Montgomery County Precinct 4 officials have identified roughly $53 million worth of flood mitigation projects that could benefit approximately 440 homes upon completion over the next two decades.
In December, Precinct 4 officials wrapped up a study that evaluated 43 locations in need of drainage improvements throughout East Montgomery County. Of the evaluated locations, 15 were selected as projects that could qualify for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program, including 10 in the New Caney and Porter area.
“Drainage is especially important in East Montgomery County because the area is essentially a bowl between the west and east forks of the San Jacinto River,” said Kennedy Williams, a community outreach staffer with Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray’s Office. “No one wants to have their home flooded, and Commissioner Gray is committed to continuing to improve drainage through East [Montgomery] County.”
Per county officials, the plan will establish a long-term strategy for flood mitigation in Precinct 4, identify specific project areas for future grant funding and implement as part of Precinct 4’s 20-year drainage plan.
The big picture
The FMA program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to communities for projects to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program, per FEMA’s website. In Texas, funding is administered by the Texas Water Development Board.
Precinct 4 officials said they selected the FMA program because it is the largest recurring flood mitigation grant program. The precinct has also applied for other drainage improvement grants through other grant programs.
“We are hopeful,” Williams said. “Commissioner Gray has a strong track record in securing grants, with over $98 million in federal and state funding brought into the precinct in his first term. If all projects are awarded, it would bring $53 million of our federal tax dollars back to Precinct 4, reducing flood risk for 440 homes.”
Between fiscal years 2015-22, the TWDB awarded approximately $526.1 million in total funding to communities statewide through the FMA program.
- $451.2 million awarded in federal funding
- $74.9 million awarded in local funding
- 129,400 structures benefited
Zooming in
Per Precinct 4 officials, to qualify for the FMA program, proposed projects:
- Have a benefit-cost ratio greater than 1.0, meaning the project’s benefits outweigh its costs
- Had structures with repetitive flood loss, as identified through previous FEMA claims
- Are not located within a floodplain
- Are precinct-identified locations with drainage issues
Proposed projects identified for grant funding include channel and ditch improvements, storm sewer and trunkline improvements, as well as new channel or detention features.
Per the study, which was completed by Cascade Civil Services, the project with the highest benefit-cost ratio in Precinct 4 is in Shadowland Retreat and would benefit 13 structures. The $3.69 million project would add a 36-inch storm sewer and a new 4-foot by 2-foot culvert to improve drainage and reduce flood depth by up to 2 feet.
Also of note
In addition to the Precinct 4 Flood Mitigation Grant Plan, the Texas General Land Office Desnagging Project is expected to kick off in Montgomery County this year and will span 136 miles of stream within the San Jacinto Watershed. Approximately $36.4 million of the total $60.4 million project will be spent in East Montgomery County, per Precinct 4 officials.
Precinct 4 officials noted the project is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Mitigation program, and is being handled by the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management.
“The goal is for the whole project—including the [East Montgomery County] portion—to advertise for construction by the end of 2026, after the [environmental analysis] is completed and approved,” Williams said.
Additionally, Precinct 4 officials said they are continuing to use $9.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act grant funding toward the mitigation and cleaning up of outfalls and drainage channels throughout East Montgomery County.
Next steps
Precinct 4 officials said the first project will be submitted once the study report has been approved and FEMA announces the next Notice of Funding Opportunity, which typically takes place in the fall.
Project submission order will be reevaluated annually and will be based on the benefit-cost ratio score as well as the timing of other projects.
Williams noted it typically takes about one year or longer from application to award for this type of grant. Project construction would take place over the next 20 years as funding is available.
- September 2024-December 2024: Data is collected and flood risk assessment is conducted.
- December 2024-September 2025: Projects are identified and models are analyzed.
- September 2025-December 2025: Plan is developed and reported.
- November 2025-December 2025: Public outreach is completed and benefit-cost ratio is evaluated.
- January 2026: Study report is finalized.
- Fall 2026 (tenative): Application period opens and first project is submitted.
