The unprecedented 2017 storm dumped more than 50 inches of rain on the Houston area but as rain events and flooding become the new normal, new research is needed to respond.

Latest Urban Edge Stories

After Harvey, a community rebuilds and organizes for more

What began as a rebuilding effort has turned into a community organizing effort to address long-standing issues.

Northeast Action Collective cleanup day
Feature Story
: Jun 25, 2019
Hurricane Harvey, Urban Disparity

More Houston residents long to close the inequality gap, improve schools, have more interethnic relationships and accept immigrants, survey shows

For 38 years, Rice University's Kinder Houston Area Survey has tracked the social changes and political perspectives of Bayou City residents.

Diverse family with baby
Kinder Institute Research
: May 13, 2019
Education, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Transportation

Q+A: A Grassroots Response to Harvey Creates New Connections To Rebuild Better

With a focus on housing, environmental justice and labor issues, the Houston HOME Coalition is pushing for an equitable recovery.

Organizers with Houston HOME Coalition learn about in-take process for housing assistance
Interview
: Apr 3, 2019
Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Urban Disparity

Latest Research

Lessons from Harvey: Crisis Informatics for Urban Resilience

This report suggests that public agencies work closely with social media companies and the operators of crowdsourced sites to install plans to incorporate these systems into the disaster recovery process.
Three women being rescued by boat by two men during a flood
Report: Aug 22, 2018
Governance, Hurricane Harvey

Rethinking Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Funding in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey

This research brief provides context about how the recovery process is unfolding in the Hurricane Harvey-affected region and how the area can prevent a similar situation from happening again.
People wade through flood waters during Hurricane Harvey.
Research: Jul 18, 2018
Hurricane Harvey

Building a More Resilient Housing System Event Report

This report by the Houston office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research highlights key learnings and strategies from the “Building a More Resilient Housing System” event held on March 27, 2018.
Building a More Resilient Housing System
Research: Jun 27, 2018
Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Urban Disparity

Experts

Head shot of Ed Emmett

Ed Emmett

  • Senior Fellow and Professor in the Practice
Profile
Bill Fulton

William Fulton

  • Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
  • Research Oversight Committee, Urban Data Platform
713-348-2698
Profile
Head shot of Han Park

John Park

  • Research Fellow, Development, Transportation and Placemaking, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
713-348-8127
Profile
Head shot of Kyle Shelton

Kyle Shelton

  • Kinder Fellow
  • Director of Strategic Partnerships, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
713-348-3683
Profile
Head shot of Jie Wu

Jie Wu

  • Director of Research Management, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
  • Research Oversight Committee, Urban Data Platform
713-348-3856
Profile

Related Initiatives

Urban and Metropolitan Governance

Many of the major issues confronting Houston and other cities can be viewed as questions of governance. As part of the Urban and Metropolitan Governance program, researchers examine how Houston runs and how it can run better.