CEER community meeting — flooding and climate resilience in Third Ward

CEER is hosting a community meeting to discuss the persistent flooding crisis on Emancipation Avenue and surrounding streets. We will hear from residents about their experiences, review the city's drainage plan, and organize next steps for the public hearing.

Third Ward has flooded in every major storm since 2015 — Harvey, Imelda, the February 2021 freeze, and most recently during the May 2024 derecho. Streets along Emancipation Avenue, Blodgett, and Wheeler regularly hold standing water for days after heavy rain. Residents have reported sewage backups, property damage, and displacement with little response from the city.

The City of Houston has a drainage improvement plan through the Stormwater Master Plan, but Third Ward is not prioritized in the current capital improvement schedule. This meeting will walk through what the city has committed to, what timelines have been shared, and where the gaps are. We will review publicly available engineering documents and the latest Harris County Flood Control District data for our area.

Residents who have experienced flooding are encouraged to share their stories. CEER will have sign-up sheets for anyone who wants to submit testimony for the upcoming public hearing on the city's drainage budget. We will also discuss strategies for organizing block-level flood documentation, including how to photograph and report flooding in real time so that our neighborhood's experience is on the public record.

This meeting is open to all Third Ward residents, property owners, and renters. Childcare and Spanish interpretation will be available. Light refreshments provided. Street parking is available on Wheeler and Dowling.