One Man’s Struggle Against Rising Floodwaters, Sand Mines and SJRA

8/10/2024 – Sometimes Randy Reagan must feel that he has struggled for most of his adult life against rising floodwaters, sand mines and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA). He has flooded six times in the last nine years. Still, he’s rebuilding on a lot he bought 30 years ago. But he’s doing it differently this time.

May 2024 Flood. Reagan property in background. Note roof of submerged vehicle in foreground.

Erosion of Country Lifestyle

Reagan grew up not far from the San Jacinto West Fork. He remembers a time as a child before Lake Conroe when the river ran clear and teemed with fish.

His wife grew up in the same neighborhood. Her parents were the first settlers in an area that came to be known as Bennett Estates between FM1314 and the San Jacinto West Fork.

They loved living near the river and all the abundant wildlife. So Reagan bought 5.5 acres for $10,000 back in the mid-’90s. He put a mobile home on it and started raising a family. He hunted all the meat his family ate from his own property and the surrounding forests. Life was good.

The 1994 flood was the highest ever in that area. The SJRA released 56,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) from Lake Conroe during the storm. So Reagan elevated his home a foot above the high water mark from that storm and figured he was safe.

But gradually, his dream of peaceful, country living turned sour. In the mid-2000s, two companies started mining sand near his home – one a few blocks north, the other immediately south of his property.

The mines accelerated runoff and erosion. They also changed local drainage patterns in ways that flooded his property.

In the meantime, upstream areas grew, also increasing runoff. And by the time I first met Reagan in early 2020, his property had flooded five times in four years. The worst: Harvey in 2017. Ninety-three inches of water invaded his home. That’s almost 8 feet! See that story here.

Eventually, Reagan tore down the mobil home. Repeat flooding had caused the foundation to shift and destabilized it. He and his wife began living in his workshop or with relatives.

Reagan tried to get a low-interest SBA loan through FEMA to rebuild. But they denied him because he had “let his flood insurance lapse after Harvey.”

“Of course I let it lapse,” said Reagan. “There was nothing left to insure. The home was gone.”

Fast Forward Four Years

The May flood this year swamped his property again after the SJRA opened the gates on Lake Conroe and began releasing 72,000 CFS, the second highest release rate in SJRA history.

Reagan points to high water mark on his shop from May 2024 flood – 52 inches.

Only Harvey exceeded that rate. SJRA released 79,000 CFS in 2017 during Harvey.

Since then, Reagan began planning his comeback against Mother Nature, the sand mines and SJRA.

His dream now is to build a foundation for a new home up 10 feet above the original level of the land. That would make the land higher than the Harvey high-water mark.

Then he wants to build a new home up on stilts, another ten feet above the elevated foundation. It would be elevated 20 feet above his first home on the property and more than 10 feet above Harvey. Hopefully, that will keep him safe for a few years.

The retired oil-field worker and bull rider is looking at designs from UB Homes. He also hired a MoCo excavation company, Graham Land Services, to excavate a pond at the back of the property.

Dirt from pond excavation (background) is being used to build up home pad (foreground).

Dirt from the pond is building up the foundation where his new home will go.

Pros and Cons of Rebuilding in Location that Floods

On the plus side:

  • Mining behind his property has ceased. He now has a 42-acre pond behind him. No one will ever build behind him and spoil his view.
  • He can still hunt on his property.
  • Despite the flooding, property values have appreciated. Not far away, a home recently went up for sale at $1.4 million.
  • Development in surrounding areas has brought shopping, services and hospitals closer to home without changing his country-living atmosphere.
  • The May flood deposited fish in Reagan’s pond, which are now thriving.
Randy Reagan property lower right.

On the minus side:

  • All the tractor work has taken a toll on Reagan’s aging body. He complains of aching joints and bulging disks in his back and neck. He’s also fighting knee and shoulder pain from a lifetime of backbreaking work in the oil fields and on his property.
  • He wishes SJRA would pre-release water from Lake Conroe at much slower rates in advance of major storms, but has little hope that they will. “This May flood could have been totally avoided if they would have let water out sooner,” said Reagan. “SJRA needs to start operating the Lake Conroe Dam a lot better than what they’re doing.”
  • Reagan feels SJRA places Lake Conroe recreation above the protection of downstream property.
  • He feels he would have to move north of Huntsville to find the kind of flood-safe country living he once enjoyed. “It’s hard to get a piece of country living anymore in Montgomery County. It’s all going away,” said Reagan.

A Pioneer Spirit

Reagan typifies the struggle many Houstonians feel. He loves nature and living near water – until floods exact their terrible price. Still, he returns. To fight for a life he loves.

Reagan takes a break from moving in front of the property being raised for a new home.

