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FloodWise: A Stormwater Management Partnership
Everyone in Houston and Harris County Needs to be "flood wise."
It's no surprise – it floods in Harris County. That’s our reality, just like Californians need to be prepared for earthquakes, Harris County residents need to understand and be prepared for the dangers of flooding. You’ll be happy to know that we now have FloodWise, a public awareness and stormwater management partnership of the Harris County Flood Control District, the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Texas Department of Transportation. The FloodWise partners are working together to reduce the potential for flooding and improve drainage along streets, highways, storm sewers, ditches, and bayous.
It's important that you and your family know what FloodWise is, what you need to do for your personal safety, and what’s being done to reduce the risk of flooding throughout Houston and Harris County. In the coming months, an extensive website will be online, serving as a central location to provide expert knowledge and answers about the systems and flooding issues that are part of Harris County.
Even though the FloodWise partners are working hard to make improvements in our area's drainage and flood reduction systems, you too need to be "flood wise" to ensure your safety.
Are you "flood wise?"
Do you really know what to do in a flood? Being "flood wise" means that you’re better prepared to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. It means that you’re well informed about local flood and drainage facts, issues and safety. Here are a few basic personal safety dos and don'ts:
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Never walk or drive into floodwaters: "Turn around. Don’t drown!" |
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If it's flooding, stay wherever you are, unless your life is threatened |
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Never dump ANY kind of waste into storm sewers |
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Stay tuned to local TV, radio or website news for the latest information |
Flood Insurance is Very Wise
In Houston and Harris County, we're all vulnerable to flood risks, so EVERYONE should have flood insurance! It doesn’t matter where you live: near or far from a bayou, in or out of the mapped floodplain boundaries, even if you’ve lived here "forever" and have never flooded. Flood insurance is fairly inexpensive, easy to buy and available to all residents. It must be purchased separately, because it’s not part of your homeowner's or renter's insurance. Talk to your insurance agent about buying flood insurance, or contact the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov or 1-888-379-9531.
Major FloodWise Improvements are Underway
We can't control where or how much it will rain. But we are performing the Urban Stormwater Management Study, a significant component of FloodWise that will help us all gain a better understanding of how drainage systems can be improved. Working together, we can do a lot about how high homes and businesses are built, how high the water gets and how quickly it drains. Our tax dollars are funding many initiatives to reduce flood damage and provide crucial flood risk information.
Keep an eye out for FloodWise.
Remember: If you're in the Houston and Harris County area, you need to be part of FloodWise. Stay tuned!
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