Several days after Topical Depression Imelda brought more than 40 inches of rainfall to parts of Harris County causing road closures and structural flooding, Harris County commissioners approved a request from the county attorney's office to fast-track civil lawsuits against flood plain violators. Flood plain boundaries are set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency using flood insurance rate studies, according to the Harris County Engineering Department. Regulations within the flood plain vary, and commissioners unanimously voted to approve tougher rules for building in flood plains in unincorporated Harris County in July. The motion—approved at a Sept. 24 meeting—allows the county attorney to file lawsuits against individuals and businesses who violate flood plain management regulations without having to first go to commissioners court for approval, which can add two to three weeks to the process of holding violators accountable, officials said in a press release. Violations can include inadequate elevation, adding fill to the flood plain and construction without a permit. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the new policy will help the county deal with a growing number of violations and enforcement issues. The cumulative effect of hundreds of seemingly small violations can add up to cause homes and businesses to flood elsewhere, she said. "If we're serious about breaking the cycle of flooding and recovery, we must be able to use every tool we have at our disposal—including enforcement," Hidalgo said in the release. "When communities flood, taxpayers are often on the hook to help rebuild. Today's action signals that Harris County will no longer look the other way when it comes to protecting our communities from flooding." Violations are typically first identified by the county engineer's office, which will issue an official notice to the violator. Legal action can be required as a means of ensuring compliance in cases where the notice does not lead to a resolution, according to the release. Commissioners also received an update on Imelda recovery during the Sept. 24 meeting in addition to advancing 18 flood control projects connected to the $2.5 billion bond referendum passed in 2018. Officials have counted a total of 834 structures that flooded in unincorporated Harris County. Reports from the city of Houston found 1,000 to 1,500 properties were damaged as of Sept. 23 with that number likely to go up as assessments continue. County Engineer John Blount said the total damage to county facilities, roads and bridges remains unclear. He said $1.6 million in damages had been estimated to county facilities as of late Sept. 24, but said only half of them had been analyzed at that point. Flood control projects advanced at the meeting included stormwater detention basins in Addicks Reservoir, Halls Bayou, White Oak Bayou, Cedar Bayou and Cypress Creek watersheds; channel conveyance and design improvements in Brays Bayou, Greens Bayou, Halls Bayou, Sims Bayou and Cedar Bayou watersheds; and a bridge replacement project for Greenhouse Road over South Mayde Creek.