100-Year Floodplains Doubling in Size, But HCFCD Won’t Release New Maps
11/10/25 – The Texas Water Development Board’s San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group will meet on Thursday, November 13, to consider adopting a technical memorandum that shows the river basin’s 100-year floodplains more than doubling in size.
However, even though the group acknowledges the superiority of Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) MAAPnext floodplain models, Harris County refuses to release updated flood maps. As a consequence, hundreds of pages of maps in the 634-page document show nothing for Harris County flood risk. Why?
You can find the answer at the top of Page 14. “MAAPnext mapping information has not yet been made available to the public and will not be released to the public by HCFCD until late 2025 or early 2026. Given the sensitivity of this information…”
“… HCFCD has asked that MAAPnext mapping information not be shared publicly so that they can continue to carefully and thoughtfully control the roll out of this information to Harris County residents.”
Page 14, Draft Region 6 Technical Memorandum dated November 2025
HCFCD did not respond to a request for explanation or comment.
Redacted Information Exposes Public to Unnecessary Risk
This isn’t national-defense information. It’s public-safety information that you need to protect your family and life savings.
The County has been on the verge of releasing this information since 2021. But the County has postponed the release multiple times without a good explanation.
I have little faith in the late 2025/early 2026 release date. They have simply postponed it too many times. And in fact, a quick check of the MAAPnext website shows they’ve already delayed release again. Now they predict the END of 2026.
HCFCD blames delays on FEMA. But HCFCD doesn’t even need FEMA’s permission to release what they now have.
FEMA’s authority extends to flood insurance maps. But other counties release flood-map updates before FEMA for their own regulatory and public safety purposes. And that’s how this information could help.
Why We Need This Information Now
People need this data to make important decisions, such as:
- Should I buy this house?
- What is the real flooding risk at my house?
- Should I buy flood insurance?
- Can I afford flood insurance on top of my mortgage?
- Is my parent’s house at risk? My children’s?
- Is the assisted living center where my relatives live at risk for flooding?
Would you want to make one of these decisions knowing the government deliberately withheld information that could save a loved one’s life or your life savings? These are life-altering decisions affecting potentially hundreds of thousands of people.
A Houston Chronicle investigation found that 65,000 homes have been built in floodplains since Harvey – a number based on old pre-Atlas-14 flood maps.
The Region 6 Technical Report suggests that number may be radically understated. If floodplains cover twice as many square miles, it stands to reason more people will be affected.
Harris County has updated maps.
Not releasing the maps is a public-safety scandal.
Bob Rehak
Even worse, not explaining why the public can’t see information that could save lives and life savings is an even bigger scandal.
Meeting Information
The San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group (RFPG) will meet on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, 1660 W Bay Area Blvd, Friendswood, TX 77546, Board Room.
The public may attend and address the RFPG in-person. Or as a courtesy you may virtually access the meeting “as technology permits.” The link for virtual access can be found at: sanjacintofloodplanning.org. And here is the agenda.
For the full report, see Draft 2028 Region 6 Flood Plan.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/10/2025
2995 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
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