Articles by Meghan Hoyer and Juan A. Lozano

Flood Insurance Uptake Rises in Texas but Increase May Not Last

Federal data indicates the number of homes in Texas with flood insurance has risen in the year since Hurricane Harvey inundated the Houston area. The floods last August killed nearly 70 people and damaged or destroyed more than 300,000 structures. …

Flood Insurance Uptake Rates Rise in Texas Following Harvey

Little more than two months before Hurricane Harvey slammed the Gulf Coast of Texas, Alberto Castaneda let his home’s flood insurance lapse. He had never filed a claim on the policy in 10 years and he needed the extra cash …

Lessons Learned From Hurricane Harvey Highlighted in Zurich Report

An inconsistent regulatory environment and a lack of awareness by residents of the potential flooding dangers in and around Houston were among the factors that contributed to the heavy damage inflicted by Hurricane Harvey, according to a report released on …

County Seeks Input Before Houston-Area Flood Control Bond Vote

Officials in the Texas county hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey announced they will seek the public’s input before finalizing a list of critical flood-control projects voters will be asked to approve during an estimated $2.5 billion bond referendum. Harris County …

Texas-Based Karolyis, Others Sued by Gymnast Over Team Doctor’s Abuse

A former member of the U.S. national team on became the latest gymnast to file suit over sexual abuse by imprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar’s, alleging USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the husband-and-wife duo who coached America’s …

Houston Approves New Post-Harvey Flood Construction Rule

Houston officials have approved a rule for new homes and other buildings in the city’s flood plains that will require them to be elevated higher off the ground to avoid floodwaters. The regulation comes more than seven months after Hurricane …

Houston-Area Officials Say They Didn’t Know About Reservoir Flood Risks Pre-Harvey

Houston-area officials said during a congressional hearing that they weren’t aware of forecasts by federal authorities regarding flooding risks from local reservoirs that ended up inundating thousands of homes during Hurricane Harvey. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said …

More than $1B Sought by Houston-Area Leaders for Flood Control

Officials in the Texas county hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey want to ask voters to approve up to $2 billion in bonds to fund critical flood-control projects, but worried Tuesday about potential roadblocks. Harris County, home to Houston, plans to …

Fate of Houston Flood-Control Projects Unclear 7 Months After Harvey

Large-scale projects long considered essential to easing Houston’s flooding woes went to the top of the area’s to-do list after Hurricane Harvey inundated large swaths of the nation’s fourth-largest city. Seven months later, local officials are still looking for funding …

Corps Says Agency Did Work to Inform Public on Harvey Flood Risk

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Feb. 23 that leading up to and during Hurricane Harvey it “worked diligently” with officials to inform the public on flooding risks from Houston reservoirs that ended up inundating thousands of homes. …