Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a series of motions this week aimed at preserving federal flood mitigation funding and keeping major flood risk reduction projects moving forward.

The approved actions establish a funding realignment strategy for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) projects. The plan will phase certain long-term Harris County Flood Control District projects between the two programs and transfer seven subdivision drainage projects into the Disaster Recovery program.

According to county officials, the strategy is intended to maintain existing project commitments while adapting to federal deadlines and program requirements. The plan is expected to preserve the county’s full $322 million Disaster Recovery allocation, maintain project scope and benefits, and create approximately $125 million in additional mitigation capacity for future eligible projects.

Commissioners approved two separate motions related to the initiative.

The first authorizes additions to the CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT project lists, allows the Harris County Flood Control District and the Harris County Housing and Community Development to negotiate the necessary agreements, directs coordination with the Texas General Land Office, and authorizes implementation of the funding realignment strategy.

The second motion directs county departments to develop recommendations for improving procurement processes and other administrative procedures that can accelerate the delivery of flood mitigation projects. The goal is to reduce delays, streamline project implementation and ensure federal deadlines are met.

Discussion during the meeting largely focused on preserving federal funding, maintaining project commitments, and ensuring that flood mitigation work continues to advance for Harris County communities.

Following the executive session, Flood Control District Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen announced her resignation, stating that discussions surrounding her role had become a distraction from the District’s mission. Commissioners Court took no action on the personnel item, and the funding strategy had already received unanimous approval.

With the motions now adopted, county staff will move forward with implementing the funding realignment plan and developing additional recommendations to accelerate the delivery of flood mitigation projects across Harris County.