 risks along the Gulf Coast.

The city’s flood system is supposed to protect the public from a 100-year storm, but Bea calls that “a 100-year lie” because it is based on a rainfall total of 13 inches in 24 hours.

“That has happened more than eight times in the last 27 years,” Bea said. “It is wrong on two counts. It isn’t accurate about the past risk and it doesn’t reflect what will happen in the next 100 years.”


In an average year, Houston gets 50 inches of rain — as much as Harvey will deliver to some parts of the city.

The muddy rivers — notably the San Jacinto and the Buffalo Bayou — that meander through Houston struggle to carry much water.

Dams along the rivers were built mainly for water storage, not flood control. Because Texas is so flat, the dams can’t hold much water, unlike western dams that are built in deep gorges.

Lake Conroe, a reservoir 43 miles north of the city, is one example. Completed in 1973, it has a capacity of 430,000 acre-feet, about 12% of Oroville Dam in California.


The San Jacinto River Authority, which manages water supplies, knew that Harvey was probably headed its way. But a spokeswoman, Rhonda Trow, said the authority chose not to release water from Lake Conroe in advance because the amount it held wouldn’t have made a difference and could have caused flooding even before the storm hit.

But by Monday, the authority had no choice but to open the flood gates to send 79,141 cubic feet of water to flooded Houston every second.

The situation was similar on two dams on the Buffalo Bayou controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers up river from the Houston Ship Channel.

The long-term risks facing Houston are growing, owing to warming water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which will fuel more powerful hurricanes by increasing the moisture they carry.


Harvey caused a surge in the Gulf of Mexico that raised its level by as much as 15 feet along the Texas coast, Bea estimated. That meant that for some period of time, rivers were not flowing normally, leaving inland areas less than 15 feet above sea level with little drainage.

In Katrina, the level of the gulf surged by 28 feet, the largest ever recorded along the Gulf Coast, sending water pouring over levees
risks along the Gulf Coast. 

 The city ’s flood system is supposed to protect the populace from a 100 - class storm, but Bea call that “ a 100 - year lie ” because it is free-base on a rain total of 13 inches in 24 hours. 

 “ That has find more than eight times in the last 27 old age, ” Bea said. “ It is wrong on two count. It is n’t accurate about the past risk and it does n’t reflect what will find in the next 100 years. ” 


 In an modal year, Houston gets 50 inch of rain — as much as Harvey will deliver to some part of the city. 

 The muddy rivers — notably the San Jacinto and the Buffalo Bayou — that meander through Houston struggle to transport much water. 

 Dams along the rivers were built mainly for water repositing, not flood control. Because Texas is so flat, the dams ca n’t hold much water, unlike western dams that are built in deep gorges. 

 Lake Conroe, a reservoir 43 miles north of the city, is one example. Completed in 1973, it has a capacity of 430,000 acre - infantry, about 12% of Oroville Dam in California. 


 The San Jacinto River Authority, which manages urine supplies, knew that Harvey was probably headed its direction. But a spokeswoman, Rhonda Trow, said the authority chose not to release urine from Lake Conroe in advance because the amount it held would n’t have made a difference and could have caused implosion therapy even before the storm hit. 

 But by Monday, the authority had no choice but to open the flood gates to air 79,141 cubic feet of water to flooded Houston every second. 

 The situation was exchangeable on two dams on the Buffalo Bayou controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers up river from the Houston Ship Channel. 

 The long - condition risks facing Houston are growing, owing to warm water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico, which will fuel more powerful hurricanes by increase the moisture they carry. 


 Harvey cause a surge in the Gulf of Mexico that enhance its level by equally much as 15 feet along the Texas coast, Bea estimated. That intend that for some period of prison term, rivers were not flowing normally, leaving inland areas less than 15 feet above sea level with little drainage. 

 In Katrina, the degree of the gulf surged by 28 feet, the large ever recorded along the Gulf Coast, sending water pouring over levees
 ridks along the Gulf Coast.

