This week, Houston Stronger brought community leaders, engineers, and public officials together for Working Together for Resilience at HCC’s West Houston Institute. The event highlighted how far our region has come since Hurricane Harvey and what’s next for flood risk reduction efforts across our region. Commissioner Tom Ramsey, P.E. (Precinct 3), kicked things off with a look at the 2018 Bond Program, while Commissioner Lesley Briones (Precinct 4) stressed the power of partnerships, including new opportunities with the private sector. Tim Buscha with the Region 6 Flood Planning Group shared updates on the State Flood Plan, and Paresh Lad with Houston Public Works offered a preview of the city’s flood modeling and mapping work.

The 2018 Bond Program

The conversation also included remarks from Dr. Tina Petersen, P.E., executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District. She explained how the 2018 Bond Program has grown from a simple list of ideas into a clear roadmap for action. With unanimous Commissioners Court direction, the Flood Control District now has a path forward for the program. The team knows with certainty which Bond IDs are active, which are paused, and which are complete. That clarity, Petersen said, is helping build trust and ensure the program stays on track.

Real Progress in the Ground

Petersen pointed to tangible results that are already making a difference. More than 16,000 acre-feet of stormwater storage capacity has been added to our drainage network (that’s like 42 NRG Stadiums!), along with over 46,000 feet of channel conveyance improvements (the distance from downtown Houston to downtown Galveston). Thousands of acres of flood-prone land has been preserved, and more than 3,000 residents have been relocated out of high-risk areas. These aren’t just numbers. They represent real people and real differences in communities across Harris County.

Keeping Up the Momentum

She also emphasized the Flood Control District’s increased focus on maintenance following voter approval of Proposition A in November 2024. From doubling the number of repair projects to launching rapid-response FAST Teams that handle resident-reported issues, the Flood Control District is making sure improvement projects continue to function as designed. Petersen described this as a “defining moment” — a chance not only to deliver projects but also to scale the organization, invest in people and equipment, and engage communities directly through annual meetings like this one.

A Shared Commitment

The event underscored a shared commitment from local and regional leaders: resilience takes everyone working together. As Petersen reminded the audience, the Bond Program has moved from concept to reality. And with billions in partner funding secured, Harris County Flood Control District is poised to keep delivering results that benefit families and strengthen our drainage network for years to come.