During a news conference Wednesday, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett presented 15 strategies to protect the county and surrounding areas from future flooding with help from federal, state and local governments. Tropical Storm Harvey damaged an estimated 136,000 homes in the county, forcing local leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of existing flood control measures. “We must quickly commit ourselves to a comprehensive plan to redefine Harris County and the surrounding region as a global model for living and working in a flood-prone area,” Emmett said. Emmett presented the following suggestions: