Is there any plan to reduce floods in Houston? (lease, homes)

[baytownb]

I am sure the people in Flint Michigan would love to know you don't believe it was the Republican governor's fault for the water crisis. How do they respond when you tell them all to stop taking cheap shots at him?

Originally Posted by Sunderpig2

It's never a matter of one person (in this case, the mayor in office). That's just a cheap shot. This involves hundreds of public officials, and even thousands over time. One very visible person makes for an easy target for those lazily searching out blame, but misses the mark as to those responsible. There are people whose full-time job involves maintenance and improvement of drainage and alleviating flooding, and the mayor isn't one of them.

[crone]

The citizens of Flint elected people who bankrupted the town.

The people of Michigan elected a governor who told anybody fogging a mirror he intended to cut taxes and services.

All those who worked in the water department in Flint knew the condition of the plumbing, or should have.

There is a whole lot of blame to go around in Flint. Just like here.

Anybody with any knowledge of building and rain in Houston knew when they were told in the late 70s that a Carla like storm would put over 20 feet of water in 1 Shell Plaza. It has been well know and discussed and discussed. The good people at the Medical Center still stored their documents below ground. etc,etc, etc.

[shortel]

How about people stop buying houses in the flood plain? what a radical concept.

[predatorprey]

Originally Posted by shortel

How about people stop buying houses in the flood plain? what a radical concept.

Have you seen the flood map? Expands yearly and includes the majority of Houston.

[TexasTallest]

Originally Posted by Dopo

I'd settle for something like this

Uhhh.. the left picture shows a broken levee along a canal in New Orleans, flooding the city.. Surely that is not what you meant you would settle for? If I had to choose, id rather just keep the free bayous we have that flood instead of spending billions on manmade canals and levees that fail and still flood the city.

It would be hard to implement canals through most of the inner city, given all of the existing development, but at least some of the power line/utility ROWs (the utility corridor running N/S east of 610W comes to mind) seem to have room along side them for potential canals/water diversion channels. Another idea could be possibly when we build new roads/highways, trench a channel below the new roads for the water to follow (serving as a sort of underground canal/tunnel), allowing additional capacity to hold water, and preferably direct the water towards the coast. Heck, while were digging below the roads/highways, we could even wall off a small passage in the channel to run mass transit/rail lines, killing two birds with one stone.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by shortel

How about people stop buying houses in the flood plain? what a radical concept.

Great idea,
What about the 100s of thousands of people that already live there?

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by shortel

How about people stop buying houses in the flood plain? what a radical concept.

Most of Houston was originally a swamp(mother nature's flood water storage) that developers drained to build on.

[afterdark80]

Apart from making drainage improvements, here are some ideas which are long overdue:


1) Make flood insurance a requirement for all residential and commercial properties within a 1/2 mile of the latest opinion of the 100YR floodplain. For renters (contents & temporary living expenses only) and owners alike. Tie requirement to lease agreements and property tax penalties.
2) Increase the first floor elevation requirements for all new residential and commercial construction by 2'-0" across the board.
3) Install retractable crash resistant bollards to restrict access to all flooded underpasses, highways, sunken roads, etc...

[shortel]

Originally Posted by Clever nickname here

Most of Houston was originally a swamp(mother nature's flood water storage) that developers drained to build on.

People build and move into houses right on the beach knowing full well about erosion and hurricanes and they still continue to do it. Cry me a river. I have no sympathy for them. Their is plenty of place to build that isn't in the flood plain. I have see the flood maps and most places are right next to creeks and the coast.

[crone]

Originally Posted by afterdark80

Apart from making drainage improvements, here are some ideas which are long overdue:


1) Make flood insurance a requirement for all residential and commercial properties within a 1/2 mile of the latest opinion of the 100YR floodplain. For renters (contents & temporary living expenses only) and owners alike. Tie requirement to lease agreements and property tax penalties.
2) Increase the first floor elevation requirements for all new residential and commercial construction by 2'-0" across the board.
3) Install retractable crash resistant bollards to restrict access to all flooded underpasses, highways, sunken roads, etc...

A couple of years ago, Congress tried to get folks close to the coast to pay more for their subdized flood insurance. It hit the fan, and the builder bought Texas congressmen got it rescinded.

When people refuse transfers to HOuston, something will get done.

IMP, they need to get rid of FEMA. Why should the. whole country pay for folks life choices and/or bad decisions?