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…

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…

Draft floodplain maps for Harris County have officially been released, marking a major milestone in the MAAPNext mapping effort. During today’s Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, emphasized that while the maps are early in the process, the community will have time, access, and…

Last week, FEMA released draft floodplain mapping information to the 34 floodplain administrators in Harris County as part of the MAAPNext effort. MAAPNext is a FEMA-led initiative, supported by the Harris County Flood Control District to provide local expertise. These maps reflect changing conditions in Harris County, including a more than 30% increase in rainfall rates, updated topography and advanced modeling.  These updates are…