I admire the fact that he’s not waiting for others to protect him from the ravages of West Fork flooding. By elevating his property and home, he’s protecting himself and his family.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/10/24

2538 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Inventorying Channel Blockages Could Help HCFCD

8/9/24 – Here’s an unsolicited idea that could help improve efficiency of the Beryl recovery process: inventorying channel blockages in your area. Then supply Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) with a comprehensive, consolidated list. It could save them time when time is critical as we head into the peak of hurricane season.

HCFCD maintains more than 2,500 miles of bayous, creeks and manmade drainage channels, along with dozens of large stormwater detention basins across Harris County. And damage from Beryl has affected the entire county. Reportedly, the extent of the damage has HCFCD maintenance staff stretched to the max.

Implications for Maintenance

Maintenance has reportedly become HCFCD’s major focus of activity at the moment. No one has bandwidth to spare. So, this may be one of those times when citizens can help. Not by cleaning out ditches and streams themselves; that’s dangerous. But by reporting problems more efficiently and effectively.

Rather than having five different people report five different blockages on the same stream at five different times, so crews make five trips, perhaps one, consolidated report would help.

A consolidated report could:

  • Reduce the number of phone calls and emails to process, track and respond to
  • Help prioritize the hardest hit areas
  • Reduce the number of repeat trips to a single area
  • Make scheduling crews easier
  • Improve response time
  • Reduce flooding from blockages that may not have been reported.

How to Report Problems

Last week, I posted about ways to direct HCFCD to problems quickly, especially when street addresses might not apply. For instance, consider creeks that cut through greenbelt trails.

About that time, Chris Bloch, a board member of the Bear Branch Trail Association (BBTA), sent me a dozen photos of blocked streams within his association.

He had reported them all to HCFCD simultaneously in one consolidated request. That inspired the idea for this post.

I’m sure flood control would like your help identifying blockages any way they can get it, whether requests are individual or consolidated. As a former business owner, I always looked for ways to operate more efficiently. This could be one of those times. Collectively, we have a simple way to help.

Walk your greenbelts looking for problems. Then produce a thorough, consolidated report that identifies channel numbers and locations, and submit it to HCFCD:

Contact hcfcd.org/service-request or 346-286-4197

Consolidated List Could Improve Efficiency

The Lake Houston Area has dozens, if not hundreds of community and trail associations that could help with this task.

So thousands of different HCFCD trips could be greatly reduced.

Below are five photos submitted by Bloch from among many more taken on the six miles of channels within BBTA’s boundaries. They come from ONE stretch of ONE creek. And Bloch reported them all at ONCE.

Calling on All HOAs and Trail Associations

Each blockage shown above could catch other trees floating downstream in future storms and create log jams that back water up and flood neighborhoods. They are invisible from the air, hidden by the dense tree canopy.

To help ensure blockages get addressed ASAP, every trail or community association should consider submitting a consolidated list of issues within their respective areas.

Walking 2,500 miles of channels is like walking across America. It ain’t easy.

Think how much time consolidated inventorying of channel blockages could save HCFCD staff who are already stretched thin.

Please share this post with your HOA and Trail Association board members in your area. Perhaps they can help identify volunteers, which may include scouts eager to earn hiking, photography community service and mapping merit badges.

2537 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 30 since Beryl

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/9/24

Northpark Drive Expansion Project Overcoming Hurdles

8/8/24 – In the last year, the Northpark Drive expansion project hit several snags. But one by one, project partners seem to be overcoming the hurdles.

Contractors discovered utility poles and gas lines in their way. Permits to bore under the railroad and bridge over it took longer than expected. Delays forced changes in plans to keep crews busy. And eventually, when project managers ran out of alternative options, contractors had to shift crews to other jobs.

After months of delays that hampered progress, hope is finally on the horizon.

Paving the Way for Faster Progress

The pace of construction could soon accelerate again.

  • CenterPoint has moved all of its facilities east of Loop 494 and only a few conflicts are left west of 494.
  • Entergy is almost done removing its east-to-west poles at Northpark/494. This will let contractors complete the storm water drainage system, construct new feeder roads, and build at-grade vehicle crossings over the rail tracks. 
  • Comcast, Tachus, AT&T, PS Lightwave, MCI, Optimum, BrightSpeed, and Crown Castle have either finished relocating their facilities, submitted relocation plans under review at the City, or received Permits for relocation. In the last case, they have also provided schedules to the TIRZ
  • A new water main will allow service to be transferred from Porter SUD to City of Houston. This same water main also serves the newly installed fire hydrants along Northpark. 
  • Contractors and UnionPacific have resolved right-of-way issues. Work should start on the rail crossings later this year. 
  • Project managers have acquired additional rights of way from private property owners
  • Alternate plans are in place for rerouting traffic
  • Entergy has submitted Plans for permits that will let them bury their power lines west of 494 and underneath the railroad tracks  on Northpark Drive.

Most of these changes, while barely visible, are highly critical.

Improved Working Relationship with Entergy

Project Manager Ralph De Leon predicts motorists could soon see visible progress. Brian Garcia, Entergy’s customer service manager, agrees.

