Weekly Brazos River Outlook

The Brazos River in Richmond remains in Action Stage at Gage Elevation 22.45 feet and falling. Currently, the WGRFC anticipates dropping below Action Stage later this week. After a break from rain, the NWS forecast is calling for an increased chance for rain starting this afternoon/evening running through Friday. The 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) showing the lower Brazos River Watershed receiving between ½ to 1¾ inch of rain over the next 7 days. Based on the current forecast, no flooding due to the Brazos River through Fort Bend County is anticipated.

See the attached Flood Risk Report.

Weekly Brazos River Outlook

The Brazos River in Richmond remains in Action Stage at Gage Elevation 25.51 feet. The Brazos River peaked at Gage Elevation 28.8 feet on Saturday and is currently falling. The WGRFC anticipates staying in Action Stage into the weekend. The NWS shows another wet week, but rainfall forecast totals are lower than we experienced over the past couple of weeks. The 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) showing the lower Brazos River Watershed receiving between ¼ to ½ inches of rain over the next 7 days. Based on the current forecast, no flooding due to the Brazos River through Fort Bend County is anticipated.

See the attached Flood Risk Report.

Lower Brazos River (Region 8) Regional Flood Planning Group Update

Data Collection is Underway for Lower Brazos Regional Flood Planning! The Lower Brazos Regional Flood Planning Group (Lower Brazos RFPG) is seeking input and information pertaining to flooding issues in Region 8. This data collection activity is critical to the development and success of the first-ever Regional Flood Plan for the Lower Brazos Basin. Input is crucial to better understand local flood risks and mitigation efforts, as well as to develop a Regional Flood Plan that accurately reflects flood-related conditions, efforts, and needs across the entire region. To participate in the survey, please visit http://www.lowerbrazosflood.org/Get-Involved.

Additionally, the BRA has added quick links to join future meetings and add reminders to your calendar. Please visit http://www.lowerbrazosflood.org/ for more information.

Weekly Brazos River Outlook

The Brazos River in Richmond remains in Action Stage at Gage Elevation 23.85 feet and is currently falling. Based on rainfall received upstream, the Brazos River through Fort Bend County is expected to rise later this week; however, the Richmond gage is anticipated to stay below Gage Elevation 30. This week will be another wet week with the 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) showing the lower Brazos River Watershed receiving between 1 to 2 inches of rain over the next 7 days. Based on the current forecast, no flooding due to the Brazos River through Fort Bend County is anticipated.

See the attached Flood Risk Report.

Fort Bend County Alert – Emergency Alerts and Warnings

Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for Fort Bend County’s Emergency Alert Program. This system enables Fort Bend County to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.

You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how.

Attention: FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 (Flood Insurance Premiums)

On April 1st, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) released the first official communication on the redesign of the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”)’s rating system.

The new pricing methodology, known as Risk Rating 2.0, utilizes the latest technology available to assess the flood risk of a property. Phase 1 of the new program begins on October 1, 2021.

In its announcement, FEMA shared a state-by-state breakdown of Risk Rating 2.0’s impact on flood insurance premiums. According to FEMA, Texas will see the following impact:

  • 14% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate decrease in their flood insurance premium;
  • 79% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium that could range from $0 to $10 per month;
  • 3% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium of $10 to $20 per month; and
  • 4% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium greater than $20 per month.

We do not yet know how Risk Rating 2.0 will impact flood insurance prices in Fort Bend County MUD No. 46. However, if you already have flood insurance, you are grandfathered into how fast your flood insurance premium can increase. It is federally mandated that a flood insurance premium cannot increase by more than 18% per year. Therefore, we encourage you to get flood insurance. You can do so by contacting your home insurance provider. Since a flood insurance policy takes 30 days to go into effect, you must purchase your policy by September 1, 2021, for your policy to become effective prior to the effective date of Risk Rating 2.0 (October 1, 2021).

Additional information regarding risk rating 2.0 can be found at the following link: Risk Rating 2.0: Equity in Action | FEMA.gov

Emergency Preparedness

Fort Bend County has experienced destructive high water events in the recent years. We must be prepared not only during Hurricane Season but all year round.

With this in mind, Fort Bend County Commissioner Ken R. DeMerchant would like to share some important Emergency Preparedness tips with our residents.