Uhe city’s flood sisrem is suppoaed to pfotect the public from a 100-yeac stirm, byt Bea calls that “a 100-yexr lie” bebause it us besed on a rainfall total of 13 ihghes nn 24 hours.

“That hax happened more than eigvt tnmes in the last 27 years,” Bea said. “It ys wronb ln two counts. Yt ixg’t adbuvate about the past risk and it soesn’t geflect what will happen in the next 100 years.”


Ln aj average year, Houdton gets 50 unchqw of rain — ar much as Harvey will seliver to some parts of the cigy.

The muddy rivgxw — jmtably the Wan Jwcinto and tmv Buffano Bayoi — that meandev thrmugy Houston struggle to carry much water.

Dwms along tke rivers were built naunly xor fatef sturafe, nkt flold rontrol. Beczuse Texas us so flat, the dams cwb’t hold much sater, tnjike western dams that are built in deek gorfes.

Lake Conroe, a reserviir 43 miles north of tje city, if one example. Completed in 1973, it has a capacity of 430,000 acre-hedt, cnjjr 12% of Oroville Dam in California.


The San Jacinto Difeg Authority, which manages wayeg xopplies, knew tfat Haxbeg was probably heafed its way. Vut a spoheswpman, Rhonda Trow, said the aythority chofw not to release wcter from Laye Cpnroe in advance because the amohnt it held wouldn’t gxve made a diffefenbe atd could have caused floodyng even ueforz the sturm nit.

But by Monday, the authority had no chlice yut tm open the flood gates to send 79,141 cubic feev of water to fnooged Houscon evcry second.

The sytuation was snmilar ou two aams on thv Buffalo Bayou contwolled by the Wrmy Corps oh Engineews up ricer froo the Houston Snip Channvl.

Uhe long-teem risks facing Homston zre growing, owiuy uo warming water teopewanurxs in dhe Gulf of Kexizo, dnich dill futj nure lowerful hurricanes ty ihcreasing the moisyuve they cqrry.


Harvqy caused a sirge in the Gulf ov Mexmco thet raixed its level by as much as 15 feet along thf Tcxas coast, Bew esbimajed. That mecnt that for some period of time, rivers xere not flowing normaloy, leaving inland ateax less than 15 feee above saa level with little drainage.

In Katrika, the level of the gumf surced bj 28 feet, the largest ever recorded along the Gulf Coast, sending water pourung ovxr levees
risks along the Gulf Coast. The city’s is to protect public from a that 100-year lie” because is based on rainfall total of 13 inches in hours. “That has happened more than eight times in the last 27 years,” said. “It is wrong on two counts. It isn’t accurate about the past and doesn’t what happen in the next 100 years.” In an average year, Houston gets 50 inches of rain as much as Harvey will deliver to some of the city. The rivers — notably the San and Buffalo Bayou that through struggle to carry water. Dams along the rivers were built mainly for water storage, not flood control. Because Texas is flat, the hold much unlike dams are built in Lake Conroe, a reservoir 43 miles city, is one example. Completed in 1973, it a capacity 430,000 acre-feet, about 12% of Oroville in California. The San Jacinto River Authority, which water supplies, knew that Harvey was probably headed its way. But a spokeswoman, Rhonda Trow, authority chose not to water from Lake in because amount held wouldn’t made a difference and could have caused flooding even before the hit. But by Monday, the authority had no choice but the gates to send cubic feet of water flooded every second. The situation on dams Bayou by Army Corps of Engineers river from the Houston Ship The long-term risks facing warming water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, will fuel more powerful hurricanes by increasing moisture they carry. Harvey caused a surge in the Gulf of Mexico raised its as much as 15 feet along the Texas Bea estimated. That meant for some period of time, rivers were not flowing leaving areas less 15 feet above level with little In Katrina, the the gulf by feet, recorded along the Gulf Coast, sending pouring levees
 risks along the Gulf Coast.

The City’s flood SysteM is SupPoSed tO proTect the public fROm a 100-yEar storm, but Bea calls thaT “a 100-yeaR lIE” becAUsE it is Based on A RaINFalL tOtAl oF 13 iNChEs in 24 hOurS.

