Rice University

This paper provides background information on critical flooding problems in the Houston and Harris County areas as a result of Hurricane Harvey, presents an update on progress made to date, discusses successes and shortcomings of existing flood mitigation

New research finds that damage caused by natural disasters and recovery efforts launched in their aftermaths have increased wealth inequality between races in the United States.

Researchers have found that federal and Texas’ long-term hazard mitigation planning efforts have not been effective in preparing the state to deal with disaster mitigation, and cities, regions and the state must collaborate to create more effective plans. Texas can also support hazard mitigation by better empowering local areas and funding national system gaps.

This research brief provides context about how the recovery process is unfolding in the Hurricane Harvey-affected region and how the area can prevent a similar situation from happening again. It examines how localities, states and the nation approach

This report, meant to frame the buyouts discussion in the Houston region, begins by overviewing the basic elements of federal funding for floodplain acquisitions, more commonly known as buyouts. The central component of the federal government’s approach

A new study shows that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 100-year flood plain maps failed to capture 75 percent of flood damages from five serious floods. These maps are used by U.S. officials in determining flood risk and insurance premiums, yet many flood-related losses occur outside of the 100-year flood plains.

Seismologists have detected minute geological changes preceding small earthquakes in California by up to 10 hours. The method could form the basis of a robust early warning system for impending quakes....