Both men cite an improved working relationship. Weekly meetings between their teams have reportedly resolved most technical, permitting, and scheduling issues.

Next Steps

Harper brothers has finished burying culvert down the center of Northpark. Now the company will begin installing culvert on the north side of the street westward. It will eventually connect to the system at Self-U-Storage.

Looking west at extent of culvert installation. From here, culvert will move north/right to make room for surface turn lanes and a bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494.

The next leg will go under the railroad tracks and Loop 494. It will  connect the eastern and western sections of the storm water drainage system.  

In general, the next major steps for the Northpark Drive Expansion include:

  • Shifting westbound traffic toward the center
  • Burying drainage culverts on the north side of the street.
  • Building permanent access roads on the north.
  • Shifting traffic back to the permanent lanes.

Keep your fingers and tire jacks crossed. Working out many of these unforeseen issues delayed the project 188 days so far. The delays also forced Harper Brothers Construction to divert some of its crews to other jobs to keep them busy.

Photos of Work to Date and In Progress

Crews today worked on bringing power to new, temporary traffic signal locations.

Crews worked on three of the four corners of Northpark and Loop 494. Old power lines on the fourth corner (lower right) were previously de-energized and poles topped. Comcast will reportedly move its cable on those poles next week.
Crews are also spreading and compacting dirt over installed culverts. (Looking W toward US59)
Ditto in the opposite direction. Looking east toward Diversion Ditch.

Upcoming Construction Schedule

To look ahead at planned Northpark Drive expansion activities for the next few weeks, see a schedule on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project page.

For More Information

For more information about Northpark Drive expansion and a history of the project, see these posts on ReduceFlooding.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/24

2536 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.

GLO Rebuilds Its 2000th Home in Houston, Harris County

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has rebuilt its 2000th home – in Houston and Harris County alone – since Hurricane Harvey. Many more projects are under construction or in the approval process here and in other counties throughout Texas..

Dawn Buckingham MD, GLO Commissioner congratulates the homeowners (center) as she turns over the key. Builder is on left.

GLO rebuilt the home through its Homeowner Assistance Programs (HAP) as part of ongoing recovery efforts. One of the GLO’s missions is to restore and rebuild communities across Texas after natural disasters. Just last year, GLO celebrated the rebuilding of 1000 homes in Houston/Harris County.

Rebuilding Lives, Not Just Homes

The GLO certainly isn’t resting on its laurels. Buckingham said, “This milestone represents more than just a number. It reflects the dedication and hard work of the GLO’s disaster recovery team and our commitment to helping Texas families rebuild their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and other disasters. 

Buckingham (Left) and Mike Nichols (Right), new director of Houston Housing and Community Development, tour new home with ecstatic owners, Argelis and James Sapio (Center).

Hurricane Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program

The GLO’s Homeowner Assistance Program is funded by $2 billion in Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program helps homeowners repair, rebuild, and, in some cases, elevate their homes to mitigate future flood risks. 

Army Vet and Teacher

The homeowners, James and Argelis Sapio, have been married 47 years and lived in the same house for 27 of those. A U.S. Army veteran, James served in war zones around the world starting in Vietnam and ending in Eastern Europe. Argelis, taught at a neighborhood elementary school

They loved their home and the location. But it flooded repeatedly with increasing frequency. Over time, the flooding got worse as neighbors built their lots up. Reportedly illegal dumping also complicated flooding issues when it backed water up in ditches. The final straw was Hurricane Harvey. A foot of floodwater invaded the Sapio’s home.

They persisted through a daunting application for aid that the GLO, HUD and City are trying to streamline. Four months ago, construction of a new home started on their old lot. The elevated design should make them safe from flooding. It includes ramps to make access easier.

The 2000th home. Note elevation and ramp.

Said Argelis (with a smile), “Now the only thing we have to worry about is elevating our cars.”

Construction took four months. During that time, the couple lived in motels. They were so eager to move in, they weren’t going to wait for the movers. Argelis said they were going to bring a mattress in tonight and sleep on the floor if they had to.

Ongoing Commitment to Disaster Recovery

Altogether, the GLO has rebuilt more than 8,000 homes in 49 counties designated eligible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

Commissioner Buckingham reaffirmed the agency’s ongoing dedication to disaster recovery and preparedness as the GLO celebrates this achievement. “The GLO remains steadfast in supporting Texans as they rebuild and recover,” said Buckingham. “Together, we will continue to work towards a more resilient Texas.”

For a one-minute YouTube video of the ceremony and tour of the house, click here.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/24

2535 Days since Hurricane Harvey

West Fork Still Running Through Sand Pits

8/6/24 – During Beryl in July, the San Jacinto West Fork continued to run through at least three abandoned sand pits. Mining companies still own two. A third has been sold to a residential developer for unknown purposes.

