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

Study reveals effects of white privilege in FEMA flood buyout program

Research from Rice University sociologists shows urban areas and predominantly white neighborhoods that are at risk of flooding in cities benefit the most from FEMA’s voluntary buyout program.

flooded homes in North Carolina following Hurricane Matthew
News Story
: Feb 18, 2020
Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Urban Disparity

City unveils ‘Resilient Houston,’ its plan to make the city stronger at every level

When it comes to health care, most people know they can either put in the work of maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough exercise now or pay a much higher price — physically and fiscally — later in life. The same is true when it comes to the health and well-being of a city and its residents. In the long run, it’s smarter and less expensive for local governments to invest now to ensure they are prepared to handle unexpected disasters and possibly prevent problems altogether in the future.

photo of Houston after Hurricane Harvey in 2017
News Story
: Feb 13, 2020
Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Transportation, Urban Disparity

Houston joins global network of cities working to build resilience

One day before the release of the city’s Resilient Houston plan on Wednesday, a new network of resilient cities was publicly announced at the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi. Houston will be a member of the network.

View of Downtown Houston from Google Earth
News Story
: Feb 11, 2020
Economic Development, Governance, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Transportation, Urban Disparity, Urban Planning

Latest Research

Community Resilience Initiatives: Building Stronger Neighborhoods in Houston

Effective efforts at the neighborhood level can be sustained and amplified by plugging into broader citywide efforts in ways that better align long-term goals and influence implementation plans at both levels.
photos related to community organization efforts to more resilient
Report: Feb 18, 2020
Governance, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Urban Planning

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

Experts

Head shot of Ed Emmett

Ed Emmett

  • Senior Fellow and Professor in the Practice
  • Expertise: Transportation Policy & Community Resilience
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

  • Deputy Director, 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.