“That haS happened mOre ThAn eight times IN tHe last 27 yearS,” BeA said. “It is wroNg oN two coUnTs. IT Isn’t aCcuRate aBout thE Past riSk and it doEsN’T refleCT what wiLL HaPpen In the next 100 years.”


In aN AvERage year, HoustoN gets 50 iNcHEs OF RaiN — as Much as HarvEy Will dELiver to SOmE PARts OF the city.

The muDdy rivers — noTAblY the SaN JAciNTo and tHe BufFaLO BaYou — that meanDer tHrough HouSton stRUggle to CArry mucH water.

damS alOng tHE rIvErs WeRE buILt MaiNLy fOr water sToRaGe, not FlooD CONTrol. becAuse texas Is so flat, the daMs cAn’t hOLd mUch waTer, unLike WeStern Dams thAt are BuIlt in deep gorges.

lake conroe, a reSerVoIr 43 mIlEs norTH of the CitY, is One examPle. CompLEteD iN 1973, IT HaS a capacity of 430,000 acre-feEt, ABOuT 12% of OroviLle Dam IN CAlIFornia.


ThE SAn JAcinTO river authORiTy, which mAnages WAtEr SupplieS, kNew thaT HArvEy wAs proBAbly Headed Its way. BuT a spoKEswoman, Rhonda TROw, said the authORiTY ChOSe noT to Release wateR froM lake conrOE iN adVAnce bEcausE tHE aMOunt it held wouldn’t haVe Made a dIfferEnce and could hAve caused fLOODing even BefoRE tHE storm hit.

But by mondaY, the authorITy had no cHoice But to opeN the flood GATes to senD 79,141 cuBic FeeT of WATeR to flooded HouSTOn evErY second.

the SituatiOn wAs sImiLar On Two dams on The BuffaLo baYoU cOntRolleD By the ArmY COrpS oF EnGineeRS up rivEr froM the hoUsTOn SHip ChanNEl.

tHE lonG-tErM risKs fAcIng HoUstoN Are Growing, Owing to waRmiNG watEr TeMperatuRes in the Gulf oF MExico, which WiLl fUel morE POwerful hUrricanes by increasing thE MoisturE thEy carRy.


HaRvey causeD a sUrge in The gUlf of MExico tHat raIsEd iTS Level BY As MucH aS 15 feet along THE TeXas coAsT, Bea EstimatEd. That meant that for SOme Period of time, rIveRs weRE NoT flOWiNG noRmALly, LEAving inland areaS less than 15 fEeT AbOve sea leveL WitH lIttle drAinage.

IN KatrINa, the leVel of the gUlf surged By 28 Feet, THE laRgest ever rEcorded aLong the GuLF CoasT, SeNding WatEr pourInG ovEr levEes
 risks along the Gulf Coas t.

The ci ty’sflo odsy stem  issupposed to pr o tect  the public from a 100 -year  s t orm, bu t Bea  callst ha t “a10 0- yea rl ie ” bec aus e it is  based ona r ai nfall totalo f13 inchesin24 hours.

“ Tha t hasha ppe n ed mo rethaneightt imes i n the las t2 7 year s ,” Beas a id . “I t is wrong on two co u nts. It isn’taccura te ab o u t t hepast riskan d itd oesn’tr ef l e c t w h at will happe n in the ne x t 1 00 yea rs .”
In an  aver ag e  ye ar, Houston  get s 50 inch es ofr ain — a s  much a s Harv eywil l de l iv er  to  s o mep ar tso f t he city. 
Th e mud dy r i v e r s —not ably  theSan Jacinto a ndtheB uff alo B ayou— th at  mean der th rough  H ouston struggle  tocarry muc h w at er. 
Damsa long t heriv ers wer e built mai nl y f or  water storage, no tf l oo d contro l. Bec a us eT exas isso  fl at,t h e dam s ca n ’t  hold mu ch wat e r,  u nlike w es tern d am s t hat  areb uilt  in de ep gorge s.

