The Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force is wrapping up a busy year of public engagement and planning aimed at strengthening flood resilience across Harris County.

Task Force Chair Dr. Pamela Hernandez recently highlighted the group’s progress before Harris County Commissioners Court, including extensive community outreach, continued work on the county’s flood resilience plan and the addition of new Task Force members.

Over the past year, the Task Force supported 21 flood resilience plan sessions across all four Harris County precincts. These included community and technical small groups, public open houses, and strategy workshops that brought together technical expertise with local knowledge and residents’ lived experiences.

During an April retreat, Task Force members also continued reviewing strategies being developed for the flood resilience plan. Priority areas included:

• Vulnerable communities and flood risk assessments
• Nature-based solutions alongside engineered approaches
• Coordination across Harris County departments
• Transparency, community outreach, and education

The Task Force also expanded its presence in the community, completing more than 89 engagement activities with super neighborhoods, civic clubs, libraries and other groups. Those efforts reached an estimated 885 residents.

Four new members also joined the Task Force, while executive leadership was reelected.

Community Input Shapes Flood Resilience 

Community participation helps Harris County better understand how flooding affects different neighborhoods and what residents need from future flood resilience efforts.

By combining technical information with firsthand experiences from communities, the planning process can better reflect local priorities and identify strategies that address flood risk across the county.

Continue following the Community Flood Resilience Task Force and upcoming Harris County engagement opportunities to learn how you can help shape a more flood-resilient Harris County.