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BACKGROUND

Flooding is an ongoing threat to the safety and well-being of residents across Harris County. In 1973 Harris County created the original Flood Control Task Force to help address flooding issues, and in 2020 Harris County Commissioners Court reconstituted the group into the Community Flood Resilience Task Force (CFRTF), to bring more community voice into those efforts. The CFRTF is composed of community representatives and subject-matter experts working to promote equitable, innovative, and nature-based solutions to building flood resilience. The CFRTF works to ensure the perspectives and experiences of diverse and historically excluded communities across Harris County are integral to the development and implementation of Harris County’s short- and long-term flood resilience efforts, including the Harris County 2050 Flood Resilience Plan.

THE TASK FORCE'S GOALS ARE TO:
  • Support holistic, innovative, and nature-based solutions to building flood resilience and mitigating flood risks.
  • Achieve multiple short- and long-term benefits for as many Harris County communities as possible.
  • Take into account the needs and priorities of the community and promote equitable community-level outcomes in the face of flooding
  • Protect communities, homes, and businesses across Harris County from flood-related hazards.
THE TOOLS IN THEIR TOOLBOX TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS ARE:
  • Release reports with recommendations
  • Release public statements
  • Develop new metrics, tools, or policy
  • Lead collaborative sessions with the Infrastructure Resilience Team,
  • Pilot new strategies
  • Launch a public education program

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THE WORK

The work of the CFRTF is carried out through full group meetings, two governing committees, and four thematic committees that meet regularly. The Executive Committee is composed of the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, who steer the strategic direction of the CFRTF. The Overall Approach Committee advises on the overall approach and work of the County with a set of principles. The Equity + Metrics Committee tackles data and analysis of flood resilience through an equity lens. The Community Engagement Committee steers the way Harris County engages communities on flood resilience efforts and links neighborhoods to solutions. The Finance + Regulatory Committee tackles the need for and solutions to funding and regulatory issues. The Governance Committee tackles issues related to policies and procedures of the group.

TASK FORCE MEETINGS

  • The Task Force meets six times a year, convening bimonthly on the even months. These meetings are held 5:30-7:30pm on the fourth Thursday of the month, and are open to the public
  • The four topical Committees meet bimonthly on the odd months, from 3:30-5:00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays
  • The Executive Committee meets 1-2 times per month to provide critical leadership in guiding the work of the Task Force
  • The Governance Committee meets as needed

The seventeen (17) members of the CFRTF are committed to serving the community, and represent the geographic, gender, age, racial, and ethnic diversity of Harris County. These members are flood survivors, community organizers, engineers, advocates, technical experts, working together to reduce flood risk for all Harris County communities.

These members bring an expanded set of skills that are necessary for shifting Harris County’s approach beyond traditional engineering to the full scope of flood resilience. This full set of understanding—from qualitative and quantitative data to nature-based solutions, consensus-building, public health, and community leadership—allows the Task Force to provide holistic feedback on Harris County’s on-going efforts.

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