Flood Prevention Discussed At Houston Symposium

HOUSTON, TX — Meyerland has flooded twice in the past two years, and the rainy season is upon us again, so many residents there — and elsewhere in the Houston area — are concerned.

With that in mind, the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architecture held a symposium this week to discuss flood and storm surge protection. The event was a sold-out affair, a sign of the interest in the topic, and the urgency of doing something about it.

The symposium, held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, was attended by politicians, homeowners, and business owners, and panelists included Phil Bedient, the director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters at Rice University, and Russell A. Poppe, executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District.

Some of the ideas discussed at the event included the construction of a levee system around Galveston and the Houston ship channel, updating the city's drainage infrastructure, and establishing elevated evacuation routes.

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