contractors will next complete this last section of Loop 494, which should greatly relieve traffic congestion.*

*The junction box east of the tracks is virtually complete. More good news!*

It, too, will need to be connected, and then drainage will reach all the way from the entry ponds to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. However, before new surface lanes can be put over the tracks, electricity to the UPRR crossing signal must be rerouted. See below.

*Instead of power going to the signals from 3 to 2 to 1, UP must reroute it from 4 to 1.*

Ralph De Leon, the Northpark project manager indicated that Pole #4 is already energized so this is primarily just a rewiring exercise. However, UP will not give him a definite date to plan around. They say they hope to get to it sometime “next year.”

Where Bridge Construction Will Now Start

Looking farther east, you can see more surface lane prep on the left, fresh concrete with curbs and drainage inlets completed on the right, and equipment being mobilized for drilling bridge piers in the middle.

*Looking E from in front of Self-U Storage*. *Friendswood’s new Northpark Enclave subdivision on right.*

*Equipment that will be used to start drilling piers stationed in front of Public Storage (left)*

*The telescoping Kelly Bar that will be used to hydro-excavate 100-foot deep holes for the piers*

The drilling will be a step and repeat process with rebar and concrete being inserted into each hole before moving on to the next. That will keep the holes from collapsing as work proceeds.

Slightly farther east, you can see where the bridge will end and the surface lanes will pinch in

*Where surface traffic will eventually merge with bridge traffic.*

More news to follow soon about the area above. Between normal traffic, Northpark contractors, and Enclave contractors, this area is getting crowded. Use extra caution.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/23/25

3008 Days since Harvey

Editorial: Preserve Hard-Won Environmental Protections

11/22/2025 – The EPA announced new interpretations of rules this week that have protected wetlands and water quality throughout America for more than five decades. According to the New York Times, the new guidelines could remove millions of acres of wetlands from Federal protection including those in the Lake Houston Area.

Those wetlands help soak up water, reducing flood risk. They also clean water and provide habitat for wildlife. And that’s a large part of what makes living in this area so attractive.

*Great egret photographed near East End Park*

Before the EPA

Those of us old enough to remember a time before the EPA can remember the stinking, fetid, poisonous messes our rivers and lakes had become. The Cuyahoga River near where I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, had caught on fire 13 times before the EPA was formed. It was a testament to the failure of local governments to withstand industry pressures.

Cuyahoga River Fire in 1969 — *The Cuyahoga River caught fire a total of 13 times dating back to 1868. It was one of the most polluted rivers in America. Photo: Cleveland State University Library*.

We had reached a tipping point. That’s why in 1970, Congress formed the EPA – to set national standards that protected the environment.

But this week, Washington moved to weaken the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, two bedrock laws of environmental protection. The moves come as part of a broader deregulatory effort.

Ironically, the announced motive for the federal government getting out of the wetlands-protection business was to return authority for that to the states. That theory proved ineffective decades ago. But almost two thirds of Americans alive today, weren’t even born in 1970.

The regulatory vacuum left by the Federal government will open up a window for wetlands exploitation before the Texas legislature meets again for two more years. Developers are already lined up waiting to develop wetlands in the Lake Houston Area. Yesterday, I posted about Scarborough, Holley and Signorelli.

You can bet this will trigger a “swamp rush” among developers who see the opportunity to buy low and sell high. Unfortunately, we’ve seen over and over again, how wetlands tend to be in areas that flood. It will only be a matter of time before they do.

And then all those homes sold to unsuspecting couples – who were promised that their homes met all government requirements – will be left holding a soggy title to a home they will have trouble selling for dimes on the dollar.

Clearly, the pendulum has swung back in the other direction already.

The Houston Chronicle recently documented 65,000 homes built in Houston-area floodplains since Hurricane Harvey. How soon people have forgotten! We are witnessing another disaster in the making – one that could be even harder to recover from next time.

But the changes aren’t a done deal yet. America still has a choice.

Speak Up, Speak Out

Fight back. Make your voice heard. Make sure you register your opinion about the threat to wetlands here. And write your Federal representatives. Make this an election issue.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/22/2025

3007 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.

Federal Government Changing Rules that Protect Wetlands

11/21/25 – The Federal Government is again changing the rules that protect wetlands. The changes could reduce the volume of wetlands that enjoy federal protection by altering the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act to align with Supreme Court rulings.

The Government has opened public comment on the proposed language for 45 days – until January 5, 2026. Wetlands above dams and wetlands without continuous surface flow could be radically affected.

Reason for Changes

The proposed changes include clarification of many definitions that previously caused confusion and controversy because of their ambiguity.

Every day, regulators must draw black-and-white distinctions in a world characterized by infinite shades of gray. For instance, does a “continuous surface connection” to “waters of the U.S.” include wetlands going through a drought? Wetlands separated from a river by a dike? Wetlands that are only wet during the rainy season? Or wetlands upstream from a water-supply dam like Lake Houston or Lake Conroe?

The 49-page entry in the Federal Register notice states that the proposed definitions/changes seek to avoid “impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the States with respect to waters (including boundary waters) of such States.” See 33 U.S.C. 1370.

Said another way, Federal Government seems to be turfing the task of interpreting some gray areas back to local jurisdictions. The notice says, “States and Tribes are free to address rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and other features that do not meet the definition of “relatively permanent” as “waters of the State” or “waters of the Tribe” under their own laws to the extent they deem appropriate.

However, Texas largely relies on federal wetland protection. The state’s role is limited to certification, advisory review, and coastal management. I’m not aware of any comprehensive Texas law that independently protects inland wetlands from filling or drainage.

The Federal Register describes the changes and how they could affect different interest groups, situations and locations. I couldn’t possibly summarize them all in one page. But I will address one.

Wetlands Threatened in Lake Houston Area

Right now in the Lake Houston Area, we are looking at several major proposed developments that want to build over wetlands.

Signorelli has proposed building Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston in the floodplain of the San Jacinto East Fork. Much of this area is wetlands.

*Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston. See wetlands in center.*

And farther downstream on the East Fork, Ron Holley wants to build over wetlands both north and south of Royal Shores. Note the green areas east of High Valley and Royal Shores Drive in the wetlands map below.

Royal Shores wetlands — *From USFWS Wetlands Mapper*

Scarborough has proposed building out 5,316 acres at the confluence of the West Fork, Cypress Creek, Spring Creek and Turkey Creek.

Wetlands in San Jacinto Preserve flyover — *Example of wetlands on Scarborough property*

*Scarborough property is laced with similar wetlands*. Source: *USFWS Wetlands Mapper*

Protect Your Wetlands. Submit Comments.

If you are concerned about protecting wetlands (and you should be if you want to reduce flooding), read this notice:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/20/2025-20402/updated-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states

Then submit a public comment. Here’s why.

All the areas above are upstream from the Lake Houston dam. Make sure you note the following sentence under the proposed “Definition of Tributary.”

“Such waters [above a dam] would not sever upstream jurisdiction for tributaries if they have relatively permanent flow, or in the case of adjacent wetlands, if relatively permanent flow occurs through the wetlands, connecting the upstream and downstream portions of the tributary network.”

That says to me:

Wetlands above dams and without permanent flow would no longer be considered jurisdictional and therefore no longer enjoy the Corps’ protection.
Bob Rehak Interpretation

In my reading, this removes any incentive for developers to protect nature’s sponges and it increases flood risk for others who may live nearby or downstream.

What’s your interpretation? How do you feel? The EPA and Army Corps are seeking your input on such language. Such obscure definitions/interpretations could affect your family’s future safety and the value of your home.

Jill Boullion, Executive Director of the Bayou Land Conservancy had this to say. “Narrowing the definition of ‘Waters of the US (WOTUS)’ will not serve the Houston region well. Our region has already lost thousands of acres of wetlands over recent decades.”

She continued, “Wetlands protect our homes from flooding, clean our drinking water, and provide vital habitat for native plants and animals. Requiring a continuous surface connection to navigable water would immediately open many wetlands to being paved over. Due to the dry weather this year, many wetlands are currently dry but still serve an important purpose for a healthy community.”

Make sure you register your opinion here.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/21/2025

3006 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.

Conflict-of-Interest Ridden Colony Ridge Caught Operating without Permit, Polluting

11/20/25 – Maria Acevedo, a construction expert and environmental activist, observed a Colony Ridge cement contractor, Liberty Paving, operating without a permit. She also documented sediment runoff from the site that violated Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Best Management Practices (BMPs).

The lack of BMPs was polluting the surrounding area, which drains into the San Jacinto East Fork and has required tens of millions of dollars in dredging since the development of Colony Ridge began.

Acevedo reported the alleged violations to the TCEQ, which conducted its own investigation and issued a Notice of Enforcement.

Liberty Paving LLC, the contractor, has done more than $13 million worth of business for Liberty County Municipal Management District #1. Amazingly, the President of MMD #1 owns the paving contractor.

This letter from Attorney General Ken Paxton to members of Congress details a litany of other abuses and ethically ambiguous practices at Colony Ridge in Liberty County. Loopholes in Texas law big enough to drive cement trucks through enable them.

TCEQ Finds No Site Signage or Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

When TCEQ investigated Acevedo’s complaint, it was not raining, so investigators could not confirm the allegations of runoff that Acevedo’s photos showed. However, TCEQ discovered that Liberty Paving was operating without coverage under the Construction General Permit, required site signage, and a mandatory Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Neither was the company employing best management practices.

As a result, TCEQ issued a Notice of Enforcement Letter. TCEQ’s report says that Liberty Paving knew of its responsibilities because of permits issued at other sites outside Colony Ridge, but failed to comply inside Colony Ridge.

What exactly does TCEQ mean when it issues a notice of enforcement for “failure to obtain coverage under the Construction General Permit”? According to ChatGPT, the permit regulates:

Stormwater runoff from construction activities
Erosion controls
Sediment controls
Pollution prevention practices

Because the site began construction without filing the required notice of intent:

Any stormwater discharges were unauthorized
Discharged pollutants, such as sediment, were illegal.
The operator is out of compliance with the Clean Water Act and Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System rules
Even if erosion controls were physically present, failure to obtain the permit still constitutes a violation.

*Sediment escaping through improperly installed silt fence. Photo by Maria Acevedo.*

Conflict of Interest?

John Harris, the Colony Ridge developer, lists himself as the president of T-Rex Management, Inc., the general partner of Liberty Paving, LLC. But Harris is also the current president of Liberty County MMD #1.

Minutes of MMD #1 show that in 2023, Harris’ brother was president of the MMD when it approved $13 million in payments to Liberty Paving.

In most states this would be a clear conflict of interest. But Texas allows it if the parties recuse themselves from voting on the contract/payment and disclose their conflicts of interest.

Mr. Harris was evidently present for one vote on paving payments, but absent for another. The minutes do not reflect whether he disclosed the conflict of interest.

That’s pretty academic, however, when four MMD board members have ties to the developer or Harris’ family.

One former state legislator who is an expert on MMDs told me that even if a board member recuses himself, other members of the board know how to vote through winks and nods, i.e., things that don’t get recorded in minutes. He raised some interesting questions. Are bids sealed? Are bids opened in public with all bidders present? And should the vote to accept a bid count if the board member who refrains from voting is necessary to make a quorum?

According to ChatGPT, Texas stands out nationally due to MMDs being allowed to:

Reimburse developers via taxpayer-backed bonds
Have developer-controlled boards
Contract with developer-owned companies
Reimburse developers for on-site infrastructure, including:
- Roads
- Water/sewer
- Drainage
- Detention ponds
- Grading & clearing
- Engineering costs

Most states allow reimbursement only for:

True regional infrastructure, or
Public facilities beyond subdivision boundaries.

Nor do other states allow developers to:

Form districts they control
Levy taxes on future residents
Reimburse themselves for subdivision improvements.

However, it’s standard practice in Texas for:

A developer to form a MMD or Municipal Utility District
The developer (or allied consultants) to serve on the board
The board to hire the developer’s own companies for construction, engineering, landscaping, or management
Taxpayers or landowners to repay the MMD or MUD through bonds or assessments.

Such practices are widely criticized as ethical conflicts of interest, even if they are not legal conflicts. They enable self-dealing and private gain from public-like financing powers. Yet it’s all technically legal if conflicts are disclosed and abstentions handled properly.

However, the Liberty County Attorney, Matthew Poston told Houston Landing…

“The scandal isn’t what is illegal. The scandal is what is legal.”
Matthew Poston, Liberty County Attorney

Paxton Writes Scathing Colony Ridge Letter to Legislators

In Texas, the Attorney General does not normally police MMD self-dealing. However, two years ago, when illegal immigrant and consumer fraud scandals rocked Colony Ridge creating national headlines, Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote a scathing letter to members of Congress about his offices’ findings.

Among other things, Paxton’s four-page letter details how:

Colony Ridge practices seem to contradict the intent of Texas lawmakers when they established MMDs
Minimal down-payment, high-interest loans with little identity verification lure non-citizens across the border
Fast growth and high crime create burdens on law enforcement, school districts, and neighboring areas
MMD #1 violates the intent of lawmakers
How MMD #1 bypasses bank scrutiny of its high risk activities contrary to the public interest
Unelected, unaccountable leaders are creating unsustainable growth of a “city” by catering to illegal aliens
How Colony Ridge is swamping taxpayers in the Cleveland ISD which caused it to more than triple in size
The people of Texas “never assented to the creation of a sprawling unincorporated, ungoverned zone.”

And Paxton didn’t even address Colony Ridge flooding!

Colony Ridge Drainage — *For everyone who wants to own an Island Home. New Year’s Day of 2021.*

For More On Colony Ridge

Consult this post – History of Heartbreak: A Colony Ridge Chronicle. It contains links to more than 75 previous posts with hundreds of photos taken on the ground and in the air. Scanning through them will make you wonder whether Paxton was too kind!

A development that didn’t exist 15 years ago is now 50% bigger than Manhattan … with hardly any flood control, fire hydrants, or police presence.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/20/25

3005 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Northpark Contractors Begin Mobilizing for Bridge Construction

11/17/25 – Contractors for the Northpark Drive expansion project have officially begun mobilizing to build the bridge that will go over the UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) Tracks and Loop 494. This morning, I received notice that a piece of equipment called a “Kelly Bar” arrived at the job site. It will be used to drill 100-foot deep piers for the bridge.

ChatGPT says, “A telescopic Kelly bar is made of nested, hollow, steel tubes of successively smaller diameter which slide within one another, allowing the overall length to extend or retract depending on drilling depth.”

Think of an extension pole that can reach the extreme depths needed to support a bridge that will carry heavy loads.

*Kelly bar being hoisted off transport truck* *will be used for hydro-excavation.*

At the monthly meeting of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 on 11/13/2025, Project Manager Ralph De Leon described next steps on the project.

Bridge Construction Will Likely Start on West Side of Loop 494

Contractors will likely start building the bridge on the west side of Loop 494 and work their way east. That’s because UPRR needs to move an electrical line that powers their railroad traffic signals. The line will move to a new pole just north (left) of the junction box shown below. The old pole is in the way of new surface turn lanes that will carry westbound traffic.

*Before traffic can be rerouted to new surface lanes that will be built on the left, electricity for the RR signals must move from the old vine-covered pole to another one out of frame on the left.*

Note how traffic swerves right in the photo above. Until that pole moves, traffic must use the old surface lanes, which are in the bridge’s path.

Said De Leon, “So, we cannot build our feeder roads. The goal was to put everybody on the outside lanes to create an opening in the middle for the bridge.”

So, instead of building the bridge starting east of the tracks, contractors will likely start on the west where barriers to rerouting traffic do not currently exist.

