HOUSTON – As Tropical Storm Edouard approaches, city officials say heavy rain is the biggest concern for Houston, particularly in neighborhoods that already struggle with flooding.
One of those areas is the intersection of Emancipation and Navigation in Houston’s East End, where crews have already closed off an underpass ahead of the storm.
It’s an area with a long history of flooding, and the city is taking precautions before the rain arrives. Barricades now block the underpass, which has flooded badly enough in the past to become completely impassable.
Part of the problem lies underground. The storm sewer system serving the area dates to around 1936, making it nearly 90 years old.
The city has spent months trying to determine how to fix the aging infrastructure. Contractors inspected the system in April, but officials say repairs are complicated by the system’s age, its depth underground and its proximity to an active railroad.
Water in the area ultimately drains toward Buffalo Bayou. When the bayou rises, it becomes harder for the underpass to drain, compounding the flood risk.
City officials say they are still developing a long-term fix but have not given a timeline for the work.
In the meantime, they are not waiting to act. The barricades at Emancipation and Navigation are already in place, ready to keep drivers out if the underpass floods again.
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