Tag Archive for: TexasFlood.org

Improved TexasFlood.org Website Shows Spread of Floodwaters and Inundated Buildings by Gage Height

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has reorganized the sea of flood-related information and redesigned the TexasFlood.org website to provide a more user-friendly resource for Texans who want to increase their flood awareness and preparedness.

Given the deadly nature of flood events and the rapid timeframe in which they can occur, remaining flood-ready is essential.

One Feature Shows Flood Spread and Inundated Buildings by Gage Height

TexasFlood.org provides fundamental information on emergency preparation for and recovery from flood events, as well as web tools to better understand flood risk, in a format that is easy to access and easy to understand.

One of the most useful new features is an interactive map that shows the spread of floodwaters based on the gage height.

Select a gage and a height and see instantly how far the floodwaters will spread. This shows spread based on the USGS Gage at FM1485 and the East fork.

I selected the height of the highest gage reading during the May floods this year at FM1485 and the East Fork. Then I zoomed in and found that 36 structures were in danger of being inundated. You can even see their locations!

Information like this is not only useful when considering purchasing a building, but also when considering whether to evacuate.

Other Useful Features

TexasFlood.org also features resources and tools that allow users to:

  • Review lake levels and river heights
  • Check current precipitation totals and weather conditions
  • Evaluate potential flood risk
  • See the impacts of different hypothetical flooding scenarios
  • Identify and connect with their local floodplain administrator
  • Learn the primary types of flooding and basics of flood insurance

The website highlights the reasons why emergency preparedness is vital to proper flood preparedness, including the importance of floodproofing and awareness of second-order damages after a flood event.

One-Stop Information Shop

The TWDB has gathered important information from other local, state, and federal entities to provide the most relevant information for Texans in one convenient online location. Hurricane season runs through November 30 each year. And historically speaking, 80% of the storms for this year are still in front of us. Just today, the National Hurricane Center highlighted another area of concern in the Atlantic, bringing the active total to three.

So TWDB encourages all Texans to check out the revamped TexasFlood.org. Learn how to pack a flood kit, download resources to prepare family, review individual flood risk, plan an evacuation route, and more.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2021 based on a press release by TWDB

1439 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Texas Water Development Board Wants Input on Their New TexasFlood.org

Hurry. TexasFlood.org Survey Closes September 8

Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is trying to make flood-related information more accessible and user friendly via an update of their website,  TexasFlood.org. The refreshed website will become a one-stop shop for flood-related data and information throughout the state. Please review it and then give TWDB your input via this short survey. Make sure they’re providing the kind of information YOU want.

Home page of TexasFlood.org

Background

In 2019, the Texas Legislature and Governor Abbott greatly expanded the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) role in flood mapping, planning, and financing.

In addition to existing flood programs, TWDB will administer a new state and regional flood planning process, increase flood-related financial assistance, and advance flood modeling and mapping capacities. 

As the agency expands data, information, and resources related to flooding in Texas, a key priority is to ensure that flood-related information is timely, user friendly, and easy to find.

TWDB

So judge the new website against those goals.


Purpose of Survey

The purpose of the survey is to understand:

  • What flood-related information you find most valuable
  • How best to present that information on the new version of the site.

Less Than Ten Minutes Will Help Texans Better Prepare for Next Flood

Until now, the TWDB web presence has largely been geared toward water professionals. This site however, targets ordinary citizens. It’s a fresh approach for the Board. The home page for instance, starts with a discussion of what to do before, during and after a flood. You can drill down from there.

The survey should only require 5 to 10 minutes. Hurry. The last day is September 8. So please take the survey today. Your help will benefit Texans for years to come.

If you are trying to find this website in the future, check out the Links page of this website.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/7/2020

1105 Days since Hurricane Harvey