HOUSTON – Harris County officials are ramping up efforts to protect residents from flooding after recent deadly storms in the Texas Hill Country. On Tuesday, the Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioners Court approved funding for all top-priority flood mitigation projects to be in place by September.
Two high-impact projects in Memorial City neighborhoods and the Gates of Lake Houston received the green light—both areas that have faced increasing flood risk in recent years.
“The tragedies we’ve had this past week in the Hill Country just affirm what we need to be paying attention to,” said Commissioner Tom Ramsey of Precinct 3.
Pushback over project rankings
While the court’s approval marked progress, Commissioner Ramsey expressed frustration that many projects in his precinct didn’t make the top cut.
“The formula they’re using to determine what projects get done or not done is flawed,” Ramsey said. “I tested the formula, and one of the most underserved neighborhoods in my precinct, Barrett Station, has drainage needs that aren’t being addressed.”
Ramsey argues that the ranking system unfairly deprioritizes vulnerable communities and is calling for changes. He’s urging the court to ensure that any leftover funds after September be immediately redirected to lower-ranked but urgent projects—especially in underserved areas.
The funding gap
Once the high-priority projects are completed, Ramsey estimates that Harris County will have around $700 million remaining. But he warns that amount likely won’t be enough to cover all remaining needs.
“I still consider my constituents at risk,” he said.
Looking ahead
In the wake of last weekend’s deadly floods, Ramsey says flood mitigation is no longer a long-term issue—it’s a now issue.
He plans to continue pushing for faster funding, more transparent project evaluations, and an equitable distribution of resources across all Harris County neighborhoods.
