Boomtown, Flood Town — Houston and Hurricane Harvey

Footage of Hurricane Harvey pounding Houston, Texas with massive amounts of rain are ominously reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina only 11 years ago. Houston is similarly unprepared for massive storms as New Orleans was (and perhaps still is). ProPublica and the Texas Tribune partnered last year to provide this very comprehensive piece on flooding and local policy, complete with interactive maps that zoom in and out with the article content. 

"Houston has been trying to solve its flooding woes since at least 1937, when a letter penned by local officials to state lawmakers pleaded for help and declared Texas’ largest city 'at the mercy of the relentless water'." But this week's hurricane has brought the problem, and the everlooming spectre of climate change, back to the forefront. Severe storms are becoming more and more frequent, but Houston's infrastructure has not kept up. Houston has also been home to massive growth and development, taking the place of natural prairies that would normally absorb rainfall, which has made flooding worse on top of the climate change that has triggered more harsh storms. But county and city officials often neglect the effect of development on flooding, and deny climate change as a factor (in total disagreement with scientists). Widening bayous, reservoirs, regenerating green space, and development restrictions other changes have been suggested or done to varying degrees of success, as people continually have their homes flooded. 

This article provides scientific data, historic maps, accounts from residents, experts, and local politicians to contextualize where Houston is now with regards to flood and disaster management. History of past storms and floods, development, infrastructure, government, and citizen action are described in detail. Houston is naturally particularly vulnerable to flooding as a flat area near a warming body of water, but it is the human-made that is to blame for the exacerbated issues like Hurricane Harvey.