How to Use the Harris County Flood Warning System

When heavy rain moves into Harris County, conditions can change quickly and may vary greatly from one neighborhood to another. The Harris County Flood Warning System gives residents a way to monitor rainfall and water levels in bayous, creeks, and tributaries as conditions develop. The system provides real-time information from gages across Harris County and…

August 17, 20260Comments

Weather & Alerts

Beyond the Forecast: How Harris County Flood Control District Tracks Flood Risk in Real Time

A less active hurricane season never means Harris County is free from flood risk. During a recent appearance on Hurricane Center Live, Harris County Flood Control District meteorologist Jeff Lindner discussed how rainfall data, forecasting tools, and real-time information help residents better understand changing flood conditions. One of the Flood Control District’s key tools is…

August 14, 20260Comments

Community

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:…

June 3, 20260Comments

Community

The Great Houston Flood of 1935

The Flood That Built the Flood Control District The Great Houston Flood of 1935 was the worst flood event in Houston’s history up to that time. An intense 42-hour period of rainfall occurred from December 6 through December 8. While the City of Houston received 5.5 inches of rain, areas to the northwest saw far…

December 5, 20250Comments

Projects

Stormwater Storage Capacity: What Is an Acre-foot?

Flooding is a major concern for residents of Harris County, and truly understanding flood risk includes learning about how much stormwater our detention basins can hold. The Harris County Flood Control District reports storage capacity in acre-feet, a unit of measurement that helps engineers plan and design flood risk reduction projects. An acre-foot is a…

November 17, 20250Comments

Community

When October Brought a Hurricane: Remembering Hurricane Jerry

On October 15, 1989, as most of the Gulf Coast was easing into fall, Hurricane Jerry made a surprise landfall near Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. With sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, Jerry wasn’t the strongest storm to hit Texas, but it was one of the latest. In fact, Jerry was the latest…

October 16, 20250Comments

Community

Remembering the Floods of October 1994: A Turning Point for Harris County

Thirty-one years ago this week, relentless rain fell over southeast Texas and changed lives forever. Between October 15 and October 18, 1994, a slow-moving weather system combined with tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and remnants of Hurricane Rosa in the eastern Pacific to unleash catastrophic flooding across southeast Texas, including portions of…

October 15, 20250Comments