General

Upcoming Rains

As most of you know, the National Weather Service and Fort Bend County are expecting intense rainfalls over the next three days, beginning around 7 p.m. tonight.  Given that we received very heavy rain on Tuesday evening, and flooding occurred, the ground is saturated and any rain will immediately run off into the storm sewers, detention ponds and drainage channels, and then to the 2 pump stations. 
Here are some ways that you can assist and help us drain as efficiently as possible:
  • Bring in any trash cans, bags or other items that could get caught in rising street water. These items can float and block the inlet preventing or restricting any water from entering the storm drains.
  • If you typically have a car parked in the street, consider pulling it up into your driveway as close to your house as possible, or better, into your garage.  Face the engine towards the house.  If unable to pull the car into the driveway, consider asking a neighbor to use any unoccupied space.
  • Be sure to monitor official announcements from Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management (https://fbcoem.org/), the City of Sugar Land http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1763/May-2019-Rain-Event and the National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/) for official updates.

City of Sugar Land Message to Residents

Greatwood received almost 11 inches of rain over a five-hour period on Tuesday. By comparison, the highest intensity of rainfall in Greatwood during Hurricane Harvey was about half of this amount throughout that event. Streets are designed to store water during heavy rainfall events, and areas located in the lowest parts of the levee district are at the greatest risk of street flooding. All levee districts in Sugar Land, including Greatwood, have reported pumps are operating normally.

Greatwood is within the Levee District 11 (LID 11). The LID owns and operates the levees and the pumps. When the Brazos River elevation is high as it has been in the past few days, the LID’s floodgates automatically close to prevent river flooding. With levee floodgates closed, all levee districts, including LID 11, are operating on pumps. Streets are designed to store water during heavy rainfall events, and areas located in the lowest parts of the levee district are at the greatest risk of street flooding. All levee districts in Sugar Land have reported pumps are operating normally.

The city’s Emergency Operation Center has been in operation since May 7. Please visit http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1763/May-2019-Rain-Event for latest update.

For more information on flood-control operations in Greatwood, including flood gates, pumping and levee maintenance, visit www.fblid11.com.

Street Ponding Has Subsided

Street ponding has subsided and made its way into the channels and lakes. The pump stations have been running since yesterday afternoon and water levels are beginning to drop in the channels. As of noon today we had managed to achieve an estimated 2.5-3’ of freeboard within the detention system. There are small amounts of debris and mud on some roadways as well as several stranded cars (approximately 5-7 that we are aware of). All roadways within the District are open with no standing water. We are continuing to pump and will do so until the water is completely pumped out. No unmet needs at this time. We have informed the City of Sugar Land of the situation.