How can I find out what happened? What caused the flooding?
- An excellent study done by the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium, a group of local academics, funded by local private foundations, published a straight forward report on problems and failings around Harris County. It’s the most in depth report Read it here: http://www.houstonconsortium.com
- Harris County Flood Control released their own report on Hurricane Harvey flooding. Get a pdf copy of the report here: https://www.hcfcd.org/hurricane-harvey/
How Can I prepare for the next Flood?
- BUY FLOOD INSURANCE! If you think because you didn’t flood during Harvey that you won’t flood, you are 100% WRONG according to the Harris County meteorologist. Due to our tropical rains, gumbo soils and flat topography, ANY place can flood. Go here to learn about flood insurance: https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program
- The average payout by FEMA flood insurance after Harvey was $113,000. For the uninsured, the average financial assistance was between $4,000 and $7,000. You do the math.
- TURN AROUND – DON’T DROWN. Do not drive into high water. Ever. A mere two feet of swiftly running water will sweep your car away. Turn around.
- Use the Harris County Flood Warning System. You can directly observe rainfall rates in your area and the status of streams. Check where the flooding actually is in near real time: https://www.harriscountyfws.org/
What are other citizens’ groups doing about flooding in Harris County? click below:
Kingwood citizens’ flood mitigation:
Addicks/Barker citizens’ group:
http://barkerfloodprevention.org
Memorial area citizens’ flood mitigation group:
What do others think about flooding?
- An op-ed by a local home owners’ group in Sunday’s (7/29) Houston Chronicle:
2. An op-ed, the same day as above, by dueling lawyers who have vigorously argued opposite sides of the flooding issue, now argue the same side:
Cypress Creek - Stop the Flooding 