New FEMA Draft Maps Help Residents Prepare for Hurricane Season

As hurricane season begins, flood preparedness is once again top of mind for many Harris County residents. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, and even a quiet season can bring dangerous rainfall, street flooding, and rising water in bayous and creeks. This year, preparedness also includes a new resource:…

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Community

Emily Woodell Discusses Federal Flood Mitigation Funding Moving Into Construction

During a recent interview, Emily Woodell, Chief External Affairs Officer at the Harris County Flood Control District, discussed how federally funded flood mitigation projects across Harris County are beginning to move into construction. “One of the big programs that we have going on right now is the CDBG program,” Woodell said. “That’s Community Development Block…

May 11, 20260Comments

Community

CFRTF Retreat Focuses on Shared Responsibility and Community Resilience

As Harris County continues to face growing flood risks, the Community Flood Resilience Task Force (CFRTF) convened for a working retreat focused on shaping the future of flood resilience across the region. A key partner of the Harris County Flood Control District, the CFRTF explored big-picture strategies to better protect residents, strengthen communication, and guide…

April 28, 20260Comments

Community

60 Inches of Rain: What Hurricane Harvey Taught Nederland, Texas

Hurricanes are all too familiar along the Gulf Coast, where many residents have experienced their impacts firsthand. Storms like Hurricane Harvey reshaped how communities understand flooding risk. In Nederland, Texas, that risk became reality when more than 60 inches of rain fell, much of it in a single day. Jeff Darby, the current Mayor of…

April 21, 20260Comments

Community

A Path to Public Service

For Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, serving the community is the most meaningful part of her role. “What I love most about my job is getting to deliver on behalf of Harris County residents.” Her work focuses on helping move projects forward that reduce flood risk and support…

March 31, 20260Comments

Community

Leaders Discuss Flood Risk Reduction at Infrastructure Summit 2026

The Harris County Flood Control District recently joined regional leaders, industry professionals and community partners at Infrastructure Summit 2026, hosted by Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia on March 18, 2026. The event brought together stakeholders from across the Houston area to discuss collaborative approaches to infrastructure investment, resilience, and long term growth. The…

March 24, 20260Comments

Community

West University Officials Receive Update on Potential FEMA Flood Map Changes

Officials in West University Place recently received a briefing on potential updates to FEMA flood maps that could affect how flood risk is represented in the area. The presentation to the West University City Council focused on how updated rainfall data, improved terrain modeling, and completed flood risk reduction projects are influencing the next generation…

March 16, 20260Comments

Community

Flood Control District Projects Are Reducing Flood Risk and the Data Now Shows It

Updated draft FEMA floodplain maps show that thousands of Harris County residents are now mapped out of high-risk floodplain areas because of completed flood risk reduction projects. During a recent Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, Harris County Flood Control District leadership highlighted an important milestone: Updated draft FEMA floodplain maps now reflect the real impact…

February 25, 20260Comments

Community

When the Rain Keeps Falling: What It Means for Bayous and Flood Risk

Most people enjoy the occasional slow-paced rainy day. In Harris County, we typically see about 106 days with rainfall each year. Understanding how those rainfall totals add up over time and how stormwater moves throughout Harris County is key to understanding flood risk. A few inches of rain might not seem like much at first.…

February 18, 20260Comments

Community

Draft Floodplain Maps Released: What Residents Should Know

Yesterday, the Harris County Flood Control District provided an update to the Harris County Commissioners Court on newly released Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) draft floodplain maps. This morning, the conversation continued on local television. On February 13, 2026, Emily Woodell, Chief External Affairs Officer for the Flood Control District, joined FOX 26 Houston to…

February 13, 20260Comments