A Radar-Based Flood Alert System (FAS) Designed for Houston, Texas
Philip B. Bedient, Anthony Holder, and Baxter E. Vieux
Urban Drainage 2002 112, 165 (2002)
Flood warning systems in urban areas have greatly improved in recent years with the advent of GIS, radar-based rainfall estimation using NEXRAD, and delivery systems on the internet. The issue of flood warning and alert was brought to the forefront of public attention after the recent Tropical Storm Allison flood of June, 2001. This flood was reported by NOAA as the most damaging urban flood in U.S. history, and certainly the most devastating event to impact Brays Bayou and Houston with over $5 billion in damages in the county, and about 50,000 damaged structures. Over $1.5 billion in damages to the Texas Medical Center alone were reported, with major impacts to the local community.