Is there any plan to reduce floods in Houston? (Katy: neighborhoods, utilities)

[texas7]

Well it isn't just coastal now is it -- those inland flooded homes are apparently making the same bad choices. Coastal is really affected during hurricanes which are fairly spread far apart. The inland people are getting it during a heavy rain.

[oceangaia]

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...

1) is illogical. Proximity means nothing. It's elevation that matters. You can be right next to a river and on a hill 20' above BFE and you'll never be at risk of flooding, meanwhile you can be 5 miles from the river at 1' above BFE (with nothing higher in between) and you'll probably flood.
2) excellent idea
3) nope, I'm not interested in paying high taxes to fund some elaborate system to prevent an idiot from doing something stupid.

[Dopo]

All that I know is that all the solutions mentioned require "evil big government" to build something or pass a law

I need a Conservative to tell me the "free market" solution to Houston's floods
I want to learn about it

[oceangaia]

The free market solution would be to do away with flood insurance and FEMA grants. When people have to directly suffer the economic loss of being flooded, they will stop building in a flood plain or elevate the building enough to avoid being flooded.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

The free market solution would be to do away with flood insurance and FEMA grants.

Flood insurance = private sector

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Flood insurance = private sector

It isn't right now. That would work too because then the premiums would reflect the risk. In many cases it would make flood insurance unavailable or cost prohibitive in flood-prone areas.

[texas7]

The population of Houston would thin significantly if people couldn't afford to have flood insurance it were required to have it.

[afterdark80]

You are correct, I am under the presumption that elevation is used in determination of flood plain(s)/flood risk.

Originally Posted by oceangaia

1) is illogical. Proximity means nothing. It's elevation that matters. You can be right next to a river and on a hill 20' above BFE and you'll never be at risk of flooding, meanwhile you can be 5 miles from the river at 1' above BFE (with nothing higher in between) and you'll probably flood.
2) excellent idea
3) nope, I'm not interested in paying high taxes to fund some elaborate system to prevent an idiot from doing something stupid.

[afterdark80]

Not many conservatives would be opposed to the following:

1) Eliminate all federal and FEMA flood relief funding to private individuals. Use savings in federal $$ to draw down national debt.
2) Require flood insurance to all properties and individuals owning or residing in an area deemed to be a flood risk (as it currently stands).

Conservatives are strong on personal responsibility.
I bet if someone did a study on the political leanings of the vast majority of the recipients of FEMA assistance, it would be obvious why your biggest opponents to the above scenario would be liberals.

Originally Posted by Dopo

All that I know is that all the solutions mentioned require "evil big government" to build something or pass a law

I need a Conservative to tell me the "free market" solution to Houston's floods
I want to learn about it

[curbur]

Originally Posted by afterdark80

Not many conservatives would be opposed to the following:

1) Eliminate all federal and FEMA flood relief funding to private individuals. Use savings in federal $$ to draw down national debt.
2) Require flood insurance to all properties and individuals owning or residing in an area deemed to be a flood risk (as it currently stands).

Conservatives are strong on personal responsibility.
I bet if someone did a study on the political leanings of the vast majority of the recipients of FEMA assistance, it would be obvious why your biggest opponents to the above scenario would be liberals.

So you think most middle class Houston suburbanites are liberals? The were the ones easily most hardest hit during the floods, and I highly doubt it.