Rainfall

Goal

Incorporate increasing rainfall forecasts into flooding and drainage protection plans

Issue

NOAA is predicting more severe rainfall in the future. Go to page 39 if you'd like to see the map on their peer-reviewed publication.
We'll experience 4-5 more inches of rain for a 100 year event

The 100 year rain event is now 4 to 5 inches worse

Where we used to get 21.7 inches of rain in a 100 year storm we now get 26.7 inches. In gallons of water that's 199,024,941 gallons in today's 100 year rainstorm when we used to only get about 161,754,353 gallons. That's 23% more rain! We'd need to build 23% more capacity to have the same flood protections we had before.

and : ( Our area has had several 100 year rainfall events

Allison, Ike, Memorial Day, Tax Day and Harvey.

Solution

We should have a drainage system that can handle more severe storms BEFORE the next storm

How

Engineering evaluation of needed vs. existing capacity determined. Upgrade capacity to handle more severe events, such as

Higher capacity street drains
Remove sediment that has accumulated since original construction
Regrade/Enlarge drainage channels that have changed since original construction
Add local detention where possible

New developments should design retention for 500 year storms not 100 year storms, since existing systems are already at capacity.

Do Nothing

If we don't improve existing drainage there will be more flooding.

Click here to learn more about current flooding issues.