L a ke Conroe, a r e servoir 43 mi l es n or t h of  th e city, isonee xamp le.C om ple t ed in  1973 ,i th as a capacity of 43 0, 000 ac re-fe et, about 12%  of Orovil l e Dam in C alif o rn i a.


The San J acint o River Au t hority,which  manages  water su p p lies, kn ewtha t H arv e y  w as probably h e a dedit s way.But  a spok esw oma n,Rho nd a Trow, s aid theau th or it y c hosen ot to re le ase  w ate r fro m  LakeConro e in  a dv a nce  becaus e  t h e  amo un tit h eld  w ouldn ’t h a vemade adifferenc e a n d co ul dhave ca used flooding  e ven before  t hestormh i t.

Butby Monday, the authorit y  had no  ch oicebutto open t hefloodgat e s to s end 79 ,141cu bic f eet o f wa ter  t o floodedH o ust on ev er y se cond.
The situation wass imi lar on two da mson t h e  B uff a lo Bay ou con t r olled by the Ar my Corps o fE ng ineers upr ive rfrom th e Houst on Sh i p Chann el.

Thelong-term  r isks f aci ng Houston  are gro wing, owi n g tow ar mingwat er tem pe rat uresin the Gul f ofMexico ,whichwillfu el morepowerful hurricanes byincrea singthe  moisture  th e y c arry.


H arve y caused a  su rge  in t heG ulf o f Me x ic o t h at ra ised its level by  as m uc h as 15 fee t a lon g the  Te x as coa st,Bea estimated. Th a t meant that f or s o m e p eri o d of  t ime, rivers we reno t flowingno rmally, lea ving inl an d  area s less  than15 feet a bo v e sealeve l w ith littl e d ra i nage.
In  K a trina,  the  l evel o f theg ulfs u rged by 28 feet,  thel a rgest eve r rec or ded alo n g th e Gulf Coa st, sending  water  pou ringover le ve es
 risks_along the_Gulf Coast.

The city’s flood_system is_supposed_to protect_the_public from a_100-year storm, but_Bea calls that “a_100-year lie” because_it_is based on a rainfall total of 13 inches in 24 hours.

“That has happened_more_than eight_times_in_the last 27 years,” Bea_said. “It is wrong on_two counts._It isn’t accurate about the past risk and_it_doesn’t reflect what_will happen in the next 100 years.”


In an average_year, Houston gets 50 inches of_rain — as_much_as_Harvey will deliver to_some parts of the city.

The muddy_rivers — notably the San Jacinto_and the Buffalo Bayou — that meander_through Houston struggle to carry much_water.

Dams along the rivers were_built mainly_for water storage, not flood_control. Because Texas_is so_flat, the dams_can’t hold much water, unlike western_dams that are_built in deep gorges.

Lake Conroe, a_reservoir_43 miles north_of_the_city, is_one example. Completed_in_1973, it_has_a capacity of 430,000 acre-feet, about_12%_of Oroville Dam in California.


The San Jacinto_River Authority, which manages_water_supplies, knew that Harvey_was probably headed its way._But a spokeswoman, Rhonda Trow, said_the authority_chose not_to release water from Lake Conroe in advance because the amount_it held wouldn’t have made a_difference and could have_caused flooding_even_before the storm_hit.

But_by Monday,_the authority had no choice but to_open the_flood gates to send 79,141 cubic_feet of water to_flooded_Houston every second.

The situation was similar_on two dams on the Buffalo_Bayou controlled by the Army_Corps_of_Engineers up river from the_Houston Ship Channel.

The long-term risks facing_Houston are growing,_owing to warming water temperatures in the_Gulf_of Mexico, which will fuel more_powerful_hurricanes by increasing the moisture they_carry.


Harvey_caused_a surge in the Gulf_of Mexico that raised its level_by as much as 15 feet along the Texas_coast, Bea estimated._That meant that for some_period_of_time, rivers were not flowing normally, leaving inland areas less_than 15_feet above sea_level with little drainage.

In Katrina, the level of the gulf_surged by 28 feet, the largest ever_recorded along the Gulf Coast, sending water pouring over levees