Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones told attendees of the press conference that the impact of Hurricane Harvey on communities is "deeply personal" for her and her staff. (Courtesy Harris County Precinct 4)
Drainage improvements completed in March within Katy’s Cimarron subdivision will lower the flood risk for 250 homes, Harris County officials said at the project's April 30 ribbon-cutting.
Why it matters
During Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, 162 structures flooded within the Cimarron subdivision, Harris County Engineer Milton Rahman said.
However, even before Harvey, in the 1990s and 2000s, the neighborhood’s streets and driveways flooded during lesser rain events, said Jim Knebel, president of the Cimarron Community Improvement Association and Cimarron resident of 30-plus years.
“Harvey left us with a half-foot of water throughout our house, and my guess is the Copper Creek [Drive] intersection had over 3 feet of water,” he said.
Project details
According to a Harris County Precinct 4 news release and officials, the $13.5 million project added:
Larger drainage sewer pipes
More capacity for curb inlets
Water and sewer line adjustments
Some new driveways and sidewalks
Construction began in January 2023 and wrapped up this March, Rahman said.
On April 30, Harris County Precinct 4 officials and community members celebrated the Cimarron drainage improvement project's completion. (Courtesy Harris County Precinct 4)
"All of our families deserve as much protection as possible, so this is deeply personal to all of us, and this is just not another project in another neighborhood," Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said at the April 30 event. "This $13.5 million that we did in deep partnership with Harris County and the MUDs and the community mean so much to us. So thank you for the opportunity to serve.”
To help residents in future rain events, Rahman encouraged homeowners to purchase flood insurance even if their home is not in the flood plain.
Meanwhile, high water continues to be seen across the Houston area this week, with overnight flooding beginning April 30-May 1 in Montgomery County and northern Harris County—particularly around Lake Houston. Motorists can monitor road conditions by clicking here.