The river captured the pits earlier this year. “River capture” is a term used by geologists when floodwater breaks through a dike on one side of a pit and then bursts out the opposite site. That effectively reroutes the river. The phenomenon usually takes place in pits on a point bar and shortens the distance water must travel around them.

Sold by Hallett to Riverwalk Porter LLC

Hallett sold a 200-acre pit on the west side of the San Jacinto West Fork to Riverwalk Porter LLC shortly before the January floods this year. It was great timing for Hallett; not so great for the developer. See below.

West Fork, upper left, enters a 200-acre pit (left) that Hallett sold to Riverwalk Porter LLC shortly before the pit capture. Note how the normal riverbed is now blocked by sand. 8/6/24.
At the south end of the same pit, the river re-enters its normal channel. 8/6/24.

If Riverwalk Porter LLC planned to use this pit for stormwater detention, that will no longer work. They would be pumping water directly into the river.

Second Pit Still Owned by Hallett

A little farther north, the river cuts through another pit. Hallett still owns this one. The southern end of this pit (bottom of frame below) was left open for years until the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) made Hallett fix it.

Now it’s open again…but on two sides. And the TCEQ has not yet taken action. I first observed this opening after May floods.’

Looking North. West Fork now cuts straight through the pit rather than going around it via its normal channel. 8/6/24.
Closer shot of bypassed channel at same pit. 8/6/24.

Williams Brother Pit

Just south of White Sands Drive in Porter, Williams Brothers abandoned a pit after Harvey. The company still owns the property. However they show no signs of re-establishing an eroded dike.

A narrow berm used to seal the pit off from the river at the top of the frame. The berm eroded during January floods then disappeared in May floods this year.

With the river now flowing into the mine, it is starting to erode a channel out of the mine.

Williams Brothers Mine after Beryl. Photo taken 7/9/24. River flows toward foreground.

In fairness, when the river is lower, the channel in the foreground does not yet convey water all the way back to the river.

Abandoned Pits Becoming Bigger Problem

At least four other companies have abandoned pits on the West Fork in recent years that represent potential issues:

What to Do?

I’ve been talking lately to residents neighboring these facilities. They worry about flooding related to the mines and how that can undermine their property values.

One resident that I interviewed today talked about growing up on the river before Lake Conroe, sand mining and his property flooding. He talked about clear water, abundant fish and plentiful wildlife.

I’ve been researching best practices for sand-mine abandonment and have some thoughts that I will share on the subject in coming days. I’m not sure we can get back to the way it was in the 1960s, but we can definitely do better. Check back in the coming days.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2024

2534 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 29 since Beryl

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.

HCFCD Releases Final Report on Hurricane Beryl

8/5/24 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has released its final report on Hurricane Beryl. The amazingly detailed, fact-filled, 30-page report by Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, covers the storm’s origins, rainfall, storm surge, high-water marks, wind speeds, flooding, and more for locations throughout the County.

Every sentence contains nuggets of information that you can use to amaze your friends, relatives in other states, and insurance agents.

Wind Speeds Up to 99 MPH

I’m not joking about insurance agents. One homeowner told me an adjuster denied her claim based on the fact that the wind was “only 37 MPH.” This report shows both average wind speeds and gusts. According to the official report, peak gusts in the Lake Houston Area were 69 MPH – almost double what the adjuster said.

Kyle Field at Texas A&M recorded the highest gust – 99 MPH.

Highest Storm Surge since Ike

Have a home near the shore? You may be interested to know that Beryl produced the highest storm surge since Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Storm surge averaged 5-7 feet above ground level along the coast, near the west side of Galveston Bay, Clear Lake, and the lower San Jacinto.

Water levels at the ship-channel turning basin reached 9 feet above ground level.

The high surge levels are likely the result of freshwater descending in watersheds as wind drove seawater into the upper portions of the ship channel.

Rainfall Intensity

Rainfall intensity was very high in places at times.

The Houston Transtar Center in the Buffalo Bayou watershed received 9.9 inches in 6 hours. There’s only a 2% annual chance of that (meaning it was a 50-year rainfall at that location). Transtar also received the highest 24-hour total – 12 inches (a 4% annual chance or 25-year total).

Out of 193 gages, 82 (42%) recorded an inch of rainfall in 15 minutes.

Rainfall Totals

Rainfall totals were less impressive due largely to the speed of the storm.

Most of the county received 24-hour totals of 6-9 inches. Higher totals generally fell south of I-10.

Six-hour rainfall amounts averaged 4-7 inches across most of the county.

Rainfall rates on the Atlas 14 chart for both 6- and 12-hour periods generally fell between 2- and 10-year events.

24-Hour Rainfall Totals during Beryl. HCFCD report also contains totals from shorter time periods.

The report noted that storms before Beryl had left the ground highly saturated. That increased runoff.

Only 10 Homes in County Flooded

Channel flooding was moderate. Approximately 10 structures flooded throughout the county. All suffered flooding in the past. They were built in areas with very low elevations.

Forty out of 193 gages reached or exceeded “flooding-likely” levels. That means the channels were full to the top of their banks.

Had the storm moved slower, Beryl could have been a very different story!

Other Damage

Power outages that resulted from high winds blowing trees into power lines created by far the largest impact to infrastructure.

2.26 million homes lost power – some for up to 11 days. The Lake Houston Area was among the hardest hit because of the dense forests here. The density adds a degree of difficult for both maintenance and repair crews.

Note uprooted tree to left of bend in trail still leaning over power lines in Kings Forest. Photo taken 8/4/24.

Twenty-eight days after the storm, dead trees and limbs still clog streets and lean on power lines.

Intense rainfall occasionally caused flooding of streets and roadways. Portions of SH288, I-10 and I-45 flooded and became impassable at times.

Beaches eroded along most of the upper Texas Coast. High tides and storm surge overtopped and destroyed entire dune systems.

Beryl also damaged coastal roadways, beach access walkways, and private as well as public properties.

High-Water Marks

A table on page 30 compares the high-water marks at dozens of locations with those from previous storms dating, in some cases, back to 1973.

At Clear Creek and I-45, Beryl flooding reached almost as high as Tropical Storm Allison (7.7 feet in Beryl vs. 7.8 feet in Allison).

HCFCD did not record any high-water marks in the Lake Houston Area.

Deaths

As of July 31, Hurricane Beryl had directly caused five deaths in Harris County: three from drowning, two from falling trees.

Additionally, the County recorded 13 indirect deaths: eight heat related, five recovery related.

The report notes that Beryl continues a recent trend of more fatalities occurring in the aftermath of landfalling storms than from the storms themselves.

I’m not quite sure what to infer from that. Is our preparation for flooding getting better? Or is our infrastructure maintenance getting worse?

For More Information

To read the full Final Report on Hurricane Beryl, click here. You can compare reports on other major storms here.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/24

2533 days since Hurricane Harvey and 28 since Beryl

Many Eager to Discuss CenterPoint Power Outage Issues

8/4/24 – Yesterday’s post about power disruptions due to “tree touches” drew of flood of responses from all parts of the Lake Houston Area. Many were eager to meet with CenterPoint face-to-face and discuss grievances going back decades.

Among the many responses, one stood out. Chris Bloch, a Bear Branch Trail Association (BBTA) board member, provided a detailed list of problems that his association encounters when trying to work with the company.

I have lightly edited Bloch’s letter for brevity without changing any thoughts. It shows the lengths our unpaid volunteers go to in order to serve their community. I took all photos below today on BBTA property to illustrate the issues Bloch talks about.

Bob,

The Bear Branch Trail Association property has many power line easements crossing it. In each of the last three years, CenterPoint has had contractors on BBTA property cutting back vegetation. I do not know about other trail associations, but CenterPoint has actively tried to manage their right of way (ROW) through BBTA property.

In all cases, CenterPoint contractors cut back vegetation at a greater width than the CenterPoint easement. We have not objected to that practice as long as it is within reason. But we have encountered several other persistent problems.

Not Removing Debris

In numerous cases, we have identified trees on BBTA property leaning toward power line easements. In some cases, CenterPoint, has taken down the trees, but it is their policy not to remove the debris. We have had to bear the cost of removal or leave it to rot. If the tree is in a highly visible area, we pay to have it removed.

CenterPoint easement through BBTA property behind the Kings Forest Pool. Note debris left behind and tree still leaning over pole.

Working Near Power Lines

At other times, CenterPoint feels BBTA should hire contractors to remove trees near power lines. BBTA contractors are highly qualified and professional, but they often refuse to remove trees near power lines. They fear for their safety. (See photo above.) As we work through these issues, delays can expose the public to higher risk of power outages.

Taking Out the Trash

We also have had a consistent problem with CenterPoint contractors leaving ROW debris on BBTA property.

We document these instances with photos and complain to CenterPoint. They respond by claiming their contractors should have removed the debris.

CenterPoint usually asks us to document locations. Eventually contractors may return to remove debris. But…

We do not feel we should have to supervise CenterPoint contractors. CenterPoint should have their own inspectors monitor contractors’ work.

Chris Bloch, BBTA Board Member
BBTA trail behind Kings Forest Pool

Homeowner Reporting Issues

We actively monitor power line rights of way to identify problems. And we notify CenterPoint when we find them. We feel it’s part of our responsibility. But their own contractors do not seem to report issues to CenterPoint.

And unfortunately, we do not see all the problems. Many originate on adjoining homeowner properties. In my opinion, nearly half of power line damages start there. I suspect the vast majority of homeowners do not report problem trees. And if they did, they would likely not volunteer to have trees removed at their own expense.

Whose Job Is It?

CenterPoint seems to avoid removing trees that threaten power lines if they are not on the CenterPoint ROW. This contributes to the number of trees that fall on power lines.

Giving Notice

And CenterPoint rarely advises us when accessing their right of way through our trails.

CenterPoint often uses BBTA trails to access downed power lines in many locations. (See below.) Their heavy equipment has damaged trails, left deep ruts and created unsightly holes in underbrush. In one case, they even ran over saplings newly planted by students.

Equipment cut across trail and through underbrush to get to Centerpoint easement.

Refusing to Pay for Most Damages

But CenterPoint has refused to pay to repair the damage. They say their out of state contractors are responsible.

BBTA has threatened to sue CenterPoint, but eventually BBTA usually bears the cost of replacing damaged trails.

To reduce this chronic problem, we have now upgraded our specifications for trail repairs to make trails stronger.

In the past, when CenterPoint damaged trees on BBTA property, they donated replacement trees. That’s good. We hope they will respond the same way this time.

Better Management Approach Needed…All Around


Damage to power infrastructure can be much better managed. But it will take a more cooperative approach between CenterPoint, Trail Associations, and Homeowner Associations.

CenterPoint isn’t the only utility that we occasionally grapple with. Comcast damaged greenbelts, too. And it is our understanding that Optimum, Brightspeed and AT&T all plan fiberoptic installations in the near future.

We look forward to resolving these conflicts in a way that benefits all parties.

Chris Bloch

Bear Branch Trail Association Board Member

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/24

2532 days since Hurricane Harvey and 27 since Beryl

Planning a Better, Faster Recovery from the Next Storm

8/3/24 – Yesterday was a start. Kingwood residents and political leaders met in several areas hard hit by Hurricane Beryl to discuss ways to improve recovery efforts. The idea: to start a dialog about steps that Houston Public Works, CenterPoint, community leaders, and residents can take together to reduce disruptions from future flooding and power outages.

Connectedness of Issues and Domino Effects

The recovery discussions took place on streets still clogged with debris that were near power line corridors, greenbelt trails, a school and two sewage “lift stations.”

Centerpoint representative addresses group including Houston City Council Members Fred Flickinger (center) and Twila Carter (right); State Rep. Charles Cunningham (upper right); and Dee Price, KSA President (striped shirt).

Lift stations pump sewage uphill to treatment plants. When treatment plants are downhill, gravity does the work – a much more reliable solution. Without power, or when flooded, sewage from the lift stations can back up into people’s homes and overflow.

The City of Houston has hundreds of such lift stations. And during Beryl, Houston Public works shuttled backup generators back and forth between them. They tried to buy enough time to keep the lift stations from backing up and overflowing.

Unfortunately, the shuttling didn’t work in parts of Woodstream Village. There, residents talked about backed up sewage flowing from homes into streets and then Lake Houston.

Chris Kalman, Woodstream resident, talked about how problems are becoming progressively worse. “Centerpoint was awfully quiet when asked about repeated power outages in this area going on 18-plus years now. No real answer.”

The solution, according to a Public Works spokesperson Greg Eyerly, is to buy more generators. But that could take years in a city struggling with other urgent budget issues. And recovery can’t wait.

Cambio (left), State Rep. Cunningham (center) and Eyerly (right) discussing lift stations in Woodstream.

Preventing/Reducing Outages

Related recovery discussions about preventing or reducing power outages took place throughout the morning. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s final 2004 report on Utility Vegetation Management, “tree touches” are generally cited as the single largest cause of electric power outages. They occur when trees, or portions of trees, grow or fall into overhead power lines.

In Kingwood, trees have grown up under or around power lines in many places. In fact, many residents have commented that if not for recent Beryl-related trimming, they would’t even have known power lines were there.

Trees touching power lines near Deerwood Elementary where group first gathered yesterday. Power to nearby residents was out for 9.5 days after Beryl.

Unfortunately, from a recovery/electric reliability point of view, Kingwood is in a region that experiences frequent high winds and heavy rainfall. The heavy rainfall supports fast growth of tall trees. And frequent high winds push those trees into power lines.

So another major focus of recovery discussions included:

  • CenterPoint vegetation management practices, especially maintenance intervals (which they avoided disclosing)
  • Trees that fall from trail association property onto CenterPoint power lines
  • Removal of debris that can clog storm sewers
  • Who is responsible for what
  • How one group’s performance or lack thereof can affect electric reliability and related issues for others.

Need for a New Approach Involving Trail and Community Associations

At-Large City Council Member Twila Carter said, “CenterPoint must have a collective conversation, resulting in a plan with KSA, the HOAs and Trail Associations to address maintenance. The thoughts of “In the past, that’s the way we’ve always done it,” or “the way it’s always been” no longer work for this community. We need to address the community as it is today, not how it was planned 50 years ago.”

District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger said, “A meeting between the trail associations and CenterPoint will make a significant difference. It was the best thing to come out of today.”

Flickinger was referring to a discussion with Dee Price, KSA President. Price agreed to set up a meeting with Kingwood trail associations, community associations, CenterPoint and the council members.

Flickinger continued, “There has to be significantly more aggressive vegetation management in the future.”

Kaaren Cambio, Dan Crenshaw’s assistant, explained how the homeowner and trail associations around Lake Conroe regularly inspect resident properties for trees and branches that threaten power lines. She said they send letters to residents requiring them to take down such trees or trim them back.

CenterPoint can trim back limbs and trees that encroach on their easements. But CenterPoint cannot take down trees on private property. That includes trail association property. So recovery needs to be a cooperative effort.

Chris Bloch, a long-time Bear Branch Trail Association (BBTA) Board Member, was not at the meeting, but observed, “The number of trees and limbs that fell during Beryl was easily 2X+ what we had during Ike. I attribute this to two summers of drought which stressed the trees and then an exceptionally wet spring.”

Costs of Burying Power Lines Not Clear

Flickinger also said, “I’m pushing for more underground electrical lines. I want to see the analysis of the costs. I know it’s expensive, but I believe we are paying for it incrementally every time there is a storm.” Flickinger cited lost wages, the cost of backup generators, debris cleanup, and more.

CenterPoint responded that the costs of burying wires are location specific and the costs of repairing underground cables, when cut, are much higher. However, CenterPoint offered no specifics about the cost of burying power lines in Kingwood.

Impacts on the Elderly and Ill

Cambio also talked extensively about the impact of power outages on hospitals plus nursing and retirement homes.

Many operate in multi-story buildings. Elderly in wheel chairs rely on elevators. But without power, they are trapped. They can’t get up or down stairs to get to doctors. Nor do they have power for dialysis, breathing machines, etc.

Kingwood Hospital had a backup generator. But, reportedly, it was insufficient to power the entire facility.

Cambio recommended changes to state law, requiring hospitals, nursing homes and retirement homes to have sufficient backup-generator power to operate elevators and air conditioning.

The only problem: According to Chris Coulter of Texas Power Agents, such backup generators require regular maintenance. They also require oil and fuel, such as gasoline, which may be hard to find during widespread power outages. After Beryl, the lines I found at functioning gasoline stations stretched for more than a half mile.

Voluntary Best Management Practices May Not Be Enough

I asked Coulter, who was not at yesterday’s roving recovery meeting, for recommendations about how to improve electric reliability.

He immediately focused on vegetation management and tied the growth of vegetation over time with the increasing frequency of power outages.

The FERC report cited above says that utility vegetation management programs represent one of the largest recurring maintenance expenses for electric utility companies in North America.

Coulter jokingly characterized companies like CenterPoint as “tree trimming companies that happen to distribute power.”

“The odds are that every single electric customer in the US and Canada has, at one time or another, experienced a sustained electric outage as a direct result of a tree and power line conflict.”

FERC Report on Utility Vegetation Management, Page 6.

FERC and NERC Guidlines

This FERC report is well written and easy to understand. It makes dozens of common-sense recommendations to improve electric reliability. I recommend it.

Coulter also referred me to NERC, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. NERC describes itself as “… an international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.”

Coulter said that NERC rules recognize different sizes of lines in regard to vegetation management requirements. Heavy fines apply if vegetation is ignored around lines that carry more than 100 kV.

However, lines that carry less power often get neglected – something that hampers recovery.

Coulter said that many of his Kingwood customers told him about seeing several such lines for the first time after Beryl. They didn’t even know the lines were there because they were so badly overgrown!

Said Coulter, “The NERC rules are very specific about frequency and minimum vegetation clearance distances for larger transmission (above 100 kV). Fines are steep so the utilities pay close attention and abide by the rules. However, Kingwood has a large spiderweb of distribution lines that are below that bright-line designation.”

Perhaps the fines need to apply to smaller power lines.

Next Step: Broaden the Discussion

Dee Price is reaching out to trail and community associations to set up a meeting about vegetation management. It will also involve our elected representatives, CenterPoint and Houston Public Works.

At a minimum, I came away from yesterday’s discussions with a feeling that we need to:

  • Raise awareness of vegetation management issues within the community
  • Handle those on private property that could affect electric lines by ourselves
  • Report problems on or near CenterPoint easements that they may not be aware of.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/3/24

2531 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 26 since Beryl

NHC Issues Advisory on Potential Tropical Cyclone 4

8/2/24 5PM – The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued an advisory about Potential Tropical Cyclone 4. It affects people on the west coast of Florida for now. Since yesterday, models have come into closer alignment. There is now a higher degree of certainty that the PTC4 will track up the west coast of Florida, then cut east around Tampa and emerge into the Atlantic.

Current Status and Forecast

Land interaction with Cuba has limited strengthening of the storm today. But by 2PM Saturday, it should emerge into the eastern Gulf and intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall.

Maximum sustained winds are currently at 30 MPH, but will accelerate Saturday and Sunday.

