Recent extreme flooding along the San Jacinto River has prompted a review of the progress of Harris County’s flood-prone home buyout program.
The site of the United States’s “longest-running experiment in the adaptation policy known as ‘managed retreat’” experienced extensive flooding last week when severe rainstorms dropped months’ worth of rain on Houston in just a few days, reports Jake Bittle in an article for Grist. Over the past decade, “Harris County has spent millions of dollars buying out and demolishing at-risk homes along the [San Jacinto River],” where some of the deepest flooding happened. According to Bittle, “the past week’s flooding has demonstrated that even this nation-leading program hasn’t been able to keep pace with escalating disaster.
Over the past thirty years, the county has bought around 600 at-risk homes along the waterway, but still has another 1,600 on its list, along with the challenges of uncertain funding and reluctant property owners. Houston is no stranger to property buy-outs. Bittle reports that Harris County was one of the first local governments in the country to buy out flood-prone homes with federal money, and his article details the county’s various efforts—and struggles—over the years. Perhaps the biggest challenge is, even if recent flooding has convinced all the homeowners in the area it is time to leave, the program doesn’t currently have enough money to make it happen.
Buyout programs to relocate homeowners are certainly a better alternative to rebuilding over and over again — and likely less costly in the long run. But as Houston’s program shows us, without proper funding they cannot keep pace with the increasingly severe weather events and sea level rise caused by climate change.
FULL STORY: Texas flooding brings new urgency to Houston home buyout program
Where 2024 Presidential Candidates Stand on 12 Issues Important to Urban Planners
Whether you’re yet undecided or have already cast your early vote, here is a roundup of the key positions of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on important urban planning policies.
Commentary: New Bill Holds Key to Solving US Housing Crisis. We Just Have to Pass It.
Two bills currently moving through Congress could make mass production of prefabricated, affordable housing possible on a large scale.
America’s 10 ‘Greenest’ Cities
A new analysis ranks cities based on their environmental quality, energy consumption and production, transportation, density, and other factors.
How Seattle Achieved Safe Routes to School Goal
SDOT has installed safety improvements at more than 260 public schools since 2015.
Auto Insurance Rates Spike Due to Extreme Weather
Car insurance costs around the country are going up as insurers receive more claims from areas struck by storms and other climate disasters.
California Approves $10 Billion Bond for Water, Clean Energy, and Environmental Projects
Funds will be used to support water, wildfire prevention, environmental, and park projects, reflecting strong public support for climate resilience.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
University of Southern California
City of Meridian
University of Calgary
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Detroit Regional Partnership
San Joaquin LAFCo
City of South Portland