*Looking west from Loop 494. Note how new eastbound pavement on left is mostly complete.*

Eastbound Surface Lanes Close to Concrete Pours

De Leon said contractors could finish the eastbound lanes between Loop 494 and US59 as early as Friday, 11/22/25. That would let contractors tear out the old eastbound lanes and create room to start building the bridge in the middle – independent of what UPRR does with the electricity for its crossing signals.

East of Loop 494, those eastbound surface lanes on the south side of Northpark are also nearing completion. Subsurface prep appears to be complete or nearly so.

*Looking east toward Russell Palmer from in front of Dunkin’. Note the asphalt in the new lanes on the right.*

Concrete comes next. “Once they finish that section, you’ll be able to drive on the new lanes on the south side all the way down past Russell Palmer. So, we’re close to getting everybody out of the middle on the eastbound lanes,” said De Leon. In other news…

Drainage Junction Boxes by UPRR Tracks Half Done

One of the two giant junction boxes by the UPRR tracks is now virtually complete. The boxes are the last link that will carry drainage from west of 494 to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.

Junction box cast in place west of UPRR tracks. The huge opening on the front will connect to a culvert coming under Loop 494. The back of the box (top of frame) is already connected to twin 5′ culverts under the tracks.

Once work on this junction box is complete, contractors can finish Loop 494 paving according to De Leon. “So, then 494 will have a broader cross-section. That’ll be great,” he said. Note how the junction box currently constricts 494 traffic in the photo below.

*Looking S along Loop 494 where Northpark crosses L to R.*

Meanwhile, work is just beginning on the box east of Loop 494 where boring started.

*Junction box east of tracks. Note twin culverts, concrete floor, and contractors erecting rebar for side walls.*

Focus on Driveway Construction

De Leon also discussed the status of business driveways that branch off Northpark. “If you’re going westbound from that new Chevron station near the Diversion Ditch, all those driveways are still blocked out. They have to finish those driveways. And that will keep them busy for a couple of months.” There are a lot of businesses! See the barriers below.

*Looking W from Russell Palmer Drive at driveway construction.*

For More Information

See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 website for Project 1013.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/17/25

3002 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Median Madness Volunteers De-Vine Another Section of Northpark

11/16/25 – Dozens of Kingwood volunteers – young and old – turned out yesterday for Round 4 of Median Madness. Armed with lopping shears, muscle, determination and smiles, they de-vined another section of Northpark Drive just east of West Lake Houston Parkway.

They cut, pulled and stacked mountains of vines that had been creeping out into traffic and reducing visibility. City of Houston Parks Dept. and HPD assisted the effort organized by City Council Member Fred Flickinger’s District E office.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

The work was exhausting, but fun. In a matter of hours, an ad hoc group of volunteers eliminated an eyesore and helped restore one of the worst sections on one of the major arteries in Kingwood. The pictures below tell the story.

*The registration team from City Council Member Fred Flickingers District E office.*

*City Council Member Fred Flickinger set the tone for the Vine-Wrestling Championship.*

In the end, the vines were no match for the volunteers…

…or the Houston Parks Department.

Many thanks to the sponsors: Chick-Fil-A, Trees for Kingwood and Houston Parks Department. Also to Council Member Fred Flickinger for organizing the event. And let’s not forget HPD who kept the volunteers safe from traffic as they worked.

Finally, thanks also to all the Greenbelt Guardians, who were well represented.

The Result

The volunteers proved once again that making a difference can be fun and rewarding.

I took the shot below this morning. A day after the event, no more vines or branches were intruding on the roadway! As one of the volunteers said, “I’m so proud of our team! Citizens 1. Ugly Vines 0.”

She can’t wait for the Median Madness Round 5. “This is the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/16/25

3001 Days since Hurricane Harvey

What Have We Accomplished and Learned in 3000 Days Since Harvey?

11/15/2025 – Today marks 3000 days since Hurricane Harvey – 8.2 years.

In that time, I’ve researched and written 2,941 articles about flooding that have been read 2,737,740 times.

Those articles contained 1,989,909 words (not counting this one). That roughly equals 25 novels.

I’ve also shot 63,526 photos to support that work.

Before I run out of Coke Zeros and power bars, I’d like to look back and ask:

What have we accomplished since Harvey?
What have we learned that can reduce future flooding?

What We Have Accomplished

I asked Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) for a table showing how many structures have been removed from floodplains since Harvey and where. I wanted to show how much we have gotten for our tax dollars.

Unfortunately, they didn’t provide me with exact information requested. Instead, they referred me to two pages on their website.

One showed general areas where they were buying out homes. It provided a round number for the number of buyouts to date: 3,000. But they have 5,000 remaining to close on. Total cost for 8,000: $1 billion dollars. Prorated cost for 3000: $375 million. They never did tell me how many were in each watershed.

The other link led to a list of completed mitigation projects. It showed we’ve spent $1.7 billion to date. But as far as I could see, only a couple of the project summaries linked to the spending page disclosed how many homes were removed from floodplains. That adds another 900 homes. Now, we’re up to 3,900.

But how much did we spend on them? They list conflicting information on different pages. The second page shows $400 million more than reported on the first page, for a total of $2.1 billion. Both are dated October, 2025.

So, for each reported home that HCFCD has removed from floodplains since Harvey, they’ve spent somewhere between $436,000 and $538,000.

In fairness, most of the projects completed to date do not involve construction. Said another way, we’ve spent a lot of money preparing for construction on other projects with preliminary studies and right-of-way acquisition. It could also be that the summaries of some projects simply did not list their benefits.

But of the 41 total projects completed to date, it appears that only a handful involved actual construction that removes homes from floodplains.

What Have We Learned?

So what can we deduce from those observations?

It costs far more to remove homes from floodplains than they are worth in most cases.

After floods, private profit turns into public cost. Wouldn’t it be much more cost effective to just:

Not build homes and businesses in risky floodplains or elevate them?
Teach people how to avoid flood risk and give them the tools to do so?
Unify floodplain standards throughout the region, so people downstream don’t bear the brunt of insufficient mitigation upstream?
Actually enforce those floodplain standards instead of looking the other way?
Turn those floodplains into parks that support recreation, healthier lifestyles and home values in adjacent neighborhoods?
Stay involved in mitigation efforts after a flood instead of pretending the next flood is a 100-years away?

So far, we’ve spent a little more than $2 billion to prevent another Harvey. But the storm cost $125 billion. Let’s not forget that. That’s the last lesson.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/15/25

3,000 Days since Hurricane Harvey

New Floodplain Maps Remain Secret For Now – At Least in Harris County

11/14/25 – Both Harris County Commissioners Court and the San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group agreed yesterday to keep new, updated Harris County floodplain maps secret from the public. They accepted Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) explanation that they couldn’t release the maps until FEMA finished vetting them…a process that has gone years longer than scheduled and could drag on for years more. Neither group:

Asked for an explanation of what was taking FEMA so long
Asked how withholding the maps could negatively impact Harris County residents
Pointed to any FEMA regulations requiring that FEMA must release information first
Agreed to pressure FEMA to speed up the vetting process
Addressed why local authorities elsewhere are releasing updated maps before FEMA.

However, a spokesperson for HCFCD insisted after the meetings that HCFCD had a contract with FEMA that prohibited HCFCD from releasing maps paid for with taxpayer money. However, she could not immediately produce the contract for this post.

Other Areas in Texas Released Updated Maps Ahead of FEMA

Other authorities elsewhere seem to have no trouble releasing their updated maps based on Atlas 14. Take the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), for instance. They have posted a DRAFT floodplain viewer since 2022 with disclaimers, even though FEMA has not yet released its versions of the maps.

*Screen capture on 11/14/25*. *Site also contains disclaimer.*

The SARA maps even show the 30-year chance-of-flooding to help mortgage applicants understand their flood risk.

*San Antonio River Authority Draft Floodplain Viewer showing 30-year flood risk.*

Williamson County (Georgetown/Round Rock) also has released its Atlas-14-based floodplain maps ahead of FEMA. The maps feature a slider that lets you compare the extent of old and new floodplains.