NHC forecasts a 40-50% probability that the Florida’s western coast will see tropical storm force winds (one minute average >= 39MPH). The earliest arrival time on the southern tip of Florida is 8 AM Saturday 8/3/24.

So far, the tropical wave has not yet reached tropical storm force anywhere in the Atlantic or Caribbean. However, tropical storm watches and warnings are up for the entire western coast of Florida.

NOAA’s latest satellite imagery shows the storm centered over Cuba at 21:40 Z on 8/2/24.

PTC4’s position over Cuba as of 4:40 CDT.

Up to a Foot of Rain and 4 Feet of Storm Surge

NHC expects tropical storm conditions to follow the storm up the eastern seaboard through next Wednesday. They also warn of life-threatening storm surge (2-4 feet) and coastal flooding from Georgia to North Carolina next week. Finally, they warn of isolated river flooding.

Expect rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches, with maximum rainfall totals up to 12 inches, across portions of Florida and along the Southeast U.S. coast this weekend through Wednesday morning.

Next Storm Name Is Debby

This storm should become “Debby.” Chris had a short life and veered into northern Mexico as Beryl was moving toward Houston.

For the time being, people in the Houston area can breathe easier. But the Atlantic hurricane season is just starting to heat up. It will peak on September 10.

peak of hurricane season
From: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/

Where to Find the Latest Information

Those with friends, relatives or vacation plans in the southeast can track the progress of the storm in satellite images at:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/satellite.php.

For the latest NHC forecasts, visit: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start#contents.

NHC issues updates every 4 hours when a storm threatens.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/2/24 at 5:30 PM

2530 Days since Hurricane Harvey

New Forecasts Show Latest Disturbance Now Moving Toward Gulf

8/1/24 – 7PM Update – Since posting this story earlier today, NHC has shifted its predictions even farther west and increased development chances to 40% in two cays and 70% in 7 days.

8/1/24, 9 AM – According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), a well-defined tropical wave is now moving toward the Gulf. This represents a significant change from earlier predictions that took the storm east of Florida.

The system is currently producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Atlantic and northeastern Caribbean Sea.

Location as of 8/1/24 at 9AM CDT

Development Chances

Development of this system should occur slowly during the next two days. Environmental conditions will soon become more conducive for development. And a tropical depression could form this weekend or early next week over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The system has a 20% chance of formation in the next 2 days and a 60% chance in the next 7.

National Hurricane Center

NHC and others have discussed this tropical wave for about a week now. In the last 2 days, shower and thunderstorm development has become better organized, but there is still no defined circulation at the surface at this time.

The wave axis should reach Cuba by early this weekend. According to Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist, land interaction will likely prevent any sort of significant development in the near term – unless a center forms either south or north of the inlands.

Likely Track

Toward this weekend it is now likely that the wave will enter the eastern Gulf of Mexico. After that, the steering patterns become highly complex.

Forecasts have a high degree of uncertainty. Different models show numerous outcomes in the eastern Gulf during the next 5-7 days.

Weak Storm Likely at This Point

Intensity forecasts are also very uncertain at this point. Most models predict a weak system. But once a defined surface center forms, intensification looks likely.

Factors Supporting Development

Lindner points to three factors supporting eventual development.

Conditions supporting intensification over the eastern Gulf of Mexico include:

  • Very warm sea surface temperatures
  • Light wind shear
  • Potential for dual outflow channels aloft.

Role of Dual Outflow Channels in Formation

Meteorologists frequently talk about shear and sea surface temperatures in relation to hurricane formation. But they talk less often about the importance of outflow channels. How do outflow channels support hurricane formation?

Dual outflow channels are important in hurricane formation because they can enhance the efficiency and intensity of a storm.

According to ChatGPT, they provide:

  1. Enhanced Ventilation: This allows the hurricane to expel air more efficiently, promoting a stronger inflow at the surface.
  2. Symmetrical Structure: With outflow in multiple directions, the hurricane maintains a more symmetrical structure.
  3. Lower Pressure: Efficient outflow channels contribute to lowering the central pressure of the hurricane. Lower pressure at the core leads to higher wind speeds and a more powerful storm.
  4. Sustained Intensification: Dual outflow channels can support sustained intensification by continually removing air from the upper levels, allowing the storm to draw in warm, moist air from the ocean surface.
  5. Balanced Energy Distribution: The channels help distribute energy more evenly around the storm, preventing one side from becoming too dominant and potentially disrupting the hurricane’s structure.

Dual outflow channels thus help enhance the structural integrity, efficiency, and intensity of hurricanes.

Preparations

At this time, no one predicts that the storm will reach as far west as Houston. But last week, no one predicted that it would reach the Gulf either.

As always, your best bet is to be prepared for anything. Restock food, water and batteries used after Beryl. Recharge your backups. And monitor the NHC daily.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/1/24

2529 Days since Hurricane Harvey