Houston a Year After Harvey: Ongoing Flooding Challenges and Proposed Solutions

One year after the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, Houston and Harris County remain vulnerable to the threat of widespread flooding. The existing floodplain map is outdated, and the frequency and severity of major flood events are likely to increase in the years ahead, putting Houstonians’ livelihoods at risk. Addressing the threat of flooding requires a transparent and collaborative re-evaluation of the city’s infrastructure to improve flood mitigation while ensuring equity for communities throughout the region. While positive efforts are currently under way, creating a more flood-resilient Houston will require new ideas and a willingness to innovate.

At this event, Jim Blackburn, Baker Institute Rice faculty scholar and founder of the Bayou City Initiative, and a panel of experts examined the ongoing challenges of flooding in Houston and possible policy solutions.

This event was sponsored by the Baker Institute and the Bayou City Initiative. Follow @BakerInstitute on Twitter and join the conversation online with #BakerHarvey.

Agenda

5:30 p.m. — Reception
6:30 p.m. — Presentation

Featured Speaker

Jim Blackburn
Founder, Bayou City Initiative; Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and co-director, Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disaster (SSPEED) Center, Rice University; and Rice Faculty Scholar, Baker Institute