State and local officials are adjusting their plans during the coronavirus outbreak to inform residents in the Houston area and along the Gulf Coast of safe steps they could take in advance of the yearโs first storm.
hurricanes
A&M study: The future of Texas depends on climate preparedness
A study by five Aggie scientists indicates Texas should prepare for more extreme weather in the coming years โ though it offers some glimmers of hope.
With Proposition 8, Texas would set money aside for future flooding
If approved by voters next month, the constitutional amendment would set aside $800 million from the state’s rainy day fund for flood mitigation efforts.
Texans still don’t know if they qualify for FEMA aid after Imelda. But some say the potential help may not be worth the wait.
For people affected by Imelda to get FEMA aid, there have to be at least 800 flooded homes that weren’t insured โ and it could be weeks before Texans know if that threshold is met.
Tropical Storm Imelda left 5 dead in Texas and many flooded. Will FEMA aid come next?
While Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency for Tropical Storm Imelda, it does not qualify individuals for financial assistance. That will have to come from FEMA.
Two people dead, others left stranded and trapped in the wake of Tropical Storm Imelda
Both deaths were related to flooding from the storm. More than a thousand others needed to be rescued and evacuated.
Tropical Storm Imelda’s flooding turns deadly as southeast Texas is swamped by rain
The storm quickly became the fifth-wettest rainfall event in the continental United States. Gov. Greg Abbott issued an emergency declaration for several counties Thursday.
Texas might spend up to $20 billion to protect Houston from hurricanes. Rice University says it can do it for a fraction of that.
A government plan to guard the Houston-Galveston region from deadly storm surges isn’t expected to become reality for at least 15 years. Rice University says it has a plan that could be completed faster for a fraction of the cost.
Can the โmasters of the floodโ help Texas protect its coast from hurricanes?
After centuries of fighting back water in a low-lying nation, the Dutch have become the world leaders in flood control. And their expertise is helping Texas design what would become the nationโs most ambitious โ and expensive โ coastal barrier.
Texas House passes bill to spend more than $3 billion to help pay for flood control projects
With the damage from Hurricane Harvey in mind, lawmakers approved two bills aimed at better preparing the state for natural disasters.

