For over 100 years the Dutch have struggled with flood waters and learned to win. Why can’t we. Yes, the Dutch have large, expensive projects. They also have small, local, affordable projects. Scroll through the above presentation from the Dutch government on their approach to flood control.
Well, why doesn’t our Harris County government take the same approach? Dysfunctional politics. If they tell you to defend yourselves, why do we pay them taxes? And it makes the county bureaucrats appear either ineffectual or uncaring.
Does it work? The Centrum performance hall, on Cypresswood Drive by the Bush Library, was badly damaged by Harvey flooding. After repairs, FEMA gave them a $300,000 grant to floodproof the building. The work included an in-ground flood gate to protect the entrance doors. Scroll through the above presentation and note the “tube barrier”. It does the same thing as the in-round flood gate but is portable and costs $3,000. Which should we advocate?
At the same location as the Centrum, Precinct 3 Commissioner Ramsey has just spent $5,000,000 of your tax dollars repairing the Community Center from flood damage. But he did nothing to prevent it from being damaged over and over as we flood again and again. Ramsey, an engineer, ignored the Dutch ideas in favor of the same old Harris County method of ignoring the flooding problem. Another reason our community is at risk.
Simple techniques can work to defend your home, cheaply. Investigate flood bags like ‘Quick Dam’. You can buy them from Walmart. It won’t stop a tidal wave but will block a foot or two of water.
Look for unconventional help and help from outside sources. As the former deputy director of Harris County Flood Control told us: “Nobody is riding to your rescue out there on Cypress Creek. Defend yourselves”.
Cypress Creek - Stop the Flooding 