Outdated and inaccurate, FEMA flood maps fail to fully capture risk
New risk models show nearly twice as many properties are at risk from a 100-year flood today than the government's flood maps indicate. Analysis of damage from Hurricane Harvey shows Black and Hispanic residents disproportionately experienced flooding in areas beyond FEMA’s 100-year flood zones.
Texas Flood Registry 2020 Report
This report includes updates on Harvey’s long-term impact and recent findings about the health and housing effects of the May 2019 storms and Tropical Storm Imelda.
Coronavirus puts those living in flood-damaged homes at greater risk
Many families in the Houston region live in homes with flood damage, of which they may or may not be aware. These residents may face high levels of mold exposure that can lead to lung damage that puts them at a greater risk of severe complications should they become infected with the novel coronavirus.
Greens Bayou Watershed analysis reveals strategies to increase resiliency from flooding
The Greens Bayou Watershed Analysis and Resiliency Planning effort, culminated in the publication of resiliency plans for four partner neighborhoods in the Greens Bayou Watershed: East Aldine, East Houston, Eastex Jensen and Greenspoint.
Measuring Flooding with the Houston Fire Department
Bob Stein and Rick Wilson conducted two studies about flooding and local knowledge/perspective.
Scalable and Robust Prototype of Sensor Network for Real-Time Street Level Flood Measurement
Gary Woods and team from the civil and environmental engineering department created low-cost flood sensors that were tested on Rice’s campus in spring 2019.
Galveston Bay Park Plan is only one way to protect Houston from flooding
A Q&A with Jim Blackburn, the co-director and primary spokesperson for Rice's SSPEED Center, reveals the importance of various flood protection systems.
More Than 475,000 Harris County Renters At Flood Risk, Report Says
The City of Houston and Harris County confront a major challenge in providing multi-family housing units that are both affordable and safe from flood risk.
New Flood Alert System Along White Oak Bayou Warns Residents Immediately in Emergencies
With funding from the Kinder Institute, researchers from Rice University provide another Houston watershed with a flood alert system.
Q+A: The Rising Risks of Urban Flooding
From existing data sources to flood mitigation practices, cities need to step up to respond to a national challenge.
Legislative Report: Hurricane Harvey Recovery Has Cost $2.7 Billion So Far, Most Paid by Feds
Texas Tribune | A report released Friday by the Texas Senate's budget-writing committee laid out past and future costs related to recovery from "the most costly disaster ever to hit the Texas coast."
In Northeast Houston, Residents, Nonprofits and the City Work Together After Harvey Toward Recovery
One of the many communities affected by Hurricane Harvey, Northeast Houston's recovery has been slow. But one community fair that sought to flip the top-down recovery script offered hope.
Urban Review: Spatial Mismatch, Cash Bail and Harvey's Deadly Legacy
This week, more research on the impact of living far away from jobs, an effective end to cash bail in California and why Harris County's count of Harvey-related deaths could be too low.
Evictions Before and After Harvey
While some areas saw marked increases, others experienced high numbers of eviction case filings before and after the storm.
Why the Flood Bond is Important But Not Enough
There's no way to flood-proof Houston, but making it more prepared will take a variety of approaches and a lot of coordination.
Rice University
Kraft Hall
6100 Main Street, Suite 305
Houston, TX 77005-1892