*11/14/25 Screen capture of old/new floodplain comparison in Williamson County’s draft viewer.*

So, it is possible to release new maps ahead of FEMA. No regulations that I can find prohibit it. If Harris County’s contract prohibits it, I will do a followup post when HCFCD produces the contract.

San Jacinto River Flood Planning Group Decides Not to Press Map Update Issue

The San Jacinto River Flood Planning Group (RFPG) met yesterday. Among other things, they voted on a progress report for the Texas Water Development Board that showed their work to date on the next iteration of the state flood plan.

Their interim report identified floodplain expansion everywhere in the river basin except Harris County.

That’s because maps for Harris County were redacted at the request of HCFCD. And that generated a lot of discussion.

One member of the committee said, “We have omitted mapping within Harris County as part of this tech memo deliverable, since that’s posted to the public.” [Emphasis added.] That same member later added, “Not incorporating that maybe oversimplifies or otherwise misleads the general audience.” That member proposed updating the maps before submitting the report to TWDB.

However, instead, the committee decided to simply edit text to remove FEMA’s delivery date for the new maps which HCFCD claims FEMA has repeatedly missed.

“It’s not a change to technical content or substantive content, it’s just going to be how it narrates,” another member said.

The committee also discussed applying political pressure on FEMA to release the maps, but decided not to.

Harris County Commissioners Court Takes No Action on Map Updates

Harris County Commissioners Court on 11/13/25 also included a discussion of the status of flood map updates. (See Item 325 on the agenda.)

Commissioner Tom Ramsey kicked off the discussion by saying, “We have known that FEMA is going to, at some point, issue new floodplain maps for Harris County. And we sit here waiting for FEMA to release these.” Later, he said there would be a significant difference in the extent of floodplains. “The existing 500-year floodplain is now going to be the 100.”

Commissioner Adrian Garcia then said, “This is not my first rodeo related to maps.” He continued. “It’s going to be tough enough when FEMA releases the maps on us, because…

“We’re going to find … developers holding properties that now are going to potentially be un-developable.”
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia

Garcia suggested that perhaps the National Association of Counties (NACo) “move this item along because it is in limbo.” Then he added, “The federal government needs to own this. They need to do their part. And then we can work it at the local level.”

Tina Petersen, executive director of HCFCD claimed, “The responsibilities of FEMA have always been clear. They are responsible for releasing the flood insurance rate maps.” While that’s a true statement, FEMA is moving away from basing NFIP insurance rates strictly on flood zones. However, the maps will remain critical for mandatory flood-insurance purchase requirements for federally backed mortgages.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis tried to pin Petersen down by asking if other places were releasing updated flood maps and adding disclaimers like “draft” or “preliminary.”

Petersen dodged the question. Her 55-second response boiled down to, “We believe we are close. We believe it is prudent to wait.”

Petersen also dodged Ellis questions relating to FOIA requests and how much the new maps cost the county.

Commissioner Leslie Briones asked for an update on what FEMA has accomplished in the second half of the year. Petersen replied, “Really, where FEMA is at now is all of the data that has been submitted from the flood control district has been reviewed, and they are currently working to develop the draft flood insurance rate maps.”

Briones concluded the discussion. “We are all in and making sure we’re supporting you so that we can get the information out and work in support as strongly as possible,” she said.

That concluded the discussion. Commissioners took no action. They just moved to the next agenda item.

No Good Answers

In the end, the recognition of higher flood risk could increase flood insurance premiums and make floodplain properties more difficult to develop.

Kicking the can down the road and pointing fingers at FEMA, an agency undergoing radical change, avoids difficult conversations now. But it also exposes Harris County residents to higher flood risk.

See the Harris County Commissioners Court discussion of flood maps at 3:13:36 of this video. The San Jacinto River Flood Planning Group does not publish video of its meetings.

FEMA’s Region 6 Map Division would not confirm when they will release new flood maps for Harris County. They referred me back to HCFCD.

HCFCD has refused to share flood risk information with the County’s own Community Flood Resilience Task Force despite repeated requests since 2021.

And partially as a result, people are building and buying tens of thousands of homes in Harris County floodplains that could flood in the next big storm.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/14/25